Latest news with #notforprofit
CBC
13 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Not-for-profits are racing to save affordable apartments. But critics say we should just build new ones
Social Sharing Marleny Ozuna Felix seems to have won the lottery of landlords. For as long as she stays in her building, the single mother of three has a guarantee that her home will remain affordable. She pays $964 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in Burnaby, B.C. — roughly $1,390 cheaper than the average rent for a unit that size in the area. Depending on the maintenance needs of the building, there will be years her rent doesn't increase. And in the years it does, it will never exceed provincial guidelines. When her building went up for sale, chances were high a for-profit landlord would purchase it, be it a small private equity firm or a large corporation whose focus is to make a return for investors. Instead, the new owner is Aunt Leah's Properties, a not-for-profit organization whose main objective is to keep rent accessible and to preserve what's left of Canada's affordable housing. It bought the building with a grant from a new provincial program with a similar objective. "I would be out on the streets with my children if we were evicted from here," Felix said in a recent interview with CBC. "I just can't afford anything else that I see on the market in this neighbourhood or anywhere else." Her story mirrors that of renters across the country who have seen record-breaking increases, while those in below-market units live with the constant fear of eviction so their landlord can relist their home at a higher price or demolish it to build a bigger building. WATCH | Their rent has effectively been frozen. What it means for these B.C. tenants: 'This is pretty much the only place that I can afford' 1 hour ago Duration 1:18 These tenants worried their Burnaby, B.C., apartment building would be sold to a landlord who would hike their rents. Instead, a not-for-profit bought through a government partnership, with the promising of keeping the rent predictable. But this story is more than just Felix's. In many ways it's the story of the building — and whether it could be a model of how this country tackles the affordable housing crisis. While many market analysts suggest the solution is to build more housing, others argue that government funding and not-for-profits can help fill the gap by conserving existing affordable housing stock. The Ontario Non-profit Housing Association estimates community housing accounts for approximately 12% of overall rental housing in Canada. Non-profits own only a portion of that — meaning that for-profit landlords own the lion's share of multi-family buildings. In the 1990s, the government largely got out of subsidized housing and turned the bulk of housing over to the private sector. Since then, private landlords have been the primary buyers and developers of new stock. They've also sometimes taken the blame for the lack of affordable housing while the government has taken a back seat. But the tide is changing, at least in B.C. The B.C. Rental Protection Fund was announced in 2023 and has a goal of investing $500-million to help not-for-profits, who, like Aunt Leah's Properties, buy existing, occupied buildings and ensure the rent stays predictable for tenants. "The most affordable housing we have is the affordable housing we've already got," said Katie Maslechko, CEO of the Rental Protection Fund. "We were losing four to five affordable units for every one new unit that we were building." How it works Not-for-profits can apply to the fund for a one-time, non-repayable capital grant to help with the purchase. Once an organization has pre-qualified, Maslechko said they can start shopping. Those pursuing the acquisitions are encouraged to consider the building's capacity, scale, location and tenants, all with a goal of making sure the purchase is sustainable, she said. The grant essentially turns the building into a sort of rental time capsule — the rent for each unit stays effectively the same as it was at purchase, unless there are significant mainteance costs or other factors. Then, the increase would go no higher than a few percentage points, whatever the cap the provincial program has set for the year. It offers stability not only for the tenants living there, but also keeps rent from skyrocketing if there's turnover — unlike the private sector where there is no rent cap on apartments that become vacant. It's a different model than subsidized housing, and it can fill a gap for middle-income renters, Maslechko said. "The teachers and nurses and people that make our communities run but are so often left behind by everything else out there," she said. "They often make a little bit too much to qualify for subsidized housing. And you also see that with folks on a pension, they make just a little bit too much, even off their pension to qualify for subsidized housing programs." Last spring, the Liberal government announced the Canadian Rental Protection Fund, which would operate similarly to one in B.C. It's still in the early stages and has yet to contribute to any acquisitions. A spokesperson for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada told CBC it would be accepting applications from housing providers until the end of May. The national fund has a budget of $1.47 billion, with $470 million allotted for non-repayable grants and $1 billion in low-interest loans to "support the acquisitions of existing, privately owned, multi-unit residential buildings. WATCH | The benefit of saving existing housing instead of building new: 'The most affordable housing we have, is the affordable housing we've already got' 1 hour ago Duration 0:30 The CEO of the Rental Protection Fund says that preserving existing affordable stock is critical to the housing crisis, noting it's faster and cheaper to do that than to build new units. 