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Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Non-Profit and Co-op Homes: The Way for Ontario to Build Its Way Out of the Housing Crisis
New modeling from United Way Greater Toronto and CHF Canada shows the scale of housing need with a practical plan to meet it through non-profit and co-op housing investment TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2025 /CNW/ - As housing costs soar and new builds stall, a report released today by United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada) outlines a costed, delivery-ready plan to tackle Ontario's deepening housing crisis – and build the housing that people actually need. The report, Built for Good, identifies what it would take to transform Ontario's housing system, with ten, five and two-year targets, and investment estimates grounded in reality. For example, a $16.7 billion investment over two years would jumpstart a province-wide affordable housing strategy, led by the co-op and non-profit housing providers whose mission is long-term affordability for low- and moderate- and middle-income households. On par with other major infrastructure commitments, the investment would create stable homes for thousands while generating jobs and economic activity across the province and relieving pressure on public systems like healthcare and emergency shelters. "Ontario's protracted housing crisis continues to rob our communities of potential and prosperity, and we've identified a new roadmap for getting out of this," said Heather McDonald, President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto. " Built for Good opens the door to opportunities for real progress by focusing on non-profit partners and the right investment, so we can build and protect the deeply affordable homes people need. This benefits all Ontarians, no matter where they find themselves on the housing continuum." "Ontario's housing crisis demands bold, proven solutions," said Tim Ross, CEO, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Ontario Region. "The co-op housing sector is ready and able to deliver affordable homes that strengthen communities. With an existing pipeline of co-op projects across the province, we can build quickly, create good construction jobs, and ensure public dollars result in homes that stay affordable for generations. The Built for Good report lays out both the need and a clear path to deliver more homes that meaningfully address the housing crisis." The province's goal of 1.5 million new homes by 2031 includes all types of housing — but without targeted investment, the most affordable options will continue to fall behind. Housing crisis by the numbers: Nearly 400,000 households will need housing support by 2030 through new builds, rental supports and preserving community housing Over 55,000 affordable homes are at risk of being lost without investment More than 80,000 Ontarians experienced homelessness in the past year Ontario lost 120,000 affordable rental units between 2006 and 2021 Built for Good's two-year plan would: Build 15,150 new deeply affordable homes Provide rental assistance to 170,000 low-income households Develop 8,250 moderately affordable homes Preserve and repair 65,000 existing affordable homes The report urges all levels of government to treat affordable housing as critical infrastructure and commit to a province-wide plan to scale non-market housing. Many projects are ready to go, they just need funding to break ground. UWGT and partners will be engaging government and community stakeholders across Ontario in the weeks ahead. About United Way Greater Toronto As the largest non-government funder of community services in the GTA, United Way Greater Toronto reinforces a crucial community safety net to support people living in poverty. United Way's network of agencies and initiatives in neighbourhoods across Peel, Toronto and York Region works to ensure that everyone has access to the programs and services they need to thrive. Mobilizing community support, United Way's work is rooted in groundbreaking research, strategic leadership, local advocacy and cross-sectoral partnerships committed to building a more equitable region and lasting solutions to the GTA's greatest challenges. About the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada) The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada) is the national voice of co-operative housing, representing 2,200 housing co-operatives, home to a quarter of a million people in every province and territory. Co-operative housing is a well-documented success story. For over 50 years, co-ops have provided good quality, affordable housing owned and managed by the community members who live there. Our organization remains committed to being a key partner in increasing affordable housing across Canada through the construction and growth of new co-op homes.
04-06-2025
- Business
Quebecers can wait years to get into co-op housing. So why isn't there more?
