Resource Kit supporting Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving (B3) housing projects
This kit is a collection of resources intended to support the Black Community Housing sector across Canada. However, it is valuable to grassroots organizations nationwide.
It was created to provide peer-to-peer learning opportunities about housing and technical support for grassroots groups in the initial stages of organizing for development. This list is not exhaustive but can provide a start to exploring the expertise in the sector.
Topics covered in this kit include:
Introduction to Black Canadians’ experience of housing
This section can help provide context on historical and ongoing structural and environmental racism and its impacts on the experiences of Black communities and housing.
The information found in the following resources may be helpful to draw from while writing grants and contribute to amplifying the importance of Black-led housing projects.
The resources include research, census and demographic analysis, webinars, news, and blog articles.
Select research and reports
A view of Africville from the upper railway line, Halifax Municipal Archives, 1968.
Buying while Black: Research project
The Black Planning Project
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
Core housing need transitions of racialized communities in Canada
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Available language: EN, FR
Type: Documents & Tools
Denied renting: Lived experiences of rental discrimination
Institute of Urban Studies at the University of Winnipeg, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Available language: EN, FR
Type: Documents & Tools
Knowing our numbers: Prosperity & Well-being Index infographic 2022
African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
Race and security of housing: Security of tenure in Canada
Homeless Hub, Office of the Federal Housing Advocate
Available language: EN, FR
Type: Documents & Tools
Articles and Webinars
Environmental Justice in Mi'kmaq & African Nova Scotian Communities, presented by Dr. Ingrid Waldron
Dalhousie University, Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities & Community Health Project (The ENRICH Project), TEDx Talks
Available language: EN
Type: Events & Training
North Preston residents fight Nova Scotia government for land titles
CBC News
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
Panel: Racial justice and community land trusts
Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts (CNCLT)
Available language: EN
Type: Events & Training
Planning and race
CP Planning
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
The threat of housing inequality to Black communities in Canada
Toned Magazine
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
Why was a Black-owned housing co-op shrouded in mystery? This descendant found out
CBC News
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
Read our related news:
Modest but promising progress in housing for Black communities
Organizations run by and for Black people are working to change this situation and develop more housing across the country but their modest numbers and resources are limited.
Examples of Black leadership and B3 housing-related projects
This section provides examples of Black-led housing-related projects in Canada and the United States. These examples can serve to inform of existing initiatives and to expand networks.
The following resources are links to organizations that are leading housing initiatives, including community land trusts, affordable housing development projects, and the creation of roadmaps.
Clandestinos’ mural in Regent Park community, courtesy of Toronto Community Housing.
Africatown Community Land Trust
Africatown Community Land Trust
Available language: EN
Type: Funding & Services
Black Community Technical Housing Resources Centre - New initiative to tackle housing disparities in Black communities
The Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC)
Available language: EN
Type: Funding & Services
Black Community Housing Society (BCHS) - Executive Summary
Société d’habitation des communautés noires (SHCN-BCHS)
Available language: FR
Type: Funding & Services
Black-led community land trusts in Canada
Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts (CNCLT)
Available language: EN
Type: Events & Training
Durham Community Land Trustees - Why a community land trust?
Durham Community Land Trustees
Available language: EN
Type: Funding & Services
Hogan’s Alley Community Land Trust
Hogan’s Alley Society (HAS)
Available language: EN
Type: Funding & Services
Right to Return to Rondo Initiative
Rondo Community Land Trust
Available language: EN
Type: Funding & Services
Roadmap for redevelopment plans to confront systemic racism
CP Planning
Available language: EN
Type: Funding & Services
Upper Hammonds Plains Community Land Trust (UHPCLT)
Available language: EN
Type: Funding & Services
Read our related news:
Empowering tenants to ensure housing security in Oakwood Vaughan, Eglinton west
Tenant solidarity through community leadership aims to grow community capacity for tenants to lead and be supported by other residents and local organizations.
WoodGreen: An ambitious plan and partnerships to support growth
Partnerships are key to WoodGreen’s growth, German believes. Without them, “we’d probably only build 100 units in the next 10 years.
Guides, templates and tools to get your development project started
These resources provide technical support for early-stage organizational development. They are particularly useful for organizations who are in the initial stages of establishing themselves and are exploring community housing development initiatives.
Resources in this list include design toolkits, guides, and training opportunities.
About affordable housing in Canada
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Available language: EN, FR
Type: Funding & Services
Affordable Housing Development Navigator
Public Good Society of Dartmouth
Available language: EN
Type: Events & Training
Capital costs and pro-forma operating budget template
Government of Nova Scotia
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
Social Purpose Real Estate Training
Infrastructure Institute, University of Toronto School of Cities
Available language: EN
Type: Events & Training
Starting a CLT
Canadian Network Community Land Trust,
Available language: EN, FR
Type: Documents & Tools
Step-by-step guide to developing affordable housing, 2nd Edition
Rural Development Network
Available language: EN, FR
Type: Documents & Tools
Women-centred housing design toolkit
BC Society of Transition Houses
Available language: EN
Type: Documents & Tools
Read our related news:
Community land trusts: a response to the housing crisis
Canadians need to rethink their relationship with individual private property if we are to tackle the housing crisis.
Submit or share resources
We are gathering resources created by and for equity-seeking communities.
Do you have resources to share? We are calling for submissions of resources designed to foster the development of the community housing sector.
Have a project idea? Learn more about our funds:
The Nova Scotia Community Housing Growth Fund, to accelerate the growth of Black-led community housing organizations.
Check out our other grants.