This Raising the Roof project is a single family house in Toronto that was deemed "uninhabitable" by City of Toronto and sat empty for years.

​

The social enterprise contractor, Building Up, provided 2864 hours of PAID hands-on training for 38 people with barriers to employment in the trades. As they were learning trades skills, they received wraparound supports such as mental health resources, employment counselling, and financial help with rent and groceries. Upon completion of the project, 35 of the people who worked on the property became registered apprentices or found full time work in the trades. One trainee found a full-time position outside of the construction sector and only two exited without placement.

​

In 2023, the City of Toronto reported that, despite adding more than 1,000 shelter spaces in the previous year, the system remained at capacity most nights. There are a number of factors realted to the increasing need for shelter including increased housing costs and a volatile economy with high inflation, but one of the factors is an increase in the number of asylum seekers. In 2021, there were 537 refugee claimants. In 2023, there were 2,900 refugee claimants, a 440% increase. 

 

Because of the need for permanent homes with settlement services for refugees, Raising the Roof chose to prioritize refugee families with children for the Eastern Avenue home. It is now home to a family of 6 who came to Canada as refugee claimants. HOTT provides ongoing property management and support and settlement services for the family.