N Ward
More Co ops
What the Federal Government Can (Actually) Do to Increase Co-op Housing
Originally appeared in "The Bridge" April 2025
Over the past few years, I’ve had the good fortune to serve as President and CEO of City Park Co-op, the largest housing co-operative in Canada. That role has brought me face-to-face with both the promise and the challenges of co-op housing—and it's given me the opportunity to fight for better funding, smarter policies, and real, lasting solutions.
As a community advocate, I’ve worked with municipal leaders, provincial agencies, federal groups, and grassroots organizers. I’ve seen what’s possible when we put our energy—and our dollars—into community-driven housing. And I’ve also seen what happens when we don’t.
We all want safe, secure homes. Co-op housing makes that possible—not just in theory, but in lived experience.
What’s a co-op, anyway?
Here’s the primer: Housing co-operatives are non-profit corporations that operate properties on behalf of their members—the people who live there. The land is typically held by a trust, with member rents covering costs and upkeep.
Like condominiums, co-ops are self-managed. But unlike condos, they’re not about profit. They exist solely to provide secure, affordable housing—and they work.
So why aren’t there more of them?
The simple answer: seed funding. Whether you're converting an existing building or building something new, you need serious upfront investment—usually supported by government guarantees. And right now, we’re not seeing nearly enough of that support.
Success stories: City Park and 2444 Eglinton
City Park is a great example of what’s possible when things go right. It’s home to nearly 1,000 people in the heart of downtown Toronto. It was created when a group of tenants, facing renoviction, banded together with the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT). They partnered with government and pulled off a rare win: converting a bankrupt, speculator-owned property into a successful, member-run co-op.
It wasn’t easy—but it worked. Because the political will and financial support were there.
Conversions like City Park are often the fastest route to growing co-op housing. But we also need new builds. That’s where 2444 Eglinton (www.2444eglinton.ca) comes in—a major development about to break ground in Scarborough. On repurposed public land, this project will provide thousands of new homes, including co-op units that are affordable and deeply affordable.
Once again, CHFT led the charge—with strong backing from municipal, provincial, and private-sector partners.
This isn’t guesswork. We’ve got decades of evidence that co-ops provide stable, community-driven housing. And projects like 2444 Eglinton give us realistic data to act with confidence.
A smart ask: $5 billion for 10,000 homes
So here’s the ask: The next federal government must allocate just 5% of the National Housing Strategy Budget—about $5 billion—to create 10,000 new co-op homes in Toronto. Permanent, affordable housing for families, seniors, and young people trying to stay in the communities they love.
Yes, you read that right: 5% = $5 billion = 10,000 homes.
It’s not a pipe dream. It’s a smart, proven investment in the future of our city.
But it won’t happen unless we demand it.
That’s why I’m urging you—yes, you reading this—to talk to your local candidates. Ask them where they stand on co-op housing. Ask them if they’ll commit to real investment in deeply affordable, community-owned housing.
Ask them if they believe 5% is too much to ask to give 10,000 people a place to live.
We’ve seen what’s possible. Let’s make sure 10,000 people get their piece of the pie.
Nicki Ward
for City Councillor Ward 13