If you’ve been following real estate headlines lately, you’ve probably noticed something confusing:

Inventory levels are improving in many Ontario communities, yet housing still doesn’t feel affordable for most Canadians.

At the recent OnePoint Housing Symposium, municipal leaders, REALTORS®, researchers, and policymakers discussed exactly this issue and one thing became very clear:

We are often using the wrong terminology when talking about housing affordability.

For many Canadians, the phrase “affordable housing” simply means:

“A home I can realistically afford to buy.”

But in government policy and housing planning, “affordable housing” often means something very different.

And that misunderstanding matters because it shapes public expectations, housing policy conversations, and how communities approach future growth.