In this episode of New Housing Alternatives, hosts Cherise Burda and Dr. Ren Thomas speak with Dominique Russell, writer, activist, teacher, and co‑director of the Kensington Market Community Land Trust (KMCLT). Together, they explore how community land trusts (CLTs) use collective ownership, organizing, and mutual aid to fight displacement and preserve deeply affordable housing and commercial spaces in Toronto’s Kensington Market.

Drawing on a decade of neighborhood organizing—from stopping a proposed Walmart to acquiring three mixed‑use buildings—Dominique explains how CLTs decommodify land, center community power, and reimagine what “ownership” can look like. She discusses funding tools like Toronto’s Multi‑Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) program and community bonds, and reflects on how CLTs across Canada are increasingly grounding their work in decolonization, land back, and social justice.

Key Takeaways

• Community land trusts (CLTs) decommodify land and housing: CLTs are democratically controlled, neighborhood‑based nonprofits that acquire and hold land for community benefit, prioritizing security of tenure and affordable homes and commercial spaces over market returns.
• Organizing comes before funding: KMCLT’s story shows that successful acquisition and financing (through tools like Toronto’s MURA program and community bonds) only become possible after deep community organizing, knowing your neighbors, and building a shared, representative vision for the neighborhood.
• CLTs are part of a broader movement for decolonization and social justice: KMCLT and other members of the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts are increasingly centring land back, decolonization, and racial justice—redefining community ownership as mutual aid, local power, and long‑term resistance to displacement and gentrification.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Episode Overview
00:39 – Introducing Dominique Russell & Kensington Market CLT
01:25 – What Is a Community Land Trust? CLTs vs. Nonprofit Housing
04:13 – Why Kensington? Neighbourhood Preservation and Mission
04:39 – KMCLT’s Buildings on Kensington and Spadina
07:30 – From Anti‑Walmart Campaign to Community Land Trust
10:54 – Organizing Before Funding: Building a Representative CLT
11:04 – Acquisition, MURA, and Protecting Vulnerable Rental Housing
14:23 – Community Bonds and Financing Community Ownership
16:40 – Community Support, Short‑Term Rentals, and Displacement
19:24 – Advice for Communities Wanting to Start a CLT
21:20 – Future of KMCLT: Leadership Transition and Decolonizing Practice
23:30 – Relationship to Chinatown and Business Ecology
26:25 – Love of Place as the Emotional Core of CLT Work
28:58 – Local Organizing and the Wider CLT Movement
29:45 – Reflections & Key Lessons from Kensington Market
30:18 – Outro, Show Notes, and Credits

Learn more about the Kensington Market Community Land Trust here: https://kmclt.ca/

New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Explore our Vision & Objectives and Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below:

https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog

In this episode of New Housing Alternatives, hosts Cherise Burda and Ren Thomas speak with Tim Ross, CEO of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada), about why co‑operative housing is one of Canada’s most promising – and underused – tools for tackling the housing crisis. Tim explains what housing co‑ops are, how they differ from other forms of non‑market housing, and why they offer stability, community, and long-term affordability in ways that market housing often cannot.

Drawing on decades of sector experience and recent federal policy wins, Tim walks us through the renewed momentum behind co‑ops: the National Housing Strategy, the $1.5 billion Co-op Housing Development Program, new partnerships with municipalities and the private sector, and landmark projects like the major new co‑op at Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown site. He also unpacks the practical challenges of growing the sector – from capital repairs in aging co-ops to governance capacity among member‑volunteers – and what it will take to scale co-operative housing across Canada.

