The acquisition of existing rental buildings and other community assets is a key priority for many Canadian CLTs. This focus on the preservation of housing enables CLTs to combat displacement, maintain neighbourhood stability, and support existing tenants while also growing the CLT’s portfolio of permanently affordable land-based assets. Acquisition is also more cost-effect compared with new affordable housing development.

CNCLT, in partnership with the Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT), has produced a suite of comprehensive educational resources to bolster the acquisition potential of Canadian CLTs. This project, funded by the Catherine Donnelly Foundation, aims to educate key stakeholders on the need for policies and funding that support affordable housing acquisition projects.

The resources created through this project primarily relate to the acquisition of existing rental housing, rather than the acquisition of land for development, or the acquisition of other types of land-based assets. However, CLTs are also exploring acquisition in the context of non-residential uses, like cultural and community space, and aspects of the resources below are relevant to these contexts.

Carry out a successful residential acquisition project

Use the resources below to guide your CLT in carrying out an acquisition of an existing residential property.

Advocate for public acquisition funding

While CLTs have been exploring creative ways of financing acquisition projects, public funding is almost always necessary to enable CLTs to acquire existing rental units and maintain them as good quality, affordable homes. Governments are increasingly recognizing this imperative, in large part because of CLT-led advocacy efforts. However, there is more to be done, and now is an opportune time to push for these crucial policies.

Here’s what you can do, as a CLT or as a supporter of CLTs:

    1. Use these resources created by ONN to advocate for provincial acquisition funding. While these tools are specific to the Ontario context, they can be adapted to other jurisdictions.
    2. Use our MURA Briefing Note to inform municipal acquisition advocacy, in Toronto and beyond.
    3. Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about how CNCLT and our members are advocating for acquisition funding, and how you can get involved.

Learn more about acquisition

Reports from The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT) on their acquisition advocacy and successes:

Evidence of the need for, and success of, acquisition programs:

Further resources to help CLTs with acquisition projects:

These resources are informed by the fantastic work of CNCLT’s member organizations. In addition to our project partner, NLT, we would like to thank Kensington Market Community Land Trust, Toronto Chinatown Land Trust, Ottawa Community Land Trust, Union Co-operative, and Community Land Trust Foundation of BC for contributing their expertise to this project.