Montreal Charity Advocates for Religious Land Use in Affordable Housing Initiative
Faith lands could be key to housing crunch, says charity behind national declaration

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Relèven, a Montreal-based charity, is urging Canada’s religious communities to utilize their idle land for affordable housing through the launch of the 'Winnipeg Declaration.' The initiative aims to mobilize support from faith leaders and government to address the housing crisis by repurposing church properties.
- 01Relèven estimates that Canada’s religious communities hold around 30,000 acres of land, equivalent to twice the size of Vancouver.
- 02The charity aims to prevent the 'fire sale' of church properties by promoting intentional community impact in their sale or redevelopment.
- 03Relèven has held stakeholder roundtables in Winnipeg to address local obstacles in utilizing faith properties for community needs.
- 04The Winnipeg Declaration calls for action from individuals, faith leaders, and all levels of government to facilitate better use of religious land.
- 05Relèven is also collaborating with the federal government to develop a new financing tool for social-purpose organizations to renovate faith properties.
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Relèven, a charity based in Montreal, is advocating for the use of idle land held by Canada’s religious communities to address the affordable housing crisis. At a recent virtual news conference, CEO Graham Singh announced the launch of the 'Winnipeg Declaration,' which seeks to mobilize faith leaders, politicians, and citizens to support this initiative. With approximately 30,000 acres of land available, Singh emphasized the potential for these properties to provide community services and housing. He criticized the common practice of religious organizations selling properties at a loss, often without considering their broader community impact. The declaration encourages all stakeholders, including municipal and federal governments, to adopt more deliberate actions when dealing with church properties. Relèven has already hosted stakeholder discussions in Winnipeg, focusing on local challenges such as heritage designations on older properties. The charity plans to present the declaration at upcoming conferences in Winnipeg, aiming to engage Canadians from diverse backgrounds in this important conversation about land use and community development.
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Utilizing idle religious land for housing can directly address the housing shortage in communities across Canada.
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