The Presbyterian Church in Canada and Evangel Hall Mission are pleased to announce an exciting collaboration. Executive Director of Evangel Hall Mission, Ainsley Chapman, has been engaged as a resource to the Presbyterian Church in Canada to support congregations as they consider the future use of their land and buildings. This work may also contribute to a vision to address Canada’s housing crisis.
Recognizing the challenges housing insecurity brings to the health and security of communities, Presbyterians have long been concerned with providing housing for vulnerable populations. Since the 1960s, some churches have incorporated affordable housing into their ministry. Recent congregational projects have included building carbon-neutral housing to serve immigrants and refugees and housing for seniors. Evangel Hall, a mission of the Presbytery of East Toronto, has served the needs of people who are unhoused since 1913, providing food, shelter, spiritual care, and permanent housing to over 160 tenants across two apartment buildings.
A recognized and award-winning housing leader within the Toronto, Ainsley will share the expertise and experience learned from Evangel Hall Mission’s extensive work with the social housing community and government, helping congregations navigate development processes across Canada. Ainsley will be working closely with Karen Plater, Associate Secretary for Stewardship of the PCC in doing this work, as the is committed to providing tools, financial resources, and staff to support to move this work forward.
Presbyterians take seriously the stewardship of the land and buildings we are blessed with so that they can serve God’s mission. Together, the national office and Evangel Hall Mission look forward to working with congregations and presbyteries as they ask how their properties can best serve their communities in the future. Some of the questions congregations and presbyteries have already been asking include:
- How could a development help our congregation participate in God’s mission?
- What would be the responsibilities and scope of work for volunteers?
- What kind of expertise might we need?
- How could our building/property help the housing crisis in our community?
- How else could our building serve the community?
- Who in our community should we be talking to? When should we be talking to them?
- How could a feasibility study help? Who conducts them?
- What questions do we need to ask developers? Lawyers? Government?
- How is all of this work funded, from feasibility studies to completion?
- We are running out of time, money, and/or volunteers. Is it too late to consider a project?
- A developer told us we need to decide really quickly. Can we set our own timeline to decide?
We recognize that this is a cutting-edge ministry. There is no cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all solution to the matter of building use or affordable housing. The PCC and EHM are committed to working alongside congregations and presbyteries who would like to explore the options available, so lessons can be shared and best practices created as we navigate this critical work together.
For more information contact:
- Ainsley Chapman, achapman@presbyterian.ca
- Karen Plater, kplater@presbyterian.ca