Housing Research Services

The vendor is required to provide housing research services in three (3) streams of services:
• Stream 1: Social and Statistical Research
• Stream 2: Technical Research
• Stream 3: Housing Finance and Market Analysis
- Organizes and conducts research projects, gathers data, conducts analysis, prepares draft reports.
- • Experience working on a minimum of three (3) projects/assignments related the research area(s); and,
• Post-secondary education (i.e. degree, diploma or certificate) in the social sciences, urban and/or regional planning, public policy, economics, engineering, architecture, building sciences, environmental sciences, housing and/or real estate studies, or related field.
- Stream 1: social and statistical research:
• Depending on the role in the project team (senior researcher or researcher, see section above), a post-secondary, graduate or post-graduate university degree, preferably in the social sciences, urban and/or regional planning, public policy, economics and related fields or demonstrated equivalent experience; and,
• Demonstrated experience using social science theories, analytical approaches, quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, and community-based research methods.
- Research competency areas:
• Undertaking scoping reviews and/or literature reviews of peer-reviewed journal publications, government documents, industry reports and other 'grey literature' to identify knowledge gaps and analyze key themes and emerging issues and trends in the housing sector in state and internationally.
• Designing and implementing high quality research projects, including validation and assessment of research approaches, identification of appropriate methodologies, development and testing of data collection methods, testing and use of analytical frameworks, and communication of research findings in different formats, targeted to specific audiences.
• Ability to perform various machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to collect, analyze and interpret data and trends using different software, such as python, pytorch, tensor flow, and cloud platforms; this includes machine learning model development, design and implementation, feature engineering and model evaluation; this involves knowledge of various AI algorithms (neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, etc.).
• Mixed-method research involving integration of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Application of geographic information science (GIS) to collect geospatial data from a variety of sources to enable data visualization, analysis and modelling using GIS software such as ArcGIS, QGIS etc.
• Impact evaluation employing a broad range of longitudinal methods and methodologies that allow for the analysis of causal attribution and includes examining unintended consequences.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply indigenous research methodology in housing and adjacent systems, involving a range of related techniques (such as storytelling, individual reflections, sharing circles, ceremony, art creation, auto ethnographic methods etc.).
• Knowledge of principles relating to indigenous data sovereignty articulated by distinctions based indigenous groups, and experience conducting research in compliance with indigenous data sovereignty principles as they apply to different distinctions-based groups.
- Specialized knowledge areas:
• Transformations, conditions and trends in housing markets (including rental housing and rental markets) in state and internationally, including implications for housing supply, affordability and need in different geographies (urban, rural, remote, northern etc.).
• Knowledge of the urban and regional planning system in the state context including, but not limited to, the application of urban economics, social and environmental analyses to understand issues and trends related to housing, infrastructure, community design and other dimensions or urban/regional land use and development.
• Knowledge of, and demonstrated ability to work with, municipal, provincial/territorial, national and non-profit organizations’ data sets.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to work with and analyze disaggregated data considering the perspectives and needs of populations the data aims to benefit.
• Knowledge of housing conditions and needs of indigenous people in state, both off-reserve and on-reserve, and demonstrated ability to work alongside indigenous communities, organizations, and local, regional and/or national indigenous governments.
• The housing needs of populations experiencing different types of vulnerability in the state housing system, including the lived experience of housing need and tailored approaches to improve housing stability, social inclusion, and other outcomes (e.g. housing models, supports and services etc.).
- Stream 2- technical research
• conducting environmental scans, literature searches and reviews of peer-reviewed journal publications, government documents, industry reports and other grey literature to identify knowledge gaps and analyze key themes and emerging issues and trends in the housing sector in state and internationally.
• Designing and implementing high quality research projects, including validation and assessment of research approaches, identification of appropriate methodologies, development and testing of data collection methods, testing and use of analytical frameworks, and communication of research findings in different formats, targeted to specific audiences.
• Developing questionnaires and conducting stakeholder engagement, building owners and managers to assess perception of technical performance and other building construction methods (e.g., indoor air quality, comfort, ease of operation and maintenance, energy and water efficiency, etc.); including experience with informed consent, and privacy and confidentiality protocols, where appropriate.
• Identifying data needs; developing data collection methods; collection, storage, access to various data sources, retrieval and usage protocols; mining of existing data sets (e.g. utility data), analyzing data using statistical tools; ability to work with large data sets, including but not limited to those available at natural resources state, national research council, statistics state research data centers and other government department data.
• Dissemination of technical or research findings, lessons learned, and knowledge gained from the research in multiple information products via multiple channels and venues.
- Specialized knowledge areas:
• Prefabricated construction and design:
a. Knowledge of incorporating aspects of prefabrication / off-site construction into building designs such as, but not limited to, panelized solutions, componentization (such as prefabricated panels, trusses, preassembled window and cladding assemblies, etc.), and design for site assembly.
b. Knowledge of design solutions with flexible options that enable offsite or hybrid construction approaches to increase construction efficiency.
• Automation & system design: knowledge and understanding of construction automation in state. Experience with the integration of advanced methods with traditional construction (e.g. 3d printing housing, hybrid construction systems, etc.).
• Digital technology and digitalization: knowledge and understanding as it relates to digital technology in the evolution of the housing sector (e.g. e-permitting, use of BIM, virtual inspections, etc.)
• New housing construction costs: knowledge, understanding, and access to low, mid and high-rise residential construction systems, materials, equipment, processes and supply chains; construction costs; innovative technologies and practices that reduce capital and project delivery costs; factors and trends that impact and influence capital costs.
• Existing deep building retrofits and renewal costs: knowledge and understanding of deep building retrofits for low, mid and high-rise residential, understanding repair and renewal strategies, systems, materials, equipment, processes and supply chains; repair and renewal costs; conditions that cause material, system, equipment failures, innovative technologies and practices that reduce repair and renewal costs; factors and trends that influence repair and renewal needs and costs.
