African Canadians soon to Access more Affordable Housing Solution

The Ronan Canadian Healing Center marked a significant milestone this week with the official launch of its African Canadian Affordable Housing Project, a bold initiative designed to address one of the community’s most pressing challenges: access to safe and affordable housing.

The announcement came during a press conference where the Center’s founder and executive director emphasized the project’s dual mission—providing affordable housing while advancing the organization’s broader vision of healing and community empowerment.

“Our mission has always been to create spaces for African Canadians, Black Canadians, and others who face similar challenges, to come together, learn, and access resources,” the executive director said. “But what we have realized is that none of this matters if people are still struggling to meet their basic needs. Housing is at the core of stability, and this project ensures those needs are met so we can better address mental health and other challenges.”

The African Canadian Affordable Housing and Solutions Lab, which has been in development since June of last year, is funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in collaboration with several community partners.

Among the organizations involved are the Ghanaian Canadian Association, the Kenyan Canadian Association, CASA Design, New Nacophone (an Eritrean organization), and the Grand Canadian Collective. Overlap, a consulting firm, is also supporting the project’s design and implementation.

Together, these partners are working to identify the unique challenges faced by continental African Canadian communities and to create a housing model that can not only serve Toronto but also be replicated across the country. The model is expected to be completed by June and delivered back to CMHC as a framework for future initiatives.

“This is about more than just housing,” the executive director explained. “It’s about creating a foundation where community members can thrive, where mental health and other social challenges are addressed because people no longer have to worry about where they will live.”

Local leaders, including a city councillor and representatives from CMHC, joined the press conference to express support for the initiative. The event was described as a moment of pride and optimism for the African Canadian community in Toronto.

In the long term, the Ronan Canadian Healing Center aims to use the housing model as a springboard to build actual units for families and individuals, while also establishing the Healing Center as a hub for mental health resources, cultural connections, and community support.

“This is a huge milestone for us,” the executive director said. “We believe this project brings us one step closer to addressing the challenge of affordable housing—not just for African Canadians, but for all Canadians who face similar struggles.”