HOUSE Ontario - Funding Permanently Affordable Non-Profit Student Housing
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Portals
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Project scope
Categories
Communications Market research Community engagement Fundraising Grant writingSkills
grant applications social entrepreneurship advocacy request for proposal higher education research innovationHOUSE Ontario is an opportunity to create permanently affordable and community-oriented non-profit housing by and for students at post-secondary institutions across Ontario (and eventually Canada); it's our proven and tested way of organizing students and young adults to tackle the cost of housing. We believe equitable student housing provides vital social benefits to students and non-student community members, enlivening and building communities.
As an incorporated non-profit, we work with labour unions, student unions and other youth-led organizations to keep post-secondary education accessible/affordable by reducing the 'other' cost of getting a degree/diploma (student housing) while indirectly keeping rents affordable for working-class neighbourhoods and communities.
We are looking for assistance in finding and completing grant applications that support our mission:
- We advocate for, research and develop affordable and community-oriented student housing that benefits individuals and communities. We believe that equitable access to affordable student housing is central to creating sustainable urban environments and building a more socially just world
- We develop expertise unique to Ontario while being inspired by best practices around the world. We believe in social entrepreneurship and innovation, and in learning from the student-owned housing sector across North America and around the world
- We believe in creating housing projects which are locally governed, self-financed, partially member-operated, and offer affordable rents
Participant Roles & Responsibilities
- Assist with outlining the affordable housing crisis in grant proposals
- Develop a needs statement that characterizes the housing crisis and justifies the need for our project and funding
- Identify potential sponsors and funding opportunities that are a good fit for our organization
- Interpret a request for proposal (RFP)
- Research, plan, write, edit, and revise grant proposals
- Improve the clarity and persuasiveness of HOUSE’s grant proposal writing
- Research into other grant opportunities to support student affordable housing
Final Project Goals/Deliverables
- Submitting a 5-10 grant proposals
- Securing (at least) $150k+ in funding
Students will have an opportunity to teach, work with, and learn from housing staff and experts with over five years of experience in the study, research, and development of affordable and cooperative student housing, and over a decade of experience in non-profit fundraising and project management in Ontario.
HOUSE staff teams include a Program Director, officers, students, and volunteers that meet weekly to touch base, develop work plans, and review ongoing projects. Students will have the opportunity to work with volunteers and experienced officers during the week to complete tasks outlined by the Program Director, receiving feedback on weekly basis.
HOUSE also hosts monthly General Membership and Executive meetings to debrief and make sure we are on the path towards making our vision a reality. This means that students have the opportunity to sit-in on meetings and engage with our staff, executives, boards, and general members twice a month.
About the company
Housing Ontario University Students Equitably, or HOUSE Ontario, is a newly established and incorporated non-profit organization dedicated to the study, promotion, and development of permanently affordable housing for young people – post-secondary students and recent graduates in Ontario. Founded by students involved in the non-profit and co-operative housing sectors driven by the need to create equity-based and cooperative student housing, we also work with stakeholders and decision-makers, including landlords, homeowners, student unions, labour unions, credit unions, student cooperatives, non-profit developers, municipal staff, city councillors, members of parliament (provincial/federal), and everyday York community members to work towards making HOUSE developments a reality at post-secondary institutions across Ontario.
Main contact


Portals
-
Toronto, Ontario, Canada