Community Land Trusts Framework: Toronto

The City of Toronto is undergoing a housing affordability crisis, where rent prices have been increasing and wages are not able to keep up. These increasing rent prices are caused by the financialization of housing, and reinforced by neoliberalism, resulting in displacement. Community land trusts provide an alternative affordable housing option for individuals as they take property away from the speculative private market, and offer affordable rentals. Although the City of Toronto actively works with community land trust providers, a gap exists as the HousingTO Action Plan 2020-2030 does not mention community land trusts, potentially impeding funding and support sources from the municipality. Case study examinations and a qualitative interview were conducted as part of the methodology. The findings indicate that the City of Toronto must 1) Define and be inclusive of the word “community land trusts” in the housing plan, 2) ensure that City funding for Grants, Incentives, and Rebates include operation grants that community land trusts can access, and 3) Expand the Multi Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) program.