The challenges of creating affordable housing often appear to be huge in large urban centres, but they also affect smaller communities across the country. To meet the needs of those districts, the non-profit New Commons Development, which is dedicated to housing development for non-profit, co-operative or public-sector organizations, has created the Small Communities Initiative.
This month, the Centre’s newsletter is focusing on the need for volunteers for the “Vote Housing” awareness campaign, initiated to ensure that housing and the fight against homelessness are key issues for candidates looking for our votes during the next federal election.
People may have trouble remembering what ACORN stands for, but there’s no question that the housing-rights organization has taken stands that led to major gains for tenants across Canada through the work of its 24 neighbourhood chapters.
The NPO Community Affordable Housing Solutions is an example of compound collaboration. It is the result of the efforts of a community group in Toronto that fought for affordable housing in the Bloor Dufferin area, efforts that resulted in an agreement between a real-estate developer, the city of Toronto and the community group. It is also the result of the synergy between Habitat for Humanity GTA, the St. Clare’s Multifaith Housing Society and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada to establish a land trust and to administer the funds raised by the agreement.
Long perceived as a Mecca for single-family homeowners, the West Island of Montréal has been a lonely place for tenants seeking support services. A grant from the Centre, however, is helping turn the tide by funding the establishment of its first housing association.