'We were losing four to five affordable units for every one new unit that we were building,' Katie Maslechko said. The CEO of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, which oversees 700 not-for-profits in Ontario, estimates that such a budget could save up to 10,000 affordable units in two years. Marlene Coffey said not-for-profits who have been in this business long-term know how to preserve the existing affordable housing stock. "We know where it's being lost and we know where we would protect it," she said. "Also if we own the asset we can leverage that through financing, so it's in our interest to grow our portfolio and leverage that asset and do more, so there is a domino effect in this strategy." A big impact In 2022, not-for-profits in British Columbia bought just two per cent of multi-family homes in the province. But last year, because of the provincial fund, they bought about a third of multi-family units that came up for sale — more than a 30 per cent increase. "Not-for-profits have never really been able to compete against big corporate landlords because they simply do not have the funding," Maschleko said. "We're changing that." According to housing and policy expert Steve Pomeroy, the most recent census data had shown Canada lost more than 550,000 affordable housing units between 2011 and 2021. The units themselves are still there — they are just no longer affordable. There are varying ways to define affordability, and it also depends on perspective. Statistics Canada defines it as housing costs that take up no more than 30 per cent of a family's gross income. "The phrase affordability can be defined in many different ways — there is a wide range between someone who can afford three or four hundred dollars a month to someone who can afford three thousand a month," Pomeroy said, noting that Statistics Canada defines it as having housing costs that take up no more than 30 percent of the household's gross income. To put it in perspective, right now the national average rent for a one-bedroom unit is about $2,200 per month. So, to meet the Statistics Canada definition, he said, the household would need to make at least $88,000 a year. Working against the housing crisis? But not everyone believes that conservation is the way forward. "It sounds good on paper, but in reality is actually a terrible idea," said Andrey Pavlov, a professor in real estate finance at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. "It is better to take the money and throw it in the ocean." Instead, he said all government funding should go toward new builds, not purchasing existing buildings. WATCH | This real estate prof says Ottawa needs to build new housing, not buy old buildings: To create affordable housing, Ottawa needs to increase density, prof says 1 hour ago Duration 0:43 Real estate professor Andrey Pavlov says that any government funding earmarked for housing should go toward new builds, rather than saving existing buildings. "If you protect a building that is three storeys instead of tearing it down and building it to be 30 storeys, you are actually working against the housing crisis," Pavlov said. "We need to build a lot more. We're not keeping up with our own population growth, let alone people who want to come here." And he said the national fund will make it harder for Prime Minister Mark Carney to fulfil his promise to build 500,000 more units a year. To build that many units, you "need the land to build on in areas where people want to live," Pavlov said. "This fund is protecting small-scale buildings that in many cases could offer an opportunity to go much higher." Several buildings the B.C. fund has helped non-profits acquire have already generated criticism for preserving low density in areas that need it to be much higher. Now is better But for Maschleko the B.C. fund is one part of fixing the housing crisis — and she said it's a no-brainer. "It is much more cost-effective to maintain the affordability that already exists than to try to recreate it once it has been lost," she said. She points to the high cost of building, suggesting that the only way to keep new units affordable is for the government to keep subsidizing those tenants. "You're spending significant public money year over year to keep that affordability low versus being able to make this one-time investment," she said. Coffey also agrees it can't be the only approach, but that rental protection funds within all levels of government are necessary. In the climate of tariffs we can pick up an asset at about half the price of building something new, Coffey said. "We need a multi-pronged approach to driving solutions to this housing crisis, that is how we will get there faster." WATCH | How does B.C.'s rental protection fund work?: Renters live in fear as corporations buy up buildings 3 minutes ago Duration 11:29 As corporations continue to buy up rental units in Canada, a B.C. program is trying to keep housing affordable for tenants. CBC's Lyndsay Duncombe breaks down how the provincial rental protection fund works and the impact it's having on residents in one Burnaby building.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Unusual two-for-one Moolap property sells for record price
An unusual two-for-one deal has helped a sprawling residential property in Moolap achieve a record price. The $1.8m sale marks a new chapter for 20 High St, Moolap, where the twin benefits of dual houses attracted a not-for-profit buyer. First National, Golden Plains agent Owen Sharkey said the organisation had 'big plans' to create client accommodation at the 4740sq m corner property. Geelong West cottage thrown a lifeline It currently comprises a renovated, four-bedroom family home and a separate period residence that had been operating as a successful Airbnb. Mr Sharkey said the unconventional property initially proved a tough sell but it's flexibility eventually attracted several potential buyers. 'It just went gangbusters and we ended up having two or three parties fighting for it,' he said. 'We had a lot of people looking at it from an alternative type living arrangement, as in dual families, and there are a lot of properties around there that seem to be taken up by government agencies so we tapped into a few of them to see if they had any interest in the area and, as it turned out, one of them did.' He said the organisation trumped one other group, which saw a chance for a multigenerational base with the parents in one house and younger family members in another. 'I think that's probably going to be something that's exciting properties into the future is those dual occupancy ones where mum and dad can chip in and throw a million bucks into rather than heading off to a nursing home,' he said. 'You are able to leave that wealth creation to the kids down the road.' The renovated two-storey house at the property provides spacious accommodation, with dual living zones, two home offices and a large rumpus room with a wood fire in a converted garage. Granite benchtops and dual Smeg ovens feature in the kitchen, while three of the four bedrooms have modern ensuite bathrooms. Nearby another three-bedroom character home, 'Montreaux on High', had been lovingly restored and renovated. It has its own secure front garden and had been generating an annual holiday let income of $58,500 a year with a 55 per cent vacancy rate. 'It was a very interesting property given its proximity to Geelong and the size of it. You do forget you have that area there in Moolap … it's a really unusual pocket,' Mr Sharkey said. The $1.8m price tag is the most expensive price for a house on a residential block under 2ha in Moolap. The suburb's median house price has lifted slightly to $1.145m over the past year, according to PropTrack data.
The Guardian
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Are food co-ops worth it? I set one up in my neighbourhood to find out
Most people would jump at the chance to save up to 40% – and more in some cases – on their food shopping each week. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Yet if it meant discarding speed and convenience in favour of old-fashioned ideas such as knocking on doors and collaborating with the neighbours, would that enthusiasm remain? As far as the not-for-profit food co-op Cooperation Town is concerned, the answer is yes – people just need encouragement. Launched in 2019 on an estate in Kentish Town in north London with the aim of promoting solidarity in place of charity, its founders quickly discovered demand was high. Cooperation Town has since gone from strength to strength. It is now helping more than 30 community UK food co-ops to buy wholesale and acquire surplus groceries from businesses to feed themselves at a significant discount. Everyone typically chips in £3 to £6 a week and the economies of scale help to make that collective pot go much further. A few months ago, intrigued by the concept and the potential savings that could be made, I approached Shiri Shalmy, one of the co-founders of Cooperation Town, to talk about setting up my own food co-op. Much as I liked the idea, I wondered how easy it would be to agree on what food to order and I also felt unsure about the time commitment. 'Not everyone will get everything they want,' Shalmy told me. 'But most people will get everything they need. The specialist stuff, you go to the shop for. I do that because I can't expect 20 other households to want the same type of dessert that I like. But it turns out most people, no matter where you are in the world, eat rice, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables.' As for the time commitment, Shalmy said most co-ops ran smoothly and were simple to manage so long as everyone shared the work. The biggest hurdle to creating a food co-op is the initial time and effort involved in setting it up and finding like-minded people. Shalmy recommends keeping things small for the sake of convenience, with the aim of involving perhaps 15 to 20 neighbours and encouraging the development of a separate co-op if more want to join. Shalmy is adamant about one core principle: there is no substitute for knocking on doors and talking to people directly. So, over a period of about two weeks, I found an hour here and there to approach my immediate neighbours. Armed with some Cooperation Town leaflets and a quick spiel about the potential savings, I spoke to people to gauge interest. The response was generally positive. After posting in a local WhatsApp group and asking a few friends who live close by too, I soon had about 13 people willing to give it a try. From there, I arranged some meetings to discuss the general idea and air any reservations. Probably the biggest obstacle was finding one evening in the week when 10 to 12 people could all attend. In the end, we hosted several meetings for different groups. I sat in on some to explain what had been discussed in the previous meeting, or shared notes so the next group knew what had been discussed and agreed. We quickly decided to fill in a spreadsheet with the foods we all regularly buy in order to gain a sense of any crossovers and what our first order might look like. It did not take long to realise we all eat roughly the same fruit and vegetables on a more or less weekly basis. Cooperation Town has an online starter pack that runs through a lot of frequently asked questions and its website is loaded with other resources such as a proposed agenda for a co-op's first meeting, a template for a weekly shopping list and an example of a co-op constitution. The organisation recognises that no one wants to sit through long and boring meetings, but also stresses that 'consent decision-making' is the most equitable way of reaching decisions. Proposals are raised and discussed until everyone is happy and no one has a strong objection. This is not the fastest way to organise, but it ensures everyone's needs are being met. In my co-op, we debated whether to buy store-cupboard items such as rice and tinned tomatoes on an irregular basis, or focus on more frequent orders of perishable items. When I looked into the prices offered by wholesalers such as Costco and Booker, I found that buying bulk packages of rice or pasta was not all that cheaper – about 89p for 500g of basmati rice, for example – than buying individual packets of own-brand supermarket products. Instead, the real value seemed to be in buying large boxes of seasonal produce from wholesale grocers. At this time of year, a 500g packet of cherry tomatoes that could cost £1 to £2 in a supermarket is about 60p when buying in bulk. At the time of writing my co-op has 11 members and for our first order everyone chipped in £5.64 each. That sum is not fixed – it would depend on how much fruit and veg we wanted for a particular shop. When we collected our order from Cooperation Town's hub in north-west London, the quantity of food we were given was hard to believe. Thanks to donations of surplus food from redistribution charities such as the Felix Project, we were handed entire crates of cauliflowers, pak choi, potatoes and parsnips, along with lots of supermarket hummus, grated cheese, king prawns, cakes, biscuits and other store-cupboard items. For a contribution of just over £5, every household was easily getting more than £40 worth of food. So on this occasion, you could argue we were saving a lot more than 40% on our usual weekly shop. My co-op is lucky enough to have someone who drives, which meant we could also avoid an additional £10 delivery fee from the wholesale grocer and collect our order from Cooperation Town's hub. (I'm not sure if other grocers charge the same, but I imagine it's is probably fairly representative.) I wondered if the delivery fee might be an obstacle for other people trying to set up a food co-op, but Shalmy says: 'People measure value in different ways. This is a huge help for people on a lower income. If you don't have a car, going to three shops on the bus is a huge job. 'The main obstacle is that people are not used to co-operating. We've been socialised to be insular and a bit suspicious of our neighbours.' But with cost-of-living pressures continuing to squeeze household budgets – three in four Britons have reported an increase in their typical household grocery spend over the past year, according to a recent Ipsos poll – perhaps things are starting to change. Knock on doors, chat to neighbours and talk to friends. Find a space to hold meetings: it could be a village hall, someone's home or via video conferencing. Hold a founding meeting where everyone can ask questions and discuss what they want to achieve. Divide jobs equally so no individual is shouldering too much responsibility. Use a spreadsheet to help get a sense of the food you all tend to buy. Don't be afraid to try new things. If some people want to order an item you haven't tried before – cassava, for example – share recipes and learn from one another. Decide how to collect everyone's weekly payments. It could be in cash, or you may want to use an app. Approach local businesses to ask about surplus food and get in touch with wholesalers to ask about bulk buying. Find a location where people can collect their orders. This can be someone's home or, even better, a public space with storage that is accessible throughout the day. Check out the website of Cooperation Town – a network of community food co-ops. The site has stacks of resources including a proposed agenda for a founding meeting, a template for a weekly shopping list, a template letter asking local businesses if they can help and an example of a wholesale fruit and vegetable list.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- CTV News
STARS air ambulance says X/Twitter account hacked; is now working to take it back
STARS air ambulance says it's working to regain control of its X/Twitter account after it was hacked, leaving the not-for-profit locked out.
CBC
06-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Boards to beauty: Free Skills Shop helps people in Thompson upskill in trades
In a small, former warehouse in Thompson, Payton Chuckrey and others learn how to make cutting boards out of a plain plank of rough wood — for free. "My aunt asked if I wanted to come and build some stuff with her. I went, 'Heck yes I do,'" Chuckrey told CBC News. Skills Shop North offers Thompson residents the chance to upskill in a variety of trades, including woodworking and welding, and hosts a variety of free workshops while also giving people the opportunity to come in on their own time and work on their own projects for free. The new educational facility, a not-for-profit funded through federal and provincial government grants, opened in late 2024 after the closure of Thompson FabLab, a similar organization that provided workshops in the same space but made the space available with a paid membership. Skills Shop North is free, which is a key difference, said Jordan Ilott, a manager and volunteer instructor at Skills Shop North, who also creates his own projects and used to volunteer for Thompson FabLab. Chuckrey said the workshop she did was also an opportunity to bond with her aunt, Patricia Preston, who had never worked on wood before. Participants started with rough planks of wood, cut them down and processed them into wood cutting boards with customized designs over the span of a weekend. "I love skulls. I have skulls everywhere, and so I decided to go with a skull to represent my husband and a skull to represent myself. And so now we have the Chuckrey's Kitchen cutting board," Chuckrey said. Fellow participant Heather Hildebrandt's design came from her furry friend. "I am sort of a crazy dog person and I have an Irish wolfhound at home, and he's my baby. So I put his name on, I put him on there, so I'll have something of him," she said. Hildebrandt had some woodworking experience going into the program, but she was waiting for the opportunity to practice and refine her skills. "My father was into woodworking since I was a little kid, and he kind of dragged me into it, because I was a tomboy," she said. "So I've been interested in this stuff forever, and we haven't had any opportunity to do any of this in Thompson. And when I heard about this, I just jumped at the chance." Ilott said once participants are certified on the machinery after a workshop, they are allowed to work on their own projects at Skills Shop whenever it's open, and the possibilities are endless. "In this facility, we have the enormous potential to make just about anything you can imagine, because we have a fully fledged woodworking and furniture cabinetry workshop," he said. For Ilott, the place is also an opportunity to socialize and meet people from Thompson. Classes are currently not regularly scheduled, but Ilott hopes they'll be able to get funding and grants for more, which would let more people use the space for their own creative endeavours, including opportunities to start businesses.
