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The Housing Commons Research Centre is a new virtual research centre, housed at the University of Toronto.
While we are based in Toronto, our scope extends globally. The plan is to bring lessons from Canadian and international research and promote knowledge sharing and dialogue among a broad range of alternative housing approaches. The HCRC is a new kind of virtual hub for sharing research, tools, and action-oriented strategies in the community-led housing sector. The strength of our approach comes from relationships, curiosity and a commitment to advancing and advocating for community-led housing solutions.
A virtual space dedicated to advancing community-led housing in Canada and beyond, the HCRC connects researchers, organizers, and practitioners working on a wide range of alternative housing models, including co-ops, community land trusts, eco-villages, and co-housing. Grounded in values of justice and self-determination, we share tools, support partnerships and bridge theory and practice.
We aim to support and strengthen a network of like-minded researchers and practitioners by connecting academic research with boots-on-the-ground leaders in communities worldwide.
Our work is firmly rooted in social and environmental justice, centring on the lived experiences, agency, and self-determination of those most affected by housing inequality. The HCRC supports bold, justice-centred housing strategies that challenge the status quo of private property and extractive land use development practices by:
- Hosting public webinars, student discussion groups, and deep-dive sessions with New Housing Alternative Network Partners
- Supporting collaborative research that is shaped by communities, not just academics, and
- Uplifting the leadership of equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, unhoused, and underhoused folks;
- Creating a living archive of accessible resources; and
- Mentoring emerging researchers, organizers, and leaders in the community-led housing space.
We believe that housing is more than a roof over your head; it’s about dignity, care, and community control. If that sounds about right to you, then you’ve found the right place. Welcome to the Housing Commons – let’s learn, share, and build together!
Partner With Us
Contact us about your research or organizational needs. Share resources, contribute research, request support, or explore partnerships.
Resources
Learn more about us while we develop a collection of resources, featuring contributor forms, recent academic publications, and industry white papers/reports (TBA).