Key Takeaways

• Co-op housing is democratic, community‑centred, and non‑speculative. Members govern through elected boards and collective decision‑making, giving them real power over their housing in ways most nonprofit and private rental models do not.
• Co-ops provide security of tenure and long-term affordability. Because they are nonprofit and not traded on speculative markets, co-ops shield members from demovictions, renovictions, and extreme rent hikes.
• Co-ops house diverse, mixed‑income communities. They intentionally combine low-income households (often with rent supplements) with seniors, families, students, newcomers, and workers in one stable community.
• Policy is finally catching up after decades of neglect. Following years of federal withdrawal from non‑market housing, the National Housing Strategy and CHF Canada’s advocacy have secured $1.5B for new co-op development, $500M in rental assistance, and new sector support.
• Co-op rents increasingly outpace the market—in a good way. CHF Canada’s research shows co-op housing charges were already $150–$200/month below comparable private rents and, by 2021, the gap had widened to $400–$500/month, generating major long-term savings for members.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Episode Overview
00:21 – Introducing Tim Ross & CHF Canada
02:10 – What Is Co-op Housing? Governance, Tenure & Community
04:45 – Why Don’t We See More Co-ops? Policy Gaps & “Tortoise vs. Hare” Development
07:30 – Who Lives in Co-ops? Mixed-Income Models & Diverse Households
11:20 – Member Governance, Volunteer Roles & Capacity Challenges
14:30 – Aging Co-ops, Capital Planning & Renewal Needs
15:52 – Can Co-ops Grow? Financing Tools & the Co-op Housing Development Program
18:25 – Public Land, Federal Programs & Scaling New Co-op Supply
21:15 – Private Sector Partnerships & the Eglinton Crosstown Co-op Project
21:37 – Affordability: How Co-op Rents Compare to Market Rents Over Time
23:57 – Public Opinion, Polling Results & Cross‑Partisan Support for Co-ops
27:01 – Where to Learn More: CHF Canada Resources & Getting Involved
27:43 – Outro & Credits

Learn more about CHF Canada and co-operative housing development on their website and social channels, including their “build” section for organizations interested in starting or expanding co-ops: https://chfcanada.coop/build/why-build/

New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Explore our Vision & Objectives and Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below:

https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog/

In this episode of New Housing Alternatives, hosts Cherise Burda and Ren Thomas speak with Dr. Nemoy Lewis about how race, transit investment, and financialized landlords intersect to drive evictions in Toronto’s rental housing market, and how emerging uses of AI risk making things worse.

Drawing on years of research into evictions, multifamily acquisitions, and transit-oriented development, Dr. Lewis shows that Toronto’s eviction crisis is not random. Instead, eviction filings are highly concentrated in Black renter–majority neighborhoods, particularly in the northwest quadrant of the city and along new transit corridors.

Key Takeaways

• Evictions in Toronto are not random: they form a predictable, racialized geography of harm, with Black renter–majority neighborhoods facing eviction rates up to five to seven times the city average.
• Even when controlling for income, Black renters, including middle‑income households, experience disproportionately high eviction filings, showing eviction is a structural, not individual, problem.
• The northwest quadrant of Toronto and communities like North Albion (Rexdale), Chalkfarm, Jane and Finch, and Little Jamaica are among the hardest hit, especially around new transit investments.
• Financialized and corporate landlords drive most evictions: about 80–85% of filings occur in the primary rental market, and eviction is often used as a business strategy to “reposition” properties and attract higher‑income tenants.
• Large-scale transit projects trigger waves of multifamily acquisitions in historically disinvested, racialized neighborhoods, followed by spikes in eviction filings.
• AI tools are increasingly used in rent setting and tenant screening, potentially enabling collusion, removing human discretion, and embedding racial bias into housing decisions.
• Strengthening competition law, recognizing housing as a social good, and adopting vacancy control (tying rent control to the unit, not the tenancy) are key policy directions to disincentivize eviction-driven profit strategies and better protect renters.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Episode Overview
00:37 – Introducing Dr. Nimoy Lewis
02:06 – Research Goals & Eviction Patterns
05:18 – Beyond Downtown: Northwest Toronto Focus
08:44 – Who Is Being Evicted and Why
14:12 – Transit Investment & Property Repositioning
19:40 – AI, Rent Setting, and Tenant Screening
23:26 – Policy Responses & Vacancy Control
26:26 – Where to Learn More About the Research
27:53 – Outro & Credits

Learn more about Nemoy Lewis Here.

