Tim and Frances Price Urban Lab Receives Prestigious Research Grant
The Tim and Frances Price Urban Lab from Schulich Real Assets has been awarded a significant research grant of $220,000 by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This grant is part of the National Housing Strategy Demonstrations Initiative project.
The awarded project will be a collaborative effort involving the YW Kitchener-Waterloo and the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON). The initiative aims to document the innovative method used to construct the YW Kitchener-Waterloo Supportive Residence—a 41-unit deeply affordable supportive housing building made with prefabricated construction. Remarkably, this building was completed in just 12 months and provides rapid housing solutions for women experiencing chronic homelessness.
By recording this successful approach, the project seeks to create a clear roadmap for housing providers across Canada, with the potential to boost additional units at YWCA locations nationwide. This demonstration showcases how prefabrication can be utilized to scale affordable housing, build capacity, attract private capital, and foster partnerships with nonprofits, housing co-ops, and governments.
The research team from Schulich Real Assets includes Karen Shlesinger, Program Director of the Urban Lab; Lyndsey Rolheiser, Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor of Real Estate; James McKellar, Professor Emeritus; and a Research Associate student.
For more information, please contact Karen Shlesinger at kshles@schulich.yorku.ca.