Raising the Roof

Background of the organization

Raising the Roof was launched in 1996 by members of the Canadian Non-Profit Housing Foundation. The goal was to create a national charity dedicated to finding long-term solutions to homelessness. Raising the Roof operates the Reside program, which renovates vacant or under-utilized spaces into energy efficient affordable housing through partnerships with social enterprise contractors and local housing providers. 

Project description

For its renovation projects, Reside employs and trains individuals who face barriers to employment. This approach offers both skills development for work in the construction industry, and an income. The completed property is then made available as affordable housing,  managed by a local non-profit.   

After their first successful sites in Toronto, Reside is now working to develop four new sites in Toronto, Orillia, Sudbury and Winnipeg to house 81 people and employ 205 people. The Foundation’s contribution will be used to support staff costs for program expansion, and to help build the organization’s readiness to develop future projects.