In 2023, Raising the Roof purchased purchased two adjacent, fully-tenanted apartment buildings in the Keelesdale neighbourhood of Toronto.

Thanks to the support of the City of Toronto's Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program (MURA), we were able to save these affordable units. Since taking possession, we’ve preserved the overall affordability of the units while reducing rents on select units.

Our housing services partner, Woodgreen Community Services, provides property management, tenant support, and tenant screening services to ensure that the properties are available to low-income people who are struggling to find affordable accommodations. Since taking possession of the buildings, one unit has turned over, with a family from WoodGreen’s affordable housing waiting list placed into the newly-available unit.

We’ve upgraded the electrical systems in nine units, replacing older fuse boxes with modern breaker systems that allow tenants to restore power after a surge more easily and reduce fire risk for them. One trainee from our social enterprise partner Building Up was trained on replacing the drywall around the new boxes. As there are unit turnovers and maintenance needs, there will be more opportunities for hands-on trades training for years to come.