Local non-profits and grassroots leaders know their neighbourhoods inside and out. They’ve earned the trust of their neighbours and understand day-to-day challenges. When they’re part of planning new buildings or roads, they help ensure that projects actually meet their collective needs by lifting people up and reducing poverty.
Right now, many community groups and local leaders are left out of key planning meetings with city officials and developers. Without their input, new developments often miss what existing residents really need. That can lead to fewer jobs, rising rents, and more community spaces and small businesses shutting down, moving away, or failing to meet local needs. Poverty grows, and long-time neighbours get pushed out.
A healthy democracy listens to everyone, not just the powerful or well-funded. A strong economy is one where working people are able to build wealth and own assets. If we continue to shut out grassroots voices, only the richest and most influential will decide how our neighbourhoods change - while everyone else loses.
Communities across Canada are taking big risks just to raise enough money to pay people to participate in neighbourhood planning. They need more help, so most of the time their members end up working for free.
For example, in 2024 the leaders in Oakwood Vaughan (Little Jamaica, Toronto) did five times more work than the funds they collected.
When non-profits can’t help shape neighbourhood plans, affordable housing and community life suffer.
In Ontario, only 2.5% of homes are non-market (non-profit or government operated), far too few - and the same shortfall exists across Canada.
Because of this gap, Canada misses out on over $136 billion in economic gains from lower housing costs.
Support and grow community leadership in planning new buildings and infrastructure. When the people most affected help make the decisions, we gain community buy-in resulting in delivering real benefits faster. The result is fair, inclusive, and sustainable development that builds our nation and respects human rights.
This approach is proven to secure benefits such as:
Our research finds that a neighbourhood needs at least $250,000/year to hire locals and consultants, and over costs to help them effectively secure community benefits.
Real estate and infrastructure policy is decided by all levels of government, so collaboration across all levels is essential.
Community-led planning is meaningful work that delivers results that make communities healthier.
Sign the form below to be added to this website's list of those who agree with the 3 calls to action above. These calls and supporting list will be shared with government, philanthropic, and private sector leaders as part of efforts supporting their follow through in making investments aligned with community needs and the opportunity to create immediate and long term impacts of securing community benefits through real estate and infrastructure development.
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Join From the Ground Up, a five-session webinar series equipping non-profits and resident leaders to influence land use decisions, assess proposals, map community assets, and build actionable, community-led plans.
Strengthen housing and cultural space outcomes with practical tools and insights. Sign up to attend the sessions running from September - December.