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Progressives need to rethink their views on housing or they risk losing the support of generations of young Canadians.

In Toronto and beyond both progressive politicians and residents who identify as such have extremely narrow views on how to solve our housing crisis that dont change the status quo, that havent provided much in the way of affordable housing, and that are beholden to the NIMBYism of comfortably housed people.

A smart friend recently asked me why, adding that it seems like conservatives are the ones who get it. In Ontario, the Progressive Conservatives have in fact talked a lot about housing, even convening a task force on housing affordability in November, pushing through a handful of affordable housing projects using controversial ministers zoning orders, or MZOs, and even proposing very dense clusters of housing around major transit nodes in the GTA.

Putting aside the question of whether or not these are the right solutions or particular moves, I offered some ideas on why the left people on the NDP-to-Liberal continuum are so tortuously bad at housing policy, arguing about interchangeable details and ideology rather than supporting solutions immediately.

The spirit of todays urban progressive movement was forged in the 1960s and 1970s in response to the excesses of modernist, postwar development. Whole neighbourhoods razed or torn apart by expressways. The right move at the time, but it never stopped trying to stop things.

Related to this is the idea that developers are evil. Some might be, and lots have gotten filthy rich, but even if we were building 100 per cent social housing, somebody would have to build it. The affordable housing standing today was built by developers, as were many beloved neighbourhoods. The government doesnt have the physical means nor expertise to build housing themselves, they can just fund it.

Like any government contract, like building roads or schools, somebody will make a profit. This evil developer belief plays out over and over as housing advocates, even young ones who can barely afford to live, are called developer shills by people who own property, as I certainly will be for writing this. Its all name calling without the actual cheque.

For some progressives, if the solution isnt 100 per cent purpose-built affordable housing, its wrong. This kind of view can be classified as perfect is the enemy of good and though a virtuous goal, the much more possible solution in our reality is a bold mix of market and social housing.

While some on the left pine wistfully away for Red Vienna, the period in the aftermath of WWI when the Social Democratic Workers Party of Austria built a massive amount of housing, our housing crisis gets worse. In Toronto, progressives are weak and havent held the balance of power in more than a decade. Do we wait until theyre more electable?

The generation gap is real. Theres a sense among comfortable, urban progressives, many who bought decades ago when it was much easier than it is today, that they actually live in a quaint village where any change is a threat, rather than a growing city. This manifests in various ways, such as directly opposing new housing, even truly affordable, like when the residents of progressive neighbourhoods around the Honest Eds redevelopment pressured the city to shrink the overall number of units there, reducing the amount of affordable units originally planned

On a smaller scale, even the gentlest density in protected neighbourhoods is outlawed to preserve neighbourhood character. Never mind that the comfortable progressives in places like Cabbagetown, Riverdale and most of the west side of old Toronto displaced working class populations. Never mind that the neighbourhoods are actually losing population. Never mind that these neighbourhoods are barely accessible to even the middle class now.

Progressive failure on housing is hard to see clearly because beyond the overt NIMBYism and exclusionary zoning, its about whats not being done.

Recent changes allowing laneway and garden suites in Toronto, all of which are wildly expensive and just a tiny part of the housing solution, allow some progressives to say see, were doing something when its the bare minimum.

Some progressive councillors defend their voting record, saying they always support planning staff decisions, but that hides behind the fact that a lot of the planning profession is actually quite conservative and loyal to the status quo, averse to change.

Purpose-built, deeply affordable housing will be the foundation of getting us out of this crisis, and we need progressives to fight for it because the other side would be happy focusing on mostly market-based solutions like simply increasing supply, but supply has to be a part of it too. Just as theres no one cause of the crisis, there isnt just one solution to it.

Yes, the financialization of housing, turning it into an investment vehicle, has done great harm, but to quote a famous boomer song, we didnt start the fire. Its not young peoples fault and theyre done with excuses.

For many people, it looks like conservatives have the answers. Progressives can make excuses or they can tackle this boldly and honestly. If not, they risk political oblivion.

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Read more from the original source:
Why the left cant get Torontos housing right - Toronto Star