New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Explore our Vision & Objectives and Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below:
https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog/

In this episode of the New Housing Alternatives podcast, hosts Cherise Burda and Ren Thomas are joined by Ricardo Tranjan, senior researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and author of "The Tenant Class." Together, they explore the evolving landscape of tenant rights, the growing influence of corporate landlords, and the urgent need for tenant-focused research and organizing to confront Canada’s affordability crisis. The conversation provides deep insight into power dynamics, policy history, and the challenges and opportunities faced by tenants and their advocates.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the historical context of tenant rights and rent control in Canada, and how regulations have weakened over time.
• Recognize the shift from local, “mom and pop” landlords to corporate landlords and real estate investment trusts (REITs).
• Analyze how global capital impacts housing affordability and the market’s power dynamics.
• Differentiate between research about tenants and research for tenants, and why this distinction matters.
• Reflect on the constant and persistent challenges facing tenant organizers and the importance of direct resource allocation.
• Identify effective strategies for building power among grassroots tenant organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• Tenant protections in Canada have been historically limited and weakened, despite the worsening affordability crisis.
• The influx of global capital and the rise of large corporate landlords have fundamentally changed the rental landscape, intensifying power imbalances.
• Effective advocacy for tenants requires not just studying their challenges, but supporting organizing efforts and shifting resources into tenant movements.
• Grassroots tenant organizers face persistent threats, including rent increases, eviction, and predatory landlord practices—often with few resources.
• Building lasting power for tenant movements requires civil society and academic sectors to re-channel time, funding, and research toward direct support and organizing.
• Regulatory interventions to control capital and prioritize tenant protections are essential for meaningful change.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Hosts, guest, and episode overview
02:00 – The history of tenant rights and rent control in Canada
05:00 – The emergence of corporate landlords and the power shift in housing
08:00 – Global capital’s influence on the rental market
11:00 – Distinguishing research about tenants from research for tenants
14:00 – Persistent challenges and the realities of grassroots tenant organizing
17:00 – The need for resource redirection and building power in tenant organizing
20:00 – Action items, resources, and closing remarks

New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Explore our Vision & Objectives and Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below:
https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog/

In this episode of New Housing Alternatives, hosts Cherise Burda and Ren Thomas speak with housing policy expert Steve Pomeroy about Canada’s rapid loss of affordable rental housing, often cited as 11 affordable units lost for every 1 built, with even higher ratios in cities like Ottawa and Waterloo.

We cover:

• What it actually means to “lose” an affordable unit (demolition vs. rent inflation)
• How population growth, immigration, and homeownership barriers are driving rental demand
• The role of rent control and vacancy decontrol in accelerating rent hikes
• The growing impact of financialization and large‑scale investors
• Why non‑profit acquisitions, Rental Protection Funds, and rent benefits are key tools to preserve and expand non‑market housing

The conversation digs into policy options for protecting existing low‑rent units, improving the viability of the non‑market sector, and designing smarter, more efficient affordability supports.

New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Explore our Vision & Objectives and Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below:
https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog/

In this episode of the New Housing Alternatives podcast, hosts Cherise Berda and Ren Thomas are joined by Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC NonProfit Housing Association, to explore the critical role of nonprofit and cooperative housing in addressing Canada’s affordability crisis. Through a policy and advocacy lens, the conversation unpacks the history, challenges, and opportunities facing the sector, with a special focus on British Columbia’s unique approach and recent federal initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the historical context of affordable housing in Canada, including the impact of federal disinvestment in the 1990s.
• Identify the structure and scale of nonprofit and cooperative housing in BC and how it compares nationally.
• Examine the benefits of cross-sector collaboration among nonprofit, cooperative, and Indigenous housing organizations.
• Analyze the significance of new funding mechanisms like the BC Rental Protection Fund and the Canada Rental Protection Fund.
• Discuss the potential of the Build Canada Homes program and the evolving role of government in supporting nonprofit housing growth.
• Reflect on the long-term benefits of nonprofit and co-op housing for affordability, security, and sector resilience.

