ONPHA’s blog is your go-to source for news, insights, and resources related to community housing in Ontario. Stay up-to-date on sector trends, government policies on housing, and practical management tips.
Discover inspiring stories of local community housing initiatives, learn about funding opportunities, and empower yourself with the information you need to make a positive impact on non-profit housing in your community.
When affordable housing units disappear faster than they can be built, it takes a changemaker willing to turn the tides. Krystal Valencia didn’t wait for the system to catch up to the crisis. In just over a year, she built an innovative solution that addresses one of the sector’s more urgent challenges: a unique affordable housing acquisition model… Read more of the article: Racing the Market: How a young leader is rescuing affordable housing at private-sector speed
Housing is essential. But it’s only the beginning. What happens when housing support goes beyond walls and doors? When a woman and her children flee violence, finding safe housing is only the first step. The real challenge is everything that follows: healing from trauma, reclaiming independence, and rebuilding a life from the ground up, all while managing the stress of finding permanent affordable housing. … Read more of the article: Beyond Housing: How a provider uses trauma-informed models to support healing
Reinventing capital planning for sustainable, 100-year homes When ONPHA member, Circle Community LandTrust, took ownership of over 600 single-family homes across Toronto in 2022, they faced a familiar choice: make the urgent fixes and get units rented quickly, or pause and ask a bigger question. They chose the bigger… Read more of the article: Rethinking rent-ready: How a housing provider is building affordable housing for the next century
Three days. Countless conversations. One clear message: Housing at the Heart is our path forward. The 2025 ONPHA Conference brought together housing leaders, policy makers, and community partners from across Ontario to share ideas, celebrate progress, and shape the future of community housing. Read more of the article: 3 Takeaways from the 2025 ONPHA Conference
As a professional in a sector dedicated to serving the community, you already know that relationships are the core of what makes great organizations. Your work in community housing is highly authentic. So, when you attend the one of the sector’s biggest events of the year, the 2025 ONPHA… Read more of the article: Lead, Spark, Build: Three Steps for Impactful Networking
If you work in community housing, you know the stakes. You know what it takes to stretch limited resources, to innovate under pressure, and to support people with compassion and resilience. That knowledge is powerful, and it’s needed at the decision-making table. Joining a board is a chance to shape… Read more of the article: Bring your frontline experience to the boardroom
For tenants navigating mental health challenges, a home is more than just four walls, it’s a foundation for recovery. Ontario’s Supportive Housing Workers (SHWs) serve as crucial bridges between tenants and wellness. Inspired by ONPHA’s Supportive Housing Core Competencies course, here are five essential skills every… Read more of the article: 5 Skills for Supporting Tenants with Mental Health Challenges
Across Ontario, non-profit housing providers are pushing boundaries, solving problems, and proving that community housing is central to a stronger, more affordable future. This fall, nearly 1,000 housing professionals will gather at the 2025 ONPHA Conference to share bold ideas, build new partnerships, and shape what comes… Read more of the article: 3 big ideas we’re bringing to the 2025 ONPHA Conference
This article originally appeared on hubinternational.com Non-profits are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations and communication platforms, with their integration efforts actually outpacing their private sector counterparts 58% to 47%.1 AI enables non-profits to enhance stakeholder engagement and can help them access solutions to social… Read more of the article: To unlock the potential of AI, non-profits must first know the risks
Protecting what we have An acquisition fund is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect and preserve affordable housing. Today, Canada needs it more than ever. Across the country, and especially Ontario, we’re facing a critical turning point in the affordable housing landscape. For every new unit… Read more of the article: The Power of a National Acquisition Fund
