The Equity Gap

Different by design: Credit Unions

Credit unions are built for communities, not short term returns. For a housing crisis that demands long-term thinking, that difference matters. Credit unions have been helping Canadians access housing since their inception nearly 100 years ago. In the face of today's housing crisis, that legacy matters more than ever. In this episode, we meet three credit union organizations involved in the solutions lab: a niche credit union with Mennonite roots and a deep commitment to mutual aid, a values-driven investment bank wholly owned by a credit union, and Ontario's largest credit union. Built for community, not quarterly returns, credit unions may be exactly the long-term partners that community land trusts need to preserve affordable housing. THANKS TO OUR GUESTS Jeff Guthrie, President and CEO, Canadian Credit Union Association Kate Pearce, Director of Values Integration, Kindred Credit Union Chloe Wong, Business Development Manager, VanCity Community Investment Bank Kevin VanCampen, Senior Vice President of Business Banking, Meridian Credit Union CREDITS Produced and edited by Jay Harrison and Deren Atkins at Untied Productions. Hosted by Jay Harrison. Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound [http://www.epidemicsound.com/]. Music featured in this episode includes: Very Important Pineapple by Scoobadive, Oh My God (Instrumental version) by Zorro, Stomp & Shout by Candelion, Fantasize (Instrumental version) by I’MIN, and Vacation Barry by Jobii. This series was made possible by the Canadian Credit Union Association [https://ccua.com/] and Scaled Purpose [https://www.scaledpurpose.com/], with support from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/].

What if we owned the land together: Community Land Trusts

What would it mean to own land together — and keep it affordable, forever? This first episode of The Equity Gap explores the growing movement of community land trusts: organizations that remove land from the speculative market and put it under community control. From Toronto's Kensington Market to Ottawa and Waterloo Region, meet the people working to close the equity gap standing between communities and the land beneath their feet. THANKS TO OUR GUESTS Chiyi Tam, Executive Director, Toronto Chinatown Land Trust Sean Campbell, Executive Director, Union Co-operative Dominique Russell, Co-director of Community, Kensington Market Community Land Trust Mike Bulthuis, Executive Director, Ottawa Community Land Trust CREDITS Produced and edited by Jay Harrison and Deren Atkins at Untied Productions. Hosted by Jay Harrison. Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound [http://www.epidemicsound.com/]. Music featured in this episode includes: Finish Line by Mizlo, Filter (Instrumental Version) by Nic Hanson, Very Important Pineapple by Scoobadive, Lucky 7s by Guustavv, Some Kind of Friend (Instrumental Version) by Vicki Vox, and Infinity by Northside. This series was made possible by the Canadian Credit Union Association [https://ccua.com/] and Scaled Purpose [https://www.scaledpurpose.com/], with support from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/].