When we decided as an organization to make our big, hairy audacious goal that NHA would set the standard for community housing, we agreed at a fundamental level that setting the standard was never going to be about achieving some fixed version of perfection. 

Follow our Manager of Strategy & Engagement, Inam Teja, through a regular work day!  

Research consistently shows that people who feel connected to others tend to live longer, healthier lives. A large global review of 148 studies found that people with strong social relationships had roughly a 50% greater likelihood of survival than those who were more socially isolated. 

Canada’s housing challenges require multiple solutions. New construction is one important piece. Preserving existing affordable homes is another. 

Both approaches have their place and form an essential part of any conversation about the housing needs of our cities and communities. 

When both are supported, communities gain not only more housing, but more stable housing, for current residents and for those still searching for a place to call home. 

At NHA, we recognize that our values are a constant conversation between what we’re doing, who we’re doing it for, and the direction we’re headed in. They’re the lens we use when we’re weighing trade-offs, slowing things down, or choosing the less visible path. 

Here are a few ways that shows up in practice. 

As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to ask our team about the year – not just about what got done, but also what stood out to them, what still matters now, and what made the biggest difference. 

Their responses illuminated a story of progress, of meaningful relationships, and of a growing sense of shared responsibility between residents and staff for making our community everything it is. 

Here’s what stood out from the year. 

At Norfolk Housing Association, we’ve always believed that a strong community is built with residents, not just for them.

The Calgary Dollars program continues to show what becomes possible when people have more room to participate, contribute, and make meaningful choices in where they live.