Partna in Solidarity – Phase II: Exploring the Scattered Land Trust Model in Toronto and Vancouver

Background

Community land trusts are increasingly being explored as tools for expanding non-market housing, but most models focus on site-based or large-scale developments. There is limited evidence on how scattered land trust models, which distribute affordable units across existing low-density housing stock, can operate in practice. In this Phase II, the Partna (Toronto) and Solidarity Housing (Vancouver) contexts were compared, and a pilot of Partna in partnership with single- and semi-detached homeowners was launched, investigating two research questions: what is needed in the partnership agreement with homeowners to facilitate partnership, and what is the feasibility of this model applied nation-wide.

Methodology

This project used a survey comparison analysis and a pilot program to address its two research questions. First, the survey analysis compared 150 responses from the Phase I survey to the Phase II survey, engaging respondents individually and as a group to identify how their needs and preferences could inform pilot cases. Second, a summary report comparing the Toronto and Vancouver results helped inform how the scattered community housing trust model could be applied across Canada. Third, financial assessments were conducted with policymakers, housing developers, homeowners, and related experts to determine how best to facilitate partnership with homeowners; a pilot partnership agreement was tested with up to three homeowners.

Results

The project produced a summary report finding a high degree of interest in participating in a new scattered housing model that would add affordable units to single- and semi-detached properties. The most desired model for adding affordable housing units was laneway houses or accessory dwelling units.