Overview

North York 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 a vacant single family house in North York into a safe, dignified home for young women who were staying in a temporary emergency youth shelter. Eva’s Initiatives provides ongoing support to the women, to help them achieve their goals from the base of stable, affordable housing.

Through the North York project, the social enterprise contractor, Building Up, provided hands-on training and employment to people with barriers to employment. 55 people were trained and employed through the project renovations. Of the 55, 47 of the trainees are now completing paid apprenticeships or are employed full time in the construction sector. 

Project Impact

2

new units of deeply affordable housing

5

youth who were experiencing homelessness now have safe, affordable homes with ongoing wraparound supports

55

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

47

out of the 55 trainees who gained experience on the project training program and now are working full time in the construction sector

Completed Reside Project Tenant

I am able to focus on achieving my goals in a realistic way. I live independently and know where to get supports. In this short amount of time, I have been able to achieve goals and set new ones. I look forward to what is next. Thank you.

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.

Edward, Building Up Construction Training Program Grad

Edward was a trainee working with one of our social enterprise contractors, Building Up. Edward was unemployed and on Ontario Works, experiencing suicidality and depression. Through the construction training program, Edward discovered his passion for carpentry. He built his confidence, rising at 4am each morning to be on-site first.

Since graduation, Edward has had stable, well-paying unionized apprenticeship, his mental health has improved, his housing security has improved, and he’s saving to purchase a home. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” Edward says, “and I have Building Up to thank for that.”

Project timeline

December 2018

August 2019

October 2020

December 2018

Building Up started the construction and hands on trades based training in December 2018 after Raising the Roof acquired the house through the Federal Government’s Surplus Federal Real Property for Homeless Initiative.

August 2019

In August 2019, the extensive renovations, including the creation of a secondary suite, were completed, creating beautiful, comfortable homes.

October 2020

Young women who were living in a youth homelessness shelter moved into the home. They now have an affordable home from which to pursue their educational and career goals with ongoing support from Eva’s Initiatives.

North York

Before and After 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 on one of our current projects with your team, please contact us.