U DESIGN JUSTICE INITIATIVE
UDesign Justice Initiative Housing Justice in Action

The event focused on three themes: community, design, and policy. Together, these themes provided a comprehensive framework for understanding how housing challenges are produced and how they can be addressed. This report follows the structure of the Housing Collaborators Guidebook (See Appendix 1) used during the action-dialogue workshop, which supported collaborators in moving from identifying barriers and gaps to co-developing potential pilot solutions. It presents a synthesis of key insights across Calgary’s housing ecosystem, including the identification of systemic barriers, service and policy gaps, and emerging “bright spots” - promising practices that can be scaled or replicated.

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To advance this work, a Housing Working Group will be established to guide the development of pilot projects, support collaborative research, strengthen partnerships, and inform policy change. This report provides a foundation for that next phase - outlining key insights, identifying opportunities, and setting a direction for coordinated action to advance housing justice in Calgary.

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The event was designed as an action-dialogue process, emphasizing both collective sense-making and the co-development of practical, equity-focused responses. Insights were synthesized thematically to identify recurring patterns, system dynamics, and areas of convergence across collaborators.

Event Details

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Housing Justice in Action | DECEMBER 2025
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If communities, designers, and decision-makers work together to create spaces grounded in justice and belonging, and if lived experiences become real evidence that shapes decisions, then trust, accountability, and shared power can grow. Because when those most impacted lead the design of solutions, outcomes become more inclusive and lasting—resulting in a Calgary built with communities, not for them.