Our Story
For nearly 30 years, Options for Homes and Home Ownership Alternatives worked side by side to champion attainable housing across Ontario. Founded in 1994, both organizations emerged from a shared vision: making homeownership accessible to moderate-income families who faced barriers in Canada’s challenging housing market.
Options for Homes established itself as one of Canada’s largest non-profit developer of attainable ownership condominiums, building over 3,300 homes in the Greater Toronto Area. Meanwhile, Home Ownership Alternatives became a pioneering social impact fund, providing crucial down payment loans and development financing that helped over 4,000 families achieve homeownership.
In December 2023, after three decades of collaboration, our organizations came under shared leadership to amplify our impact. This strategic alignment allows us to develop, deliver, and expand attainable homes more efficiently while building on our proven track record of creating vibrant communities across Canada.
Our Why
Our Mission
As a social purpose organization, we facilitate access to housing through innovative financing and development solutions.
Our Vision
To continuously expand our social impact by reinvesting capital so more people have access to homes and the opportunity for economic prosperity.
Our Values
People first
Believe passionately in our shared purpose and our ability to make a positive difference in people’s lives.Inclusivity
Ensure our financial services and development projects are welcoming to and shaped by the voices and needs of the communities we serve.Community
Foster vibrant neighbourhoods where a diverse mix of people come together.Collaboration
Engage with the communities we serve and partner with others in the housing sector to develop housing solutions.Quality
Develop well-built housing and provide reliable, personalized financial services that meet high standards of excellence and contribute to the collective social good.Financial sustainability
Generate value and continuously reinvest it in the development of future communities, while stewarding a financially disciplined, autonomous non-profit.
The Ready Program is how Options for Homes delivers on its mission of making homeownership attainable for people with a range of incomes. The Ready Program provides access to up to 15% down payment support.
Over 30 years of impact
Since 1994, we have championed attainable housing through innovative financing and development solutions, helping thousands of families access homes.
Explore our Communities
Meet Our Team
Our Board
Angus Knowles
Board Chair
Noah Rechtsman
Board Vice-Chair
Abi Abraham-Ajayi
Director
Alena Thouin
Director
David Chemla
Director
Elaine Crossland
Corporate Secretary
Howard Bogach
Director
Larry Whatmore
Director
Marilyn Conway-Jones
Director
Teresa Fritsch
Director
Tracey Chinman
Director
Our Partners
We’ve built our track record by working with partners who share our mission—financial institutions, construction companies, and municipal and provincial governments committed to expanding access to owned and rented homes.
Contact us today
Have questions about our program or what communities we have in development? Give us a shout or drop us a line!
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