Key Takeaways:

• Nonprofit and cooperative housing organizations are essential partners in delivering affordable housing, especially in BC where provincial investment has been strong.
• Collaboration across the nonprofit, co-op, and Indigenous housing sectors amplifies advocacy and education efforts, making it easier for governments to respond.
• New funding programs at the provincial and federal levels are enabling nonprofits to acquire and preserve affordable housing, preventing financialization and rent spikes.
• The Build Canada Homes program signals a renewed federal interest in supporting nonprofit housing, with a focus on flexibility, long-term planning, and portfolio growth.
• Nonprofit and co-op housing models offer long-term affordability and security, leveraging assets for sector growth and reducing reliance on government ownership.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Hosts, guest, and episode overview 
02:00 – The history of affordable housing policy in Canada 
05:00 – The structure and scale of nonprofit housing in BC 
08:00 – Provincial investment and the growth of nonprofit housing 
11:00 – Collaboration: Nonprofit, co-op, and Indigenous housing organizations  
14:00 – The BC Rental Protection Fund and its impact 
17:00 – National implications: The Canada Rental Protection Fund 
20:00 – The Build Canada Homes program and future directions 
23:00 – Long-term benefits of nonprofit and co-op housing 
25:00 – Resources, further learning, and closing remarks

New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the New Housing Alternatives grant, led by Alan Walks and Susannah Bunce, based at the University of Toronto. Explore our Vision & Objectives and Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below: https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog/

Dive into the complexities of affordable housing in Canada with this episode, which unpacks the terminology, challenges, and policy debates shaping the nation’s housing landscape. Through expert interviews and data-driven discussion, listeners will gain a foundational understanding of what “affordable housing” really means, why definitions matter, and how different models and government roles impact the availability and accessibility of homes. This episode is ideal for anyone interested in public policy, urban planning, or the future of housing in Canada.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the various definitions of "affordable housing" and why clarity matters.
• Distinguish between market, non-market, community, and social housing.
• Explore the current landscape of housing supply in Canada and the mismatch with actual needs.
• Examine the critical role of federal involvement in addressing the housing crisis.
• Identify actionable policy recommendations for improving housing affordability and supply.

Key Discussion Points:

• The ambiguity of "affordable housing" and its implications for policy and public understanding.
• The evolution of terminology: from social housing to community and non-market housing.
• The motivations and business models behind market vs. non-market housing providers.
• Data on what types of homes are being built in Canada and who they serve.
• The importance of specifying targets for community/non-market housing within broader supply goals.
• The economic and social costs of inaction on affordable housing and homelessness.
• Recommendations for federal leadership, nonprofit engagement, and coordinated action.

Takeaways:

• "Affordable" is a relative term; policy must focus on affordability for those most in need.
• Non-market and community housing play a unique, essential role in long-term affordability.
• Federal leadership and targeted funding are crucial to reversing the decline in affordable housing stock.
• A healthy housing system requires a full range of options, not just more units.

Chapters:
0:00:06 – Introduction and Host Backgrounds  
0:00:27 – The Problem with "Affordable Housing": Definitions and Confusion 
0:02:22 – Ray Sullivan on Income-Based Affordability and Policy Implications  
0:04:04 – Political Platforms and the Use of "Affordable" in Canada  
0:05:44 – Market, Non-Market, Community, and Social Housing: Terminology and Evolution  
0:08:12 – Private vs. Nonprofit Motivations in Housing Development 
0:11:09 – Current Housing Supply: What’s Being Built and Who It Serves (Alex Flynn)  
0:13:39 – The Mismatch Between Housing Supply and Actual Need  
0:15:42 – The Role of Federal Government and the Shrinking Share of Non-Market Housing  
0:18:52 – Policy Recommendations: Targets, Funding, and Federal Leadership  
0:20:14 – The Importance of Nonprofit Providers and Federal Lands  
0:22:28 – Conclusion and Resources for Further Learning

New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the New Housing Alternatives grant, led by Alan Walks and Susannah Bunce, based at the University of Toronto. Explore our Vision & Objectives and Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below: https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog/