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Mini Case Scenarios
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Canada is currently facing an affordable and structural housing crisis. A lack of sufficient supply, displacement as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased value in the housing market has left many Canadians without homes. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported that in 2016, 13% of Canadians were classified as having ‘Core Housing Needs’, meaning that they experience inadequate, unsustainable, and/or unaffordable housing. With an estimated 1.8 million fewer homes per capita than the average G7 country, the CMHC indicates that “3.5 million additional housing units are needed, beyond current projections of housing supply, to restore housing affordability by 2030”...
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Recent acknowledgement of the environmental impact of our western society has steered our social and political discourse towards a more sustainable future. One of the main focuses of the current sustainable landscape, is how countries, regions, and cities can reduce their carbon footprint. Transportation is a primary variable in our goal towards sustainable communities. Creating an eco-friendlier transportation network has led to an increase in electric cars and electric powered public transportation...
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In an era of rapid urbanization and increasing environmental concerns, the concept of a sustainable city has gained prominence. A sustainable city seeks to balance economic, social, and environmental dimensions to ensure the well-being of its residents while minimizing negative impacts on the planet. Urban planning and design play a critical role in creating a sustainable city. It involves efficient land use, compact development, and mixed-use zoning. Emphasis should be placed on creating walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods, integrating green spaces and biodiversity, and reducing dependence on private vehicles...
Discussion Topics
- What are the different perspectives needed to understand urban issues in the media?
- How might urban participation and inclusion promote peace?
- How does extreme wealth and corruption contribute to the poverty cycle?
- What is unique about Indigenous approaches to the environment and what can we learn from them?
- What are the different perspectives needed to understand waste issues in the media?
- How does the poverty cycle differ between rural and urban areas?
- What are some steps to make urban development more sustainable?
- What are the health issues caused by urban expansion?
- What are the impacts of oppression and segregation on urban development?
- Is controlling CO2 an issue that homeowners need to pay attention to?
Assessment Ideas
- Position Paper: As a member on your City’s council, develop a community engagement plan for promoting sustainable development in a specific neighborhood or community. Identify key stakeholders, assess community needs and priorities, propose communication strategies, and outline methods for fostering community participation.
- Research Paper: Develop a proposal for promoting sustainable transportation in a city or region. Consider aspects such as public transportation systems, active transportation infrastructure, and electric mobility options. Present your proposal, including a feasibility analysis, implementation strategies, and potential benefits for reducing emissions and improving urban livability.
- Case Study Analysis: Provide students with a case study that highlights a specific sustainable city or community development project. Ask them to critically analyze the case study, evaluate its success factors, challenges, and impacts on the social, economic, and environmental aspects.
- Policy Brief: Prepare a policy brief on a specific policy or intervention that aims to promote sustainable cities. Analyze the policy's impact, identify any gaps or challenges, and propose recommendations for policy improvement.
- Group Presentation: Develop a sustainable tourism development plan for a specific destination. Consider environmental conservation, cultural preservation, community engagement, and responsible tourism practices. Present your plan, including strategies for promoting sustainable tourism, enhancing local livelihoods, and minimizing negative impacts.
- Data Analysis and Recommendations: Examine data on housing affordability and the presence of slums or informal settlements. This analysis can highlight areas where access to decent and affordable housing is limited. You could also explore trends in slum upgrading programs and their effectiveness in improving living conditions.
- Communications Strategy: Utilize digital platforms to engage citizens in urban planning processes. Create interactive maps, virtual town halls, and online surveys to gather feedback on development projects and ensure that residents' voices are heard.
Additional Resources
Faculty Subject Matter Experts
You may wish to contact one of the following departments who may have subject matter experts in this area:
Global Development (devsgrad@queensu.ca)
Experiential Learning Contact
Christina Dinsmore (pronouns: she/her)
Associate Director, Experiential Learning & Programming
asc.el@queensu.ca
- Perrault, J.-F. Estimating the Structural Housing Shortage in Canada: Are We 100 Thousand or Nearly 2 Million Units Short? 2021 [cited 2023; Available from: https://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/about/economics/economics-publications/post.other-publications.housing.housing-note.housing-note--may-12-2021-.html.
- Tiny Town Association. Community + Housing n.d. [cited 2023 Available from: https://tinytownassociation.com/.
- Blanch, V. The tiny home solution: Fredericton not-for-profit pitches affordable housing game changer. 2021 [cited 2023 Available from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/12-neighbours-marcel-lebrun-tiny-homes-fredericton-affordable-housing-1.6174811.
- The 12 Neighbours Community. A dignified micro home community, where housing is just the beginning. n.d. [cited 2023; Available from: https://www.12neighbours.com/.
- Cornet, D. Twenty tiny homes to benefit low income and homeless residents in La Loche. 2021 [cited 2023 Available from: https://sasknow.com/2021/10/19/twenty-tiny-homes-to-benefit-low-income-and-homeless-residents-in-la-loche/.
- Jackson, A., et al., Exploring Tiny Homes as an Affordable Housing Strategy to Ameliorate Homelessness: A Case Study of the Dwellings in Tallahassee, FL. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020. 17(2).
- Wong, A., et al., Combatting Homelessness in Canada: Applying Lessons Learned from Six Tiny Villages to the Edmonton Bridge Healing Program. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020. 17(17).
- Erik Janssen, G.A.a.L.S.H. Micro-housing Barriers, Issues, and Opportunities to Promote Housing Affordability in Toronto and Other Canadian Cities. Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program 2020 [cited 2023; Available from: https://sustainabletechnologies.ca/app/uploads/2020/07/NHS-Microhousing-Final-07072020.pdf.