Overview

Caledon Reside Project

By creating employment opportunities and new units of deeply affordable housing with wraparound supports, Raising the Roof’s Reside provides a tangible, targeted long-term solution to ending homelessness in Canada.

Raising the Roof renovated an abandoned heritage church that had sat empty in a Toronto and Regional Conservation Authority park for many years. Now, it is home to adults with developmental disabilities who were at risk of homelessness. They live independently with another adult who is available in case of emergency. The other tenant is also someone with low income who was in need of affordable housing. Caledon Area Families for Inclusion provides property management and ongoing supports for the tenants.

Through the Caledon project, the social enterprise contractor, Building Up, was able to provide hands-on training and employment to people with barriers to employment for 92 people. Through the extensive sustainability measures, they were able to get experience in future-focused green building techniques. 85% of the trainees have gone onto full time employment in the trades.

Project Impact

4

people who were at risk of homelessness have a beautiful, safe, energy efficient home

92

people with barriers to employment who received training, employment and support during the project renovations

78

out of the 92 trainees who received hands on experience on the project are now are working full time in the construction sector

172

people whose lives have been changed through full time employment in the trades and affordable housing with supports through the Reside program so far (and we're just getting started!)

Mayor Allan Thompson, Town of Caledon

In my role as Mayor of Caledon, I am always looking for projects that offer a wide variety of community benefits to my community. Raising the Roof’s Reside model, turned a vacant church into affordable housing in our community, while training residents with barriers to employment to gain careers in construction through the process. They also fully greened the building and it is now an integrated and affordable shared housing model for two persons with developmental disabilities [a third person moved in in 2021] and one non-disabled person.

I was so inspired by this project that we dedicated the proceeds from our annual Caledon Council Charity Golf Tournament to Raising the Roof to help fund the work at 1 Cedar Mains. It is our hope that we will have the opportunity to work with Raising the Roof on similar Reside projects in the future.

Tarah Clark, Building Up

Building Up is thrilled about our growing partnership with Raising the Roof. Raising the Roof provides our participants with the unique training opportunity of first hand work experience in construction. By renovating vacant spaces into energy efficient affordable housing our participants build not only their skills, confidence and employability, but they also go home proud of the work they have done. Our work with Raising the Roof gives us the ability to truly set our participants up for success in both their careers and their lives.

Daniel E, BuildingUp Participant

The project at Cedar Mains has been exciting to look forward to through some difficult times in my personal life… I am so thankful to have the opportunity to not only learn the trades but to make an impact. After meeting the young ladies that are moving into to the home we’re building, I can see the difference this project will make in their lives. It’s much more than just a house.

Caledon

Before and Construction Photos

"After" Virtual Tour

Contact us

You can help

To find out more about the Reside program, become a sponsor or participate in a Community Build Day at one of our current projects with your team, please contact us.