Relics of a long life are scattered throughout Dimitri Roussopoulos's 19th-century home. The 88-year-old has lived in the two-storey townhouse since 1972, where he and three other residents pay under $1,000 a month. I often travel and people say, 'where do you get the money for travelling?' I say, 'well, I don't have to pay a mortgage,' he says. Roussopoulos is one of the founders of Canada's largest housing co-operative development, the Milton Park Community, in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. The network spans six square blocks, with 616 housing units, 146 residential buildings and two commercial buildings. Since co-op members own the property, no one has to worry about being evicted or the building being sold — as long as they follow the rules. I have a sense of ownership, I have a sense of security, says Roussopoulos. I feel my personality enriched. I feel healthier in every way, physically and mentally. According to the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF), forms of social housing, including co-ops, make up less than four per cent of Canada's housing stock. It can also take years for a co-op housing unit to become available. In Quebec, wait times can range from one to two years, according to the Confédération québécoise des coopératives d'habitation (CQCH) . How do co-ops work? In a housing co-op, members are co-owners and vote on how the building is managed. Generally, housing co-ops are divided into two categories: non-profit and equity co-ops. In the latter, you buy a share of a building, which can gain value over time. Non-profit co-ops are much more common in Canada. In those, you don't build equity — instead, you pay a monthly fee that covers building expenses and maintenance. When you leave, your unit goes to someone else. That means residents can pay significantly under market rate for housing — depending on the city, province and structure of the co-op. WATCH | How does a housing co-op work?: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? How co-operatives could become a hack to Canada's housing crisis People who live in them say they offer an attractive, low-cost alternative as the price of renting and buying property rises. Here's how housing co-ops work and why we might start hearing more about them in Canada. CHF Canada says there are about 95,000 co-op housing units in Canada, most of which were developed two generations ago. In the 1970s and 80s there was robust federal and provincial investment in new co-operative housing supply, explains Tim Ross, executive director of CHF Canada. That investment slowed down due to policy decisions by governments in the 80s and 90s, to first cut and then eliminate social housing funding. More government funding Different levels of government have scaled up funding for co-op housing in recent years. Last year, the federal government launched the Co-op Housing Development Program, setting aside $1.5 billion in contributions and loans to build and expand co-ops. In a statement, a spokesperson for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada says the government recognizes the essential role that non-market housing, including co-operative housing, plays in fulfilling many Canadians' housing needs. It adds that low-cost loans and forgivable loans for new and existing co-op units are available through the Affordable Housing Fund. Quebec's Housing Ministry also says housing co-ops are an important model in Quebec's housing supply ecosystem. In a statement, a ministry spokesperson said funds are available through a variety of programs, including the Quebec Affordable Housing Program. Last year, the City of Montreal announced it would sell its land (new window) — usually vacant lots or parking lots — at a break-even price if it is being used to build off-market housing. Quebec's CQCH says it's a good start, but a far cry from government investments in the 70s and 80s. General director Sandra Turgeon says that if governments are serious about developing this kind of housing, they'll have to provide a lot more funding long term. She adds that government programs can be tough to navigate and tend to favour long-established co-ops over new ones. The co-op needs to have experience, she says. You have to already be big to get bigger. Hurdles to starting new housing co-ops Professor Avi Friedman heads McGill University's affordable homes research group. He says starting a new co-op can be time-consuming and complicated. The process starts with establishing a co-op entity and acquiring funding. A group of people need to get together and if they build their own property, they need to hire to find a site and to buy the site, get permits to build and so on. These are processes that usually are very cumbersome and long, he says. The CQCH adds that residents won't save as much in newly established co-ops as ones established years ago. Turgeon says residents in new co-ops will pay closer to the current market rate, minus whatever government funding is available. She argues the process is still worth it. We work for the future. It's a little bit expensive now, but it will stay at the same price in future years and your income will increase, she says. Ross believes the best approach is to scale up existing housing co-ops, rather than starting new organizations altogether. They have a track record and a balance sheet from which to work with, so that does create a more advantageous situation when it comes to new development, he says. Not for everyone Friedman says that the democratic nature of a co-op isn't something everyone will find appealing. We are individualistic in nature, he explains. People want to own their own property, to be suburban. Once they move in, there can be issues with getting along, how to share things and so on. Roussopoulos admits that co-op members may butt heads at times, but the sense of community makes it all worth it. People talk to each other. They know each other on a first-name basis and that creates a whole atmosphere where you feel great comfort. Sharon Yonan-Renold (new window) · CBC News
