Caroline Street

Hamilton, ON

In 2023, tenants of a 21-unit building in Hamilton, Ontario rallied together to convert their rental building into a housing co-op. When the landlord put their building up for sale, the tenants made the decision to find a solution to ensure their building was kept affordable and not sold to for-profit interests. While the negotiations are ongoing, the potential conversion to a housing co-op is widely supported; the City of Hamilton, CMHC, and the Community Housing Transformation Centre have all contributed to this grassroots effort. However, additional funding could go a long way to make projects like this viable and allow people to stay in their homes.

Despite financial support from numerous actors, the tenants were still short on the down payment needed to purchase the building. With consistent federal funding for co-ops and non-profits nationwide, transitioning private rental units to non-profit ownership will create a lasting legacy of community-controlled, affordable housing. This supports ongoing acquisitions, asset renewal, and the broader expansion of affordable housing.