Calgary's housing strategy tightens focus to 10 key actions from original 98
The city is streamlining its housing plan to prioritize non-market housing for an estimated 110,000 Calgary households unable to afford a home.
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Update — September 10, 2026: Housing starts in Calgary are projected to reach 23,000 this year, down 20 per cent from 2025, though the city's supply gap needed to restore pre-pandemic affordability by 2036 has nearly halved in the past year according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Calgary now ranks second among major Canadian cities for housing performance behind Edmonton, with CMHC estimating the city needs between 23,000 and 24,000 annual starts over the next decade to close the remaining gap.
Calgary is narrowing its housing strategy from 98 actionable items to 10, focusing on non-market housing for residents struggling with affordability.
The refresh came after council requested streamlining in May. City administration estimates over 84,000 households in 2021 were unable to afford a home, with projections rising to approximately 110,000 in the current year.
Reid Hendry, the city's chief housing officer, said the refined focus targets "where we have been falling short and where we have been falling short is on delivering more non-market housing for Calgarians." The revised strategy retains important actions addressing the overall housing market while emphasizing the non-market component.
Coun. Nathaniel Schmidt noted the importance of continued progress: "The more people who have stable housing the more they can contribute to our community overall."
The Community Development Committee is expected to endorse the refreshed strategy on September 3, with a city council vote to follow.
Which 10 actions were kept in the refreshed strategy, and what were the 88 removed?
How will the city measure success in delivering non-market housing units?
What is the timeline and funding allocated for the 10 retained actions?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How many actions did Calgary reduce its housing strategy to?
Calgary narrowed its housing strategy from 98 actionable items to 10.
How many Calgary households are projected to be unable to afford a home?
Approximately 110,000 Calgary households are estimated to be unable to afford a home in the current year.
What is the main focus of Calgary's revised housing strategy?
The revised strategy prioritizes non-market housing for residents struggling with affordability.
