Amid Toronto’s housing affordability crisis, nonprofit and community ownership remains one of the strongest safeguards for affordable rental housing, especially in Chinatown. Despite strong community-centred intentions, this model has become fragile through pressures such as gentrification and declining revenues.
This report led by BSH’s Chiyi Tam and partner organization the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust, underscores the need for targeted support mechanisms that recognize and strengthen the existing community ownership base in West Chinatown. Proposed solutions include making municipal programs more accessible, better coordinated, and tailored to the realities of small, volunteer-based property stewards; ensuring external stewardship tools, such as land trusts, are approached with cultural sensitivity and a commitment to community-led governance; and building trust and collaborating with transparent are essential, especially given the historical legacies of institutional discrimination that continue to shape community perceptions.
Read the Report Read the Traditional Chinese Translation Read the Simplified Chinese Translation
