Synapcity & OCLT Present: Community Housing Solutions

Join us on Thursday November 21st - the eve of National Housing Day in Canada - as we talk about Community Housing Solutions. Synapcity and the Ottawa Community Land Trust are excited to welcome a panel of expert speakers, both to highlight current challenges and help illuminate solutions for community housing - right here in Ottawa.

From community wealth building to civic advocacy, our event will examine different ways that individuals and organizations can support solutions. We’ll hear about important work being done to create frameworks for policies and funding that drive change. We’ll hear how community investment is powering concrete solutions across our region by creating opportunities for individuals to invest in their communities. We’ll hear success stories and examine how we can amplify effects already being felt in the housing marketplace. Finally, we’ll look at how the community can engage our leaders, organizations and political representatives to help move the needle on housing stock and increase the availability of affordable housing.

First up we’ll hear from Mike Bulthuis of the Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT). The OCLT seeks to grow a portfolio of community-owned rental homes, removed from the speculative market, to be preserved as affordable housing in perpetuity. Mike will outline some of the work of OCLT in acquiring two distinct properties in the Nation’s Capital and launching their Housing Forever Bonds which enable residents, community organizations and local businesses to support the work they are doing. He’ll detail what the OCLT have learnt and how to apply that to future projects.

Next up we’ll hear from Meg McCallum, Executive Director at Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa. Meg will detail some of the work the Alliance is doing to help find real solutions to more affordable housing in the Nation’s capital. She will outline investments that are being made as well as detail some of the campaigns and initiatives the Alliance has been running that are increasing visibility of the housing issue on both a local and national level.

Also speaking will be George Phiri, Project Manager at Refugee 613. They are spearheading a new collective impact initiative to facilitate settlement and housing solutions for recent arrivals, specifically asylum claimants. George will outline some of the important work being done by 613 Refugee and highlight how the community can get involved.

We’ll also hear from a representative of ACORN Ottawa who are hard at work advocating for tenant rights across the region. ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is a multi-issue, membership-based community union of low- and moderate-income people. They believe that social and economic justice can best be achieved by building community power for change.

Stay tuned for more information on additional speakers and be sure and be sure join us on Thursday November 21st for this very important session as we examine Community Housing Solutions. Our event will take place at the Deloitte Greenhouse at Bayview Yards Innovation Centre. Please note the Greenhouse is on the second floor, which is completely accessible. Parking is available outside and the venue is close to Bayview station.

Speaker Bios:

Mike Bulthuis (he/him) has worked with the Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT) since December, 2022. Throughout the 20 years prior, he has always worked at the intersections of policy, research and community mobilization. This included several positions with the federal government – developing policy on issues including homelessness, social finance, social innovation and infrastructure – and several leadership positions in the non-profit environment, including with Ottawa’s Alliance to End Homelessness, and with the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. Alongside the OCLT, he’s committed to the preservation and expansion of affordable housing.

Meg McCallum serves as the Interim Executive Director for the Alliance to End Homelessness and has almost two decades of experience in the housing and homelessness sector in Ottawa. From 2006 to 2018 Meg was the Director of Membership & Communications for Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC), one of the largest private non-profit landlords in Ontario. During that time she was a steering committee member of both the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa and the Ottawa Social Housing Network and served as the President of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. She has also served as the Chair of the South Crosby Non Profit Housing Corporation and the Community Chair of the Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee for the Township of Rideau Lakes.

George Phiri (MJF, PhD) is the CIIRC Project Manager at Refugee 613, with extensive experience in managing NGO programs and human resources, particularly in shelter and support services for refugees and newcomers to Canada with lived experience. Known for his community-focused leadership, George has been instrumental in initiatives supporting African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities. His work emphasizes public health, harm reduction, and education, with a strong commitment to equity and social justice. Recognized for his dedication, he has received five awards from Lions Clubs International. 

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About OCLT:

The Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT) was established in 2021. Today, we are devoted to preserving and increasing affordable housing in Ottawa - forever. We do this in two innovative ways: we acquire existing rental properties from the speculative market to turn into community-owned affordable housing benefiting the community, and we secure vacant land to build affordable housing in the future. We work with the community to raise capital - and aim to strengthen the community housing sector.

Learn more here: https://www.oclt.ca/

About Synapcity:

Synapcity is Ottawa’s community broker. We energize and activate people and institutions to become more informed residents, engage in meaningful dialogue, open their minds and collaborate towards shared goals. We do this through dialogue, events and education that explore the challenges and opportunities we face as a city. Synapcity’s network of citymakers are empowered to create and continually contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive Ottawa. Synapcity has recently launched a Membership Program to help drive 2025 activities which will include a 2025 edition of the Civics Boot Camp.

Learn more here: https://synapcity.ca/membership/

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards, 9 Bayview Road, Ottawa, Canada