The Current Can Co-op housing help Canada's housing crisis?
Jan 19, 2026
In this discussion, Tom Clement, Executive Director of the Cooperative Housing Federation of Toronto, and Tom Armstrong, CEO of the Federation of British Columbia, explore the rising significance of co-op housing in Canada. They highlight the groundbreaking Kennedy Green project in Toronto, which will provide over 600 new units amid overwhelming demand. Armstrong emphasizes co-ops' affordability, community benefits, and their vital role in addressing the housing crisis, advocating for sustained investment and innovation to ensure lasting housing solutions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Everyday Community Built Around Courtyard
- Residents at Helen's Court describe a deep, everyday community shaped by shared courtyard life and mutual care.
- Nettie Wild says 41 years of accidental encounters built an extended family of over 100 people.
Co-ops Provide Housing At Cost
- Tom Armstrong explains co-ops run as nonprofits where members collectively own and manage housing.
- Members set rents to cover costs only, producing long-term affordability relative to the market.
Decades Of Security And Connection
- Nettie Wild recounts 41 years of living at Helen's Court and calls the social ties "gold."
- She emphasizes accidental encounters and knowing every neighbor, kid, and pet by name.