Edmonton is growing faster than it has in decades. Thousands of newcomers arrive each year — people bringing skills, cultures, families, and deep roots to this city. But for many of them, finding safe, stable, and affordable housing remains one of the most difficult challenges they face.

This isn't a simple supply problem. Newcomer families navigate a system built with different people in mind: application processes designed around credit scores and Canadian rental histories, supports that expire before families have found their footing, and a lack of housing designed for multigenerational and culturally diverse living. The result is a gap between what exists and what is actually needed — a gap that has widened as Edmonton's population has grown and housing costs have risen.

With this in mind, the MCHB Housing Solutions Lab will be exploring the following: