Scaling the Community-Based CLT:
A Case Study of The Neighbourhood Land Trust
| The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT) has released a new report that documents its recent efforts to scale a sustainable Community Land Trust (CLT) model. Funded in part by a grant from the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, the report shares key insights from NLT’s journey in land acquisition, affordable housing development, asset management, and community governance. Through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches, NLT has successfully expanded its portfolio to 85 properties with 205 affordable rental units. This report offers valuable lessons for other CLTs, highlighting the importance of collaboration, robust asset management, and continuous improvement to achieve long-term sustainability and community impact. |
Funded by: CMHC’s NHS Demonstrations Initiative & Metcalf Foundation  |
The Path to City-CLT Partnership:
Learnings from NLT’s Experience of Collaboration and Partnership with the City of Toronto
| We’re excited to share our latest report, “The Path to a City-CLT Partnership,” which explores Neighbourhood Land Trust’s (NLT) successful collaboration with the City of Toronto. From 2018 to 2023, NLT expanded its portfolio to 85 properties with 205 affordable rental units, thanks in large part to a strong partnership with the City. This report offers insights into how other Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and municipalities can build similar alliances to support affordable housing development. Drawing from NLT’s experience, the report provides actionable strategies for creating mutually beneficial partnerships that advance shared housing and community goals. |
| Funded by: CMHC’s NHS Demonstrations Initiative & Metcalf Foundation |
| Join our PNLT Annual General Meeting Our PNLT Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday July 3rd, 2024. Join us for our hybrid meeting either in person at 201 Cowan ave or online via Zoom. The AGM is an opportunity to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and to have your say in collective decision making, including voting for members of the Board of Directors. We welcome all! To vote at the AGM you must be a Core, Community, and Organizational member. CLICK HERE to RSVP to our AGM. |
| NLT Seeks a full-time Admin & Finance Assistant Application Deadline: January 17 2024 at 5pm Download Job Posting (PDF) Download Job Application (word doc) The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT), the charitable arm of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT), is seeking NLT is looking for an organized and detail-oriented Administrative & Financial Assistant to support the back-end operations of the organization. This includes general office administration, day-to-day financial management, and administrative and tenant communications support for our building repair program. |
| NLT Seeks 2 Full-Time Project Managers to implement Capital Repairs and Sustainability Improvements Application Deadline: January 17th 2024 at 5pm Download Job Posting (PDF) Download Job Application (word doc) The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT), the charitable arm of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT), is seeking 2 new full-time Project Managers to implement and manage capital repairs and sustainability improvements for our portfolio of 85 small rental buildings and homes. These tasks are the key to the effective stewardship of NLT’s growing portfolio of community-owned affordable housing as we transition our housing stock for the future.We’re in search for confident and capable project managers. This is an opportunity to join a small, dynamic and interdisciplinary staff team that supports an organization with a bold progressive vision. The ideal candidate has direct experience with contracting, construction administration, project management and working knowledge of sustainable building and retrofit practices. They are as comfortable working with Consultants as they are working directly with Trades and General Contractors. They can develop and interpret contracts, construction schedules and budgets, and they can proactively identify interrelated work in project development and on site. It is also essential to have strong communications skills to engage diverse stakeholders including tenants, housing partners, and contractors. Our ideal candidate has a combination of post-secondary education in the fields of construction management, project management, building sciences, sustainable building practices or an equivalent area, as well as 2+ years work experience in the field. The role requires a working knowledge of building systems, construction scopes and activities, scheduling, project management for construction projects and sustainable building practices. Priority will be given to applicants with working knowledge and a genuine interest in social procurement. |
PARKDALE TOWER RENTAL HOUSING STUDY
The Impact of Financialization and Gentrification by Upgrading of Parkdale’s Rental Towers on Housing Affordability and Tenant Wellbeing
The Neighbourhood Land Trust and Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust are honoured to publish a new research report – Parkdale Tower Rental Housing Study.
In 2020–21, NLT undertook the Parkdale Tower Rental Housing Study, an eight-month community-based action research project on the impact of financialization and gentrification on Parkdale’s rental towers on housing affordability and tenant wellbeing. The study was conducted in collaboration with tenants and community partners, including the Parkdale People’s Economy.
Learn more and download the report here.
REPORT LAUNCH PRESENTATION
THURSDAY. SEPT 15
6:00 PM
RSVP HERE
Tonight join researchers, tenants, and community leaders for an ONLINE presentation of the findings of the Parkdale Tower Rental Housing Study report.
If you require technical assistance or translation support, please call (416) 709-4829 or info@pnlt.ca
The Neighbourhood Land Trust brings 81 single-family home and small buildings into community ownership!
On April 1st 2022, the City of Toronto and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) transferred 81 single-family homes and small buildings in Toronto’s west end to The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT). The NLT has partnered with YWCA Toronto to operate this unique social housing portfolio and ensure that it forever remains affordable housing.
On April 1st 2022, the City of Toronto and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) transferred 81 single-family homes and small buildings in Toronto’s west end to The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT). The NLT has partnered with YWCA Toronto to operate this unique social housing portfolio and ensure that it forever remains affordable housing.
“The Neighbourhood Land Trust is honoured to be partnering with the YWCA Toronto and the City to improve and steward this important social housing portfolio on behalf of communities across the west end of Toronto. Through our unique community ownership model, the Land Trust will ensure that these homes are preserved and protected as permanently affordable rental housing, while also providing tenants new opportunities to participate in decisions about their housing and community.”
Ayal Dinner, President of the Board of Directors, NLT
The NLT will ensure that this unique social housing portfolio will be preserved as affordable housing in perpetuity; held-together in non-profit community ownership. We have partnered with YWCA Toronto as the social housing provider for this portfolio, to offer affordable housing opportunities for existing tenants and women-led families. To access our joint press release with YWCA Toronto, click here.
This transfer is part of the City’s Tenants First strategy to ensure a more tenant-focused approach to providing affordable family-sized housing. For more information about the Tenants First strategy, visit the City’s website.
This historic initiative shows the power of the Community Land Trust (CLT) model to preserve affordable housing in our communities and build more equitable and sustainable local economies through our community-led Social Procurement program and our planned environmental and accessibility improvements.
The NLT’s community-based governance model means that tenants will have new opportunities to participate in decisions about their housing as well as join with our community membership to build more equitable, accessible, and sustainable communities. Tenants will have the opportunity to:
- Apply to join a Tenant Advisory Committee to be a voice for tenants.
- Become a member of the NLT, vote in elections and run for the Board of Directors.
- Participate in volunteer committees to contribute to local initiatives to build a more equitable community.
- Attend educational events about affordable housing, community economic development and issues of social equity.
- Build new connections with our community of active tenants, members and community partners.
Learn more here.
April 3, 2022
CBC The National: “Finding a solution to the affordable housing crisis“
Tenants forced out of their homes by renovictions or income loss face an uphill battle to find affordable housing in Canada’s rental market. But members of a Toronto land trust believe they have a solution — buying rental properties and taking them out of the private market to preserve a long-term supply of affordable housing.
Feb 24, 2022
Thanks for a successful PNLT AGM and Board Election!
PNLT hosted our annual members meeting on February 23rd. The Community came together to hear about all the amazing work we did in 2021, adopt some minor bylaw changes, and elect a new crop of people like you to our Board of Directors!
Please welcome Alana Page, Bernadette Rilloraza, Chemi Lhamo, Kathleen West, Matti Paquiz, Megan Brown, Opal Sparks, and Tiffaney Malley! Members also elected Sonam Yangsom to another term.
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Introducing the “Land, Held, Together“ Capital Campaign
The lack of affordable housing and homeless crisis is deepening. Alternate ownership and deeply affordable housing opportunities are urgently needed.
The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT) acquires houses, buildings and land to meet the needs of communities and leases it to charity partners who provide affordable housing, supportive housing and space for community economic development. Our non-profit, community ownership model gives individuals, like you, an opportunity address the housing crisis by taking land out of competitive housing market. In the past year, the NLT acquired 22 housing units in Parkdale, and by early 2022, the Neighbourhood Land Trust will own 205 units of affordable housing in a partnership with the City of Toronto and the YWCA Toronto!
With your support, we can acquire and maintain affordable housing that is community owned permanently, and protect the social, cultural and economic diversity of our communities by redefining how land is used and developed. Be a part of a permanent, affordable housing and ownership solution. Your support will preserve and protect our communities!
The Land Trust’s recent accomplishments have been made possible with the support of partners, foundations, VanCity Community Investment Bank and, people like you, who have rallied around a simple idea. Working together we can buy housing, hold it as community owned, affordable housing – permanently.
Please see our Canada Helps Page to Learn More!
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May 4, 2021
April 26, 2021
36 UNIT BUILDING PROTECTED AS COMMUNITY-OWNED AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY PARKDALE’S NEIGHBOURHOOD
LAND TRUST!
Parkdale’s Neighbourhood Land Trust is proud to announce the successful acquisition of an at-risk low-rent residential building containing 36 apartments in Parkdale, in an effort to help protect our affordable rental stock. Over the past decade, Parkdale has lost more than 28 rooming houses and small buildings to gentrification and renoviction, displacing nearly 350 renters, and this move signals growing momentum from the land trust in implementing community-driven solutions to the housing crisis. With this acquisition the land trust has grown its community ownership in the area from 15 to 51 units of affordable rental housing – equivalent to a 240% increase.
Under community ownership the property will be operated as non-profit affordable rental housing for low-income households. The Land Trust has contracted Parkdale Property Management, a branch of the local charity Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC) to provide manage the property.
“Community land ownership models empower communities to make important decisions about their neighbourhoods that result in tangible impacts. Keeping Parkdale open and accessible to everyone is a priority and that’s why we are protecting and preserving our existing affordable housing stock,“ said Teresa Portillo, President of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust
The acquisition of the at-risk three-storey building was made possible through VCIB’s Preserve and Protect Guarantee Program, which was launched by the bank in October 2020. Through the program, VCIB accepts and holds funds from values-aligned investing organizations in an Impact GIC, which are then used to guarantee loans to the land trust for the purpose of rapidly acquiring at-risk affordable rental properties in Parkdale. In this case, VCIB was able to provide an $8.5 million acquisition facility to the land trust, supported by over $2.6M in guarantees put forward by investors, including local foundations.
“While all levels of government have mandates to tackle the affordable housing crisis, currently there are no municipal, provincial or federal programs that specifically support the acquisition and conversion of existing rental housing into permanently affordable housing. As a result, the land trust has turned to impact investors to support our community to preserve and protect affordable housing before it is gone,” said Joshua Barndt, Executive Director of the Neighbourhood Land Trust.
VCIB’s Managing Director of Commercial Impact Banking, Trish Nixon, said: “Community is in our name, and supporting organizations, like the PNLT, who are working on the ground to implement community-led solutions is core to VCIB’s values. We are committed to helping the PNLT meet its goal to preserve and protect 100 affordable units in at-risk rooming houses and apartment buildings by 2025. We are delighted to see our Preserve and Protect Guarantee Program in action as it supports the PNLT to safeguard Parkdale’s affordable rental housing.”
The City of Toronto’s Executive Director of the Housing Secretariat, Abi Bond, said: “Protecting the current supply of affordable rental housing is a key part of the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, and one of most immediate and efficient ways to help address the significant affordability challenge we face in this city. The acquisition of this at-risk three-storey building is not only preserving affordable rental housing but also demonstrates the value of investors and community land trusts working together.”
On this momentous occasion the land trust would like to thank our members, Board of Directors, staff and of course our supporters: Major Donors
- John Murtaugh
Preserve & Protect Impact Investors
- Metcalf Foundation
- Atkinson Foundation
- Echo Foundation
- VanCity Community Foundation
- Toronto Foundation
- Bealight Foundation
- Catherine Donnelly Foundation
- Fairmount Foundation
- Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre
General Program Supporters
- Maytree Foundation
- Metcalf Foundation
- Toronto Foundation
- United Way GTA
March 10, 2021
October 01, 2020
Fixing The Leaky Bucket: A Comprehensive Policy & Program Framework to Preserve Toronto’s Supply of Deeply Affordable Housing
The Neighbourhood Land Trust is honoured to publish a new research report – Fixing the Leaky Bucket: A Comprehensive Policy & Program Framework to Preserve Toronto’s supply of Deeply Affordable Housing.
Download Full Report
Download Executive Summary
Learn more here.
May 01, 2019
The Land Trust Preserves and Protects an at-risk Bachelorette building in Parkdale!
We are happy to announce that the Land Trust, in close partnership with PARC, has acquired a 15 unit at-risk licenced bachelorette building in Parkdale! – Read the Toronto Star front page feature and CBC story.
Championed by City Councillor Gord Perks, funding for this project has come from the City of Toronto Rooming House Acquisition Pilot Program, providing $1.5 million in municipal funding for the acquisition, coupled with a further $601,426 from Ontario Renovates for building improvements.
Against huge odds, we have removed this property from the speculative real estate market. We have done this to ensure that the tenants of this building will be safe from harassment, above-guideline rent increases and renovictions.
Most importantly, this success will ensure that existing tenants, many of whom are low-income, will continue to enjoy affordable rental housing. Additionally, for any new tenants being considered in the future, priority will be given to those who have experienced homelessness.
The acquisition is the first affordable housing project of the land trust. In this inaugural project, we are very happy to announce that we have committed to guaranteeing affordable rents in perpetuity.
Finally, this 15-unit Parkdale property will be owned by the Land Trust but will be operated and managed by PARC, (a United Way Anchor Agency), which now provides 71 units of affordable housing for adults who are low-income and or experience mental health and addictions challenges in South Parkdale.
This project is also the result of an incredible mobilization of energy by Parkdale residents. We are working together to fight injustice and build a more equitable City. We are working together to defend our amazing community from an all-out attack by predatory corporate landlords. We are working together to defend our homes and our lives. We are fed up and we getting more and more organized every day!
Thank you to all the Parkdale residents and allies who have contributed to this project as a volunteer, a donor and supporter!
Download the press release here.
Thank you to our funders:
- City of Toronto
- Ontario Renovates
- Government of Ontario’s Local Poverty Reduction Fund, with administrative support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation
- Maytree
- Catherine Donnelly Foundation
- Cota
November, 2018
New Report: Saving Room: Community action and municipal policy to protect dwelling room stock in North American cities
As our city considers new policies to protect dwelling rooms, we believe it’s important to draw upon the experiences of other cities. To help inform the discussion, we have released the report, “Saving room: Community action and municipal policy to protect dwelling room stock in North American cities,” by Emily Paradis, PhD. The report looks at the comprehensive approaches other cities have developed to effectively prevent and respond to the loss of dwelling rooms in their cities.
Learning from these examples, it’s clear that Toronto needs a comprehensive framework that includes the following:
1. Regulations that put restrictions on the conversion, demolition, and renovation of rooming houses;
2. Programs that facilitate the transfer of ownership of private rooming houses to non-profits, and
3. Support for tenant education and advocacy.
Download the Executive Summary
Download the Full Report
This report was created as part of the Parkdale Rooming House Stabilization, Eviction Prevention and Preservation Strategy: an initiative of four collaborating agencies (PNLT, PARC, Parkdale Community Legal Services and Woodgreen) that are working together with tenants to preserve and protect Parkdale’s affordable rooming house stock. Our hope is that this jurisdictional scan on dwelling room protection policy can inform policy development, advocacy and organizing in Toronto.
This report was made possible through the support of the Local Poverty Reduction Fund of the Government of Ontario, which is administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Thank you to Maytree for its support with editing and production.
The overall strategy has received additional investment from the Catherine Donnelly Foundation, The Law Foundation of Ontario and Cota, as well as over 100 members of the Parkdale Community.