Project
This study grew directly out of the Element Centre feasibility work. In check-ins with founders in our ecosystem, especially newcomers to Canada, one need kept coming up: affordable housing to pursue entrepreneurship. So we went deeper. Supported by Untitled Planning, the assessment drew on nearly 150 sources, surveys, and focus groups to examine the housing barriers marginalized entrepreneurs face and the models that could address them, from purpose-built development to credit-building programs and rental supports. It was accompanied by a Mixed-Use Study developed by AKA/FLDWRK, which modelled a 19-storey residential tower of 190 units integrated with the Element Centre.
The Result
The assessment confirmed that housing insecurity is one of the most significant barriers holding back marginalized entrepreneurs, compounded by irregular income, limited credit history, and systemic discrimination. It reframed the Element Centre as more than an innovation hub: an anchor institution that pairs entrepreneurial support with housing stability while guarding against the displacement that development can bring. The report closes with an 11-point roadmap, from strategic partnerships and land acquisition to diversified revenue and embedding housing in community wealth-building, that now informs how we plan the Centre’s next phase. It also fed directly into the Jane Finch Fellowship, a United Way funded BEA project that hired 14 residents to explore and pressure test the potential displacement and housing needs of the community.
“Affordable housing is a fundamental necessity for entrepreneurial success, especially for marginalized groups who often operate under greater financial strain.”
Housing Needs Assessment, March 2025