20,000 homes, but still not enough: A relational comparative study of the piloting phase of Canada’s 20K Homes campaign to understand how it fits in with current efforts to end homelessness

This study seeks to understand how the 20K Homes campaign fits in with current efforts to end homelessness. Taking a relational comparative approach to Ottawa's action week and Waterloo's and Hamilton's registry weeks, the following questions are addressed: 1) What factors shape the timing, development and characteristics of the campaign, nationally and locally? 2) Why did conveners agree to pilot the campaign? 3) What are the key components of action/registry week? and 4) How will each pilot community come up with the resources needed to house people for the campaign? Argued here, the 20K Homes campaign not only supports but helps strengthen a Housing First approach to homelessness in Canada. While there may be enough existing resources within communities to support the campaign, there are not enough to end homelessness. With no new resources provided through the campaign, new investments by senior levels of government are needed to end homelessness.