We’re Building Momentum at the HCRC!
The Housing Commons Research Centre (HCRC) website serves as an interactive hub for updates, resources, and event information. We’re excited to be launching it at the New Housing Alternatives Annual Workshop from October 17-19, 2025.
HCRC is also preparing to debut its Housing Commons Student Circle. In the coming months, these meetings will offer an informal space for students, early-career researchers, and peers to connect, reflect, and dig deeper into housing alternatives.
Finally, we are excited to announce the launch of HCRC’s monthly Discussion Series. Over the fall and winter, these public panels will bring together community organizers, housing practitioners, and researchers. Each panel will tackle the shortcomings of Canada’s profit-driven housing system and spotlight community-led alternatives — creating space for learning and momentum-building.
We’re thrilled to have our debut Discussion Series panel kicking off NHA’s Annual Workshop weekend. “Reimagining Housing as a Commons: Introducing the Housing Commons Research Centre” brings together Chiyi Tam (Chinatown CLT), Norm Leec (Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House & Downtown East Side Community Land Trust), Jesse Upton Crowe & Babie (Parkdale Encampment Support Network), and Courtney Lockhart (Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada). It will take place on Friday, Oct. 17, 7-9 pm at the University of Toronto (Room KP 208, Multifaith Centre, 569 Spadina Crescent).
Moving forward, the discussion series will be hosted online as public webinars. We have several exciting topics lined up, including:
- On November 26: “True to This, Not New to This,” which traces the radical histories of housing alternatives, from freedom towns to community land trusts
- In December: “Exchanging Futures: International Housing Commons,” which explores networks of international knowledge exchange.