• Existing housing operation and maintenance (O&M) costs: knowledge and understanding of low, mid and high-rise residential operations and maintenance regimes and needs; property management structure and operations; O&M expenses; building condition assessments and reserve fund studies; O&M -related system, equipment and material failures, innovative technologies, practices and systems to reduce O&M costs.
• Climate change mitigation (technologies and practices): knowledge and understanding of residential energy consumption reduction and de carbonization design, technologies, practices and strategies for new construction, retrofit and renewal projects including building envelope measures, agency systems, lighting, equipment, renewable energy systems, energy recovery systems, co-generation system or other innovative technologies and practices, energy performance optimization, control systems, implementation of best practices to improve energy efficiency; occupant engagement strategies; lifecycle embodied energy and carbon assessment; technology assessments; cost and energy optimized pathways to reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions; knowledge of government, non-government organization, utility and private sector residential-related climate change action plans and policies.
• Climate change mitigation (modelling): building energy consumption and GHG emission reduction performance modelling and analysis, parametric analysis and optimization, developing baseline models, as-designed models, conducting model calibration and validation, analysis of results, cost and energy optimization, utility bill reconciliation; residential building stock level modelling.
• Climate change resilience: knowledge and understanding of impact of climate change on housing and communities (including vulnerable populations); knowledge of climate resiliency technologies, practices and strategies at the building and community level and related costs; knowledge of government, non-government organization, utility and private sector residential related climate change resilience plans and policies.
• Measurement and verification: knowledge and understanding of approaches to documenting design characteristics and targeted performance and measuring and verifying the as-built conditions; data collection methods and systems; installing instrumentation; measuring and documenting in-situ building characteristics, operational regimes, and performance including energy and water consumption; documenting accessibility features; key innovations to achieve performance objects.
• Northern housing: knowledge and understanding of the unique community-based technical and cost challenges of designing, delivering, building, operating and preserving housing in northern and remote locations and on-reserve communities.
• Diverse population impacts: knowledge and understanding of how design, construction, technologies, the built environment, and other factors impact different populations (i.e., by age, race, gender, disability, geography, income, etc.)
- Stream 3- Housing finance and market analysis
• Depending on the role in the project team (senior researcher or researcher), a postsecondary, graduate or post-graduate university degree in economics with strong mathematical and/or statistical background; and,
• Proficiency in using advanced relevant data management and analytical and statistical software, including Fortran, c, Stata, r, python, and GIS based software, pytorch, tensor flow, cloud platforms such as azure data bricks, and other statistical software; work products must be clearly labelled, documented (e.g. using code comments), and designed to work in agency-like environments.
• Capacity to conduct surveys or gather and analyze qualitative data using qualitative research methods is not mandatory but would be an asset to the project team.
- Research competency areas:
• Undertaking scoping reviews and/or literature reviews of peer-reviewed journal publications, government documents, industry reports and other 'grey literature' to identify knowledge gaps, situate the project’s contribution and analyze key themes and emerging issues in the housing sector, in state and internationally
• Designing and implementing high quality mixed methods research projects, including validation and assessment of research approaches, identification of appropriate methodologies, use of analytical frameworks, and communication of research findings in different formats while targeted and simplified to be understood by the general audience.
• Quantitative research methods, including primary data collection from survey and other data sources, mining of existing data sets (e.g., census, administrative data), and analysis using statistical tools (as detailed below).
• Ability to collect relevant data in housing finance and market analysis; experience in managing data effectively, ensuring its accuracy, consistency, safety and privacy; foster ethical use, data quality management and applying analytical tools to produce high quality products (using tools like county, spark, and bi platforms)
• Ability to work with large data sets, including those available at statistics state research data centers and/or other housing related state and international databases is an asset.
• Ability to examine impact of housing finance system on the wider housing system and different populations, including people experiencing vulnerabilities as defined in the NHS (e.g., newcomers and refugees, racialized persons or communities, women and children fleeing violence, seniors, people who have experienced homelessness).
• Knowledge of topics and research methodologies related to economics of cities and the many policies and factors that determine city structure and performance, such as land use regulations, local labor markets, agglomeration economies, trade, and transportation infrastructure. • Ability to perform various machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to collect, analyze and interpret data and trends; this includes machine learning model development, design and implementation, feature engineering and model evaluation; this involves knowledge of various AI algorithms (neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, etc.).
• Research methods regarding the financial impacts of climate change, natural disasters, the impact of climate events and natural disasters on housing market conditions would be an asset.
• Qualitative research methods, including primary data collection and analysis from surveys, interviews, focus groups, and case studies, including experience with informed consent and privacy and confidentiality protocols, as well as the secure storage and destruction of data.
- Specialized knowledge areas:
• Housing market
• Housing economics and finance
• Urban and real estate economics
• Multi-unit housing finance
• The role of government and the private sector in housing finance, including housing finance regulatory framework (e.g., OSFI, BIS)
• Housing construction financing
• Housing finance technology (Intech, PropTech, etc.)
• Credit risk, financial markets and financial product innovation analysis
• Knowledge of data sources of high quality (disaggregated) that help understand the housing finance systems including mortgage lending data
• Mortgage lending processes
• Macro-prudential regulation and policy
• The impact of climate change on housing economics and finance
• The intersection of housing economics and finance with social policy and housing needs
• Housing market system as it impacts indigenous people in state , both on-reserve and off reserve, include estimation of demand for and barriers to homeownership
• Housing finance system as it affects indigenous financial entities (such as economic development corporations, financial institutions) currently active in state housing finance system and those aspiring to enter this space
- Contract Period/Term: 2 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: March 21, 2025