This post was written by Meghan Hollett, 2024-2025 cohort, Housing Professionals Mentorship Program participant.

 

Working in the housing sector, we know that housing is complex and constantly evolving. While quick solutions are appealing, real progress comes from engaging with others and sharing new ideas, practices and methods of implementation. In the fall of 2024 I joined CHRA’s cohort of Housing Professionals Mentorship Program (HPMP). While I shared one-on-one meetings with my mentor, I was also surrounded by peer mentees. Out of that collective energy, a group of housing enthusiasts agreed to discuss a new Canadian housing book. One year later, we’re still rolling through great books. Our housing book club isn’t just about literature, it’s a space for shared growth and connection.

 

Why a book club?

Mentorship sessions within the HPMP were valuable and offered a chance to dive into areas that I didn’t realize I could improve, they were personal meetings. The book club is a general offering to join a general group of like-minded peers. Books are a tool for deeper exploration and a starting point for a conversation, for folks to share their experiences from their work, their communities, their lived experiences. Sitting with a book offers the chance to slow down, reflect and create your own assessment, which can be rare in high-paced work environments. Books provide the chance to learn beyond our day-to-day tasks, from sharing technical knowledge to refilling our empathy cup and considering another perspective.

 

How it started

Heading into the 2024 holiday season, I wanted to complete a personal project; a book was the perfect fit. I reached out to fellow mentees and our HPMP coordinator, Mel Willerth, Senior Manager of Education to gauge interest in reading the newly released Home Truths; Fixing Canada’s Housing Crisis by Carolyn Whitzman. A subgroup of fellow mentees expressed an eagerness; some had already read the book, others had recently made the purchase. Our HPMP coordinator connected with the author who had been a panelist during the 2024 CHRA Congress, to invite her to our virtual book club. Folks shared the book club invite with mentors, board members, colleagues, consultants, post-secondary students and beyond. CHRA offered to co-host the virtual space, providing a platform, promotion and further reach. We agreed to hold the virtual book club during a time that fits during typical work hours across the country; we catch people at the start of their day on Canada’s west coast, their lunch break in central Canada and just before they head into their weekend on the east coast.

That first book club meeting, on a snowy February afternoon, I was anxious to see if the virtual room would coalesce and if many folks would join us. I’m grateful to say that Carolyn Whitzman graciously answered our questions with over 20 participants in attendance. Before we wrapped up that first book club meeting, we offered our next title and date.

 

From the inside

Sharing a book with a group gives you a common experience and when you’re lucky, sharing it with the author allows you an opportunity to ask lingering questions! We don’t always match the author’s availability but getting together as a group is always a pleasure.

Attendees bring a wide array of experiences (both lived and professional) and represent many corners of the country. At times they intimately know areas discussed in the books, they may work with a project or live in a referenced neighbourhood.

Our book club is a space where professional insight and lived experiences meet personal reflection. We aim to be inclusive and conversational.  Even if you haven’t read the book being discussed, you’re always welcome to join the call! Your insights are valued, no matter your page count. Simply making time to get together and reflect brings value to the group.

When possible, we aim to choose Canadian books that focus on a variety of themes within the housing sector: affordability, accessibility, planning, urban environments, etc. and as a result we see a range of cross disciplinary perspectives amongst attendees.

When we discuss a book, it is inevitable that we are discussing topics that are currently evolving in the country. This has lead to surprising perspectives and similarities in communities that may be unique from one another but share common challenges.

 

What books have we covered in 2025?

In 2025 we covered six books:

Home Truths: Fixing Canada’s Housing Crisis by Carolyn Whitzman

The Tenant Class by Ricardo Tranjan

This House is Not a Home by Katlia Lafferty

Broken City by Patrick Condon

Our Crumbling Foundation: How We Solve Canada’s Housing Crisis by Gregor Craigie

Encampment; Resistance, Grace and an Unhoused Community by Maggie Helwig

 

Impact beyond the pages

Looking back on how 2025 progressed, this group has added value beyond expectations! In a country so physically large and diverse, this group has been a way to find a community. I met more folks working within the housing sector throughout Canada, heard their perspectives and what creative solutions they are applying. There is no doubt that these conversations have enriched future outcomes. Building relationships in the book club has brought about spin off meetings and potential partnerships. With a collection of repeat attendees forming, we have seen stronger relationships form between participants and genuinely an increased confidence in discussing complex housing issues.

Friday afternoons, when book club wraps up, I feel excited to continue our work in the housing sector. I find a sense of connection and a reaffirmed commitment to my work’s purpose to improve housing outcomes for all residents.

 

What’s next?

No expertise is required to join the housing book club, simply a curiosity and an openness to learn and listen. Beyond housing specific interests, participants generally share enthusiasm for community design, equity, and cities.

Join us for the housing book club at any point and share your book recommendations! You can follow along with the latest pick and meeting time by checking CHRA’s website. Our next read will be No Place Like Home: The Missing Key to Our Housing Crisis by Jessica Barrett to be discussed on Friday, June 12, 2026.

We’ll continue to host the housing book club in 2026 because better housing starts with better conversations!