A new report from the Central Lakes Association of REALTORS calls on the federal government to make housing a core pillar of its plan to rebuild and grow Canada’s armed forces.
The report, Housing Canada’s Heroes: Policy Recommendations to Support Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Member and Veteran Housing, follows findings released last month by Canada’s Auditor General which found that the country’s military housing system is falling far short of operational needs.
The Auditor General’s (AG) report revealed that as of March 2025, the Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) managed roughly 11,700 housing units against an operational requirement of 17,000–19,000, leaving a shortfall of up to 7,200 homes.
The AG report also found that only five per cent of high-priority repairs had been completed at the three bases examined, while 3,706 CAF members remained on waitlists, representing a 17:1 gap between supply and demand.
“Canada’s ability to build and sustain a strong, modern military begins with supporting the people who serve us,” said Christine Riley, 2025 CLAR President. “Ensuring that every CAF member, whether a recruit or seasoned veteran, single or supporting a family, young or nearing retirement, has access to stable, affordable housing is essential to the recruitment, retention, and the overall well-being of our military and its members. Strengthening military housing is an investment in the well-being of our service members and in Canada’s future. To meet its NATO commitments, the government must fix CAF housing.”
“Canadian Armed Forces members are often required to relocate multiple times during their careers,” said CLAR President-Elect Kirby Eady. “Finding affordable, good quality housing in the communities where duty demands can be challenging. Many CAF bases are in remote locations or in some of Canada’s highest-cost housing markets where the supply of attainable homes both on base and off base is limited.”
CLAR’s report outlines 11 actionable recommendations to strengthen CAF and veteran housing, including:
- Scaling and modernizing CAF housing through accelerated renovation and construction of residential housing units (RHUs) aligned with current demographics — especially single- and dual-income members.
- Developing near-base housing partnerships with municipalities, non-profits, and developers to relieve pressure on local housing markets.
- Leveraging surplus public lands for military and veteran housing through federal programs like Build Canada Homes.
- Creating a Canada Veteran Home Ownership Benefit, modeled on the U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) loan program, to help transitioning members build equity and stability.
- Establishing a Provincial Veterans’ Housing Advisory Council to coordinate Ontario’s response and ensure transparency across all levels of government.
CLAR represents over 2,600 REALTORS® across Durham, Northumberland, Quinte, Peterborough, and Kawartha Lakes, a region that includes CFB Trenton, the country’s largest air force base.
The association notes that housing shortages on-base have direct ripple effects on surrounding communities, pushing up rents, and reducing supply for both service families and civilians.
“The federal government’s plan to grow the CAF to 86,000 members will be challenging unless housing is made central to the recruitment pitch,” said Wendy Giroux, CLAR’s CEO. “If the Forces can’t promise an affordable home, they can’t promise stability. The government is planning to add thousands of new troops in the coming years, where are these CAF members going to live?”
The report concludes that addressing military housing shortfalls will require coordinated federal, provincial, and municipal leadership and a clear recognition that housing is a matter of national security.
“Every Canadian understands that those who serve deserve a safe, stable place to live,” said Giroux. “Fixing military housing is about keeping a promise to Canada’s heroes.”
Read the full report here.
