Partners

TMDC isn’t just building co-op housing—it’s rebuilding the systems that make housing possible in the first place.

To do that, we rely on intentional partnerships with organizations that align with our values and help us bring this model to life—ethically, sustainably, and at scale.

Why We Work With Partners

No single actor can deliver stable, community-owned housing alone.

From land acquisition to design, financing, regulation, and governance—TMDC depends on a collaborative web of relationships to make co-op housing viable outside of traditional development and real estate models.

Our partners help us:

• Navigate regulatory, legal, and zoning environments
• Secure and steward land in the public interest
• Design and build efficient, livable multiplexes
• Structure ethical financing tools
• Engage and organize community members

We work with partners who:

• Are committed to non-extractive systems and long-term affordability
• Value radical transparency and community accountability
• Respect the principles of co-operative ownership and democratic governance
• See housing as a collective responsibility, not a commodity

We believe that partnerships are not transactional—they’re transformational.

Strategic Relationship Types

1. Land Stewardship & Policy Partners

Helping us root housing in community and remove it from speculation

• Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
  • Land is held in trust for permanent affordability and public benefit.
  • TMDC seeks to work with CLTs to ensure long-term community ownership of land.
  • Example: The Toronto Indigenous Community Land Trust (TICLT) is a preferred partner, both in recognition of the Land Back movement and to support reconciliation.
• Tenant organizations and neighborhood associations
• Planning and zoning allies
• Indigenous governance bodies and community developers

Their roles:

• Hold and manage land for the public good
• Act as trusted intermediaries for public asset transfers
• Guide policy alignment and neighborhood engagement

2. Technical & Design Partners

Helping us design smarter, build faster, and prioritize livability

• Architects and urban designers
• Construction providers

Their roles:

• Develop replicable, “as-of-right” compliant designs
• Minimize construction costs while maximizing building quality
• Embed Passive House principles and resilient systems

3. Financial & Legal Partners

Helping us structure transparent, mission-aligned financing

• Credit unions (e.g., for holding reserve accounts or member funds)
• Community bond platforms
• Co-op law specialists and corporate governance advisors
• Financial compliance experts (OSC, CRA, etc.)

Their roles:

• Underwrite and distribute community bonds
• Advise on legal structuring of co-ops
• Maintain trust with regulators and members alike

Want to Collaborate?

If you or your organization sees alignment with this work, we want to hear from you.

Whether you’re with a land trust, a design firm, a finance institution, or a grassroots org—we’re stronger together.

Contact us to start the conversation

Let’s co-create the conditions for housing justice in Toronto—and beyond.