Solutions Lab
Creating many solutions for a complex problem
As part of the National Housing Strategy, CMHC launched several innovation and research programs to support Canadians to meet their housing needs. The Solutions Lab Initiative supports stakeholders to co-develop innovative, bottom-up solutions to problems that have not been able to be solved using traditional approaches.
The ShelterCare Solutions Lab funding, received through House of Friendship, will allow partners in Waterloo Region to use human-centred design to explore responsive and relationship-based healthcare and housing supports to end homelessness in this community. To do this, we are being guided by Overlap Associates and a diverse project team. The process will include collaborative activities to:
- Narrow down the key problem this Solutions Lab will focus on
- Hear the perspectives of a variety of stakeholders
- Generate ideas
- Develop and test prototypes that respond to those needs
By the end of the Solutions Lab, we will develop evidence to support greater investment in community-based health care supports for those experiencing homelessness, and ultimately, increase our community’s capacity to reduce homelessness year over year. These findings will be shared across Canada.
| Phases 1–5 | Phase 6 | Phase 7 | Phase 8 | Phase 9–10 |
| May–September | September-October | October-November | November–December | December–February |
| House of Friendship works through the process specific to the Men’s Shelter program before broadening focus | Form a project team, then begin planning and develop an initial problem frame | Engage with stakeholders to understand the current experience and gaps | Reflect on the findings to generate new solutions and potential models for ShelterCare | Develop prototypes and an action plan, then share key learnings locally and nationally |
For more information or to find out how you can be involved in this Solutions Lab, please contact us.