The Reena Community Residence Building will be located on the Joseph & Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus being built in southern York Region. Kehilla is the development consultant and will serve as property manager for this 60-unit affordable, supportive housing project. Reena is the lead sponsor agency, with partner agencies (Chai Tikvah, Circle of Care, and Jewish Family and Child) providing support services to residents with special needs.Summer 2010 construction start is anticipated with a summer 2011 occupancy date projected. A fundraising committee has been established, along with a joint management committee to oversee the project and interface with UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.  The Reena Foundation has already committed one million dollars, with a further million in 2009. In May 2008, the Honourable Madelaine Meilleu, Minister of Community and Social Services, announced two million dollars of funding at a press conference held at Reena’s Toby and Henry Battle Developmental Centre in Thornhill.  A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 30,2009. On January 28th 2009 the Minister was again at Reena to announce $1.5 million of stimulus capital funding for the Pathways program on the ground floor.

The "Charlie," Great Gulf Homes’ newest condo to be built at Charlotte and King – will be home to four households in need of affordable housing.  Great Gulf has gifted Kehilla and the community with four condos in exchange for extra density from the City of Toronto. Kehilla will retain ownership of the units, and under an agreement with the City, will ensure that the units remain affordable. Councillor Adam Vaughan championed these units to be offered within the building, not offsite, thus meeting the goal of inclusionary zoning. Thank you to Councillor Adam Vaughan for his leadership and to Great Gulf for its contribution!

JCARP, launched in 2004, is a reduced rental housing strategy created in partnership with UJA Federation and a private landlord. This exceptional example of community partnership has created affordable housing in the absence of any government program. Clients of Jewish community agencies are placed at below market rental rates in units situated along the Bathurst Street corridor. The pilot program began with 30 one and two-bedroom apartments, and has been so successful that the program has already expanded to 41 units with approval for an additional 19.

This coalition of Jewish communal agencies is dedicated to addressing and alleviating poverty among the working poor. A pilot project recently approved by UJA Federation is focusing on lifting ten families out of poverty. Kehilla’s role is to assist with their affordable housing needs.