Matt Thomson

Systems Strategy and Partnerships – Community Housing

As the Community Housing Lead at Urban Matters, Matt Thomson helps to develop new approaches to solve tough housing problems. He has more than a decade of experience in focused housing research, policy development and advisory services, and understands the actors and systems at play across the housing field. He has worked extensively across western Canada, conducting needs assessments and housing strategies in more than 60 B.C. communities between 2019 and 2021. In addition to gathering data, Matt is driven by a strong sense of service and is passionate about being on the frontline of community engagement and qualitative research. He understands the true impact of government policy and housing development on people and communities, and therefore the urgency of exploring opportunities for new investments and innovation to make housing more affordable and accessible for Canadians. Matt has a Master of Arts in Planning from the University of British Columbia and has worked both as an independent consultant, and in the non-profit sector, with the Social Planning and Research Council of BC.