This Community Keeps Stepping Up
Muskoka, you just keep showing up for each other.
Board Updates
We’re delighted to welcome Christopher Jordan-Stevens back from his leave of absence, and are incredibly fortunate to welcome two new community members to the board of directors at the same time.
Kathleen May is bringing her creative contemplation, community nurturing skills, and wealth of experience supporting women fleeing domestic violence to this work. Jennifer Alexis is bringing her creative vision, artist’s eye, and deep expertise in international sustainability development, project management, and funding partnerships.
Without volunteers giving their time and energy to guide this organization forward, we wouldn’t be a community land trust.
Florence Street Micro-Community Update
The Florence Street Micro-Community is deep in the throes of an application to the CMHC Affordable Housing Fund (formerly the Co-Investment Fund) for the two 36-unit rental buildings that comprise the first phase of construction.
The requirements of this combination of construction loan and non-repayable grant are strict, but with the help of Kyla Taylor at Launch and Prosper and board members Ben Jardine and Melinda Zytaruk, we’re very close to submitting an application that could result in significant non-repayable grants based on accessibility, energy-efficiency, affordability, and social outcomes. These and other grants and fundraising we do will reduce the cost of construction and, ultimately, increase the affordability of the housing we build.
What’s Next
Even as we gather the resources needed for eco-affordable construction, we’re looking ahead to a time when the buildings are ready for occupancy, and the community we hope to nurture and grow in partnership with residents, neighbours, and local organizations already at work building a healthy, compassionate, and just Muskoka.
To support this community development and capacity building work, and to create a meaningful Reconciliation Action Plan, we’re thrilled to announce that we have won a Local Projects grant from The Community Housing Transformation Centre and a top up to our Investment Readiness Project grant from last year.
We’ve had many generative conversations with people and organizations advocating for housing and climate justice and practical reconciliation already, of course, which is how we got to where we are today, but the time has come for a thorough, carefully planned engagement and development process to ensure we’re doing everything we can to meet local needs within the resources that are available to us.