ACRES · Black Housing Equity, Education & Advocacy
A fair path to homeownership for Black Canadians.
We are calling on the federal and Ontario governments to fully fund a Black homeownership program: purchase assistance, practical education and the work needed to deliver it properly. Black families should not have to wait for private fundraising to have a fair path into a home.
ACRES is also the name of our proposed nonprofit arm. Its focus is Black housing equity, education and advocacy. It would be legally and financially separate from the commercial ACRES business and SirLuckHomes.
The ACRES Black Homeownership Equity Fund is the program we are campaigning for. Government funding is not yet secured and housing assistance applications are not open. The proposed nonprofit is not incorporated or registered as a charity and cannot issue charitable tax receipts.
What the Indigenous housing example shows
Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services administers the OPHI Homeownership Program for eligible Indigenous households. Its 2026 FAQ describes assistance of up to 10% of the purchase price for a down payment and closing costs. The loan can be forgiven after 20 years if occupancy, insurance and other conditions are met. Earlier repayment can include a share of appreciation. OAHS covers purchases outside the GTA and directs GTA purchasers to Miziwe Biik Development Corporation. Funding is limited and its FAQ reports a waiting list. Read the OPHI program and its 2026 FAQ.
Ontario's housing action plan places OPHI within its federal and provincial funding framework. It shows that targeted housing assistance can be a public responsibility. The program has limited annual funding, not a guarantee that every eligible household will receive assistance. Read Ontario's funding framework.
Our question is straightforward: why should Black households facing documented barriers not have a comparable, publicly funded pathway? Indigenous peoples have distinct histories, rights and housing needs. ACRES supports Indigenous housing assistance. We are asking for additional public investment in Black homeownership, not a transfer away from Indigenous programs. OAHS is a case study, not an ACRES partner or endorser.
Why ACRES is campaigning for this
A down payment can remain out of reach even when a household is working toward affordable mortgage payments. Education matters, but education alone does not supply purchase capital. CMHC's 2021 research, using 2006 to 2016 data, found lower ownership rates among Black people and other groups, with gaps remaining after accounting for income, location and demographics. The study does not itself establish discrimination or describe today's rates. Read the research and its limits.
This builds on the ACRES Master Template's original down payment assistance concept, alongside financial literacy, community outreach, responsible ownership and professional accountability. The workspace is one possible place to deliver education. It is not the purpose of this fund.
Who the proposed pilot would serve
- Black households facing documented financial barriers, with published income and asset limits suited to local housing costs.
- People purchasing a home to live in, with priority criteria developed around need and access to first ownership. Investment properties and wealthy investors would not be the target.
- Households that can qualify for an affordable mortgage through an independent lender. Assistance would not replace underwriting or guarantee approval.
- A first pilot focused on the GTA, with community input before any wider expansion.
These are proposed criteria. The final eligibility rules, human rights special program design and privacy protections require legal review and funder agreement.
What the support would include
- Down payment and eligible closing cost assistance, with up to 10% of the purchase price as a starting design for consultation. A dollar cap and purchase price limits would be set before launch.
- Free education on credit, budgeting, mortgages, purchase costs, maintenance and the risks of ownership.
- Access to independent legal, mortgage and housing guidance, with freedom to choose qualified providers.
- Support after purchase and referrals when a household faces financial difficulty.
For some households, safe and stable renting will remain the better immediate option. The wider ACRES mission includes renters, sellers and older adults as well as future buyers.
Assistance with rules people can understand
We propose evaluating a secured loan with no regular interest or monthly assistance payment, potentially forgivable after a defined period of continued ownership and occupancy. A 20 year period is one option to test. Before anyone applies, the agreement must clearly explain sales, moving out, renting the property, refinancing, death, hardship, losses and any share of appreciation payable on early exit. These are design choices for ACRES, not terms we have already adopted or a promise to copy OPHI unchanged.
Repayments could help another eligible household. Forgiven loans do not return capital, so an ongoing program would still need replenishment. A responsible budget must allow for administration, losses, legal work, education and long term servicing.
A pilot that can be costed and measured
Illustration: 20 households × C$50,000 average assistance = C$1 million in purchase assistance.
This is a planning example, not an approved award, per household entitlement or the total program budget. Education, staff, legal setup, administration, evaluation and reserves need separate funding. Local home prices and mortgage affordability must determine whether that level of assistance is useful.
The public funding we are calling for
Federal and Ontario governments should fully fund the approved purchase assistance and reasonable program delivery costs through dedicated, multiyear commitments. That includes education, staff, administration, legal setup, evaluation, reserves and long term servicing.
The program should not depend on private fundraising, loans taken out by the founder, or profits from the commercial workspace. Any professional fees or stipends would need a lawful basis, independent approval and an expressly permitted place in the public delivery budget.
Fully funded means funding the assistance program and its delivery. It does not mean government paying the entire price of every home. Households would still need an affordable mortgage and to meet the program rules. Banks and credit unions could support delivery and provide independently approved mortgages, without being the substitute for public program funding.
Public homeownership funding would be ringfenced for its approved purpose. It would not finance the commercial workspace or subsidize brokerage rent.
Who would oversee it
The proposed nonprofit would need an independent board, community representation and finance, legal and housing expertise. Its decisions, accounts and obligations would be separate from the commercial ACRES company and SirLuckHomes.
Independent reviewers would assess applicants under published criteria, with a review process and conflict recusals. No household would have to hire SirLuckHomes, rent ACRES space or pay for membership to qualify.
Annual reporting should show assistance committed and paid, costs, repayments, losses, households served and sustained ownership, while protecting personal information. Paid work or any stipend must have a lawful basis and independent approval.
What we are asking partners to help build
01 · Design with the communityBring Black residents and independent housing, legal and finance specialists together to define need, eligibility and safe assistance terms.
02 · Commit and protect capitalSeek written funding commitments, an appropriate administrator and a fully costed pilot. Complete legal, governance and lender acceptance work before opening intake.
03 · Launch and report resultsPublish the rules, deliver education, assess households independently and measure whether people obtain and keep suitable homes.
Ontario's Human Rights Code protects qualifying special programs designed to address disadvantage and improve equal opportunity. That is a design framework to review with counsel, not automatic approval of ACRES eligibility rules. Read section 14.
A nonprofit is not automatically a registered charity, and a homeownership loan program needs its own charitable purpose and regulatory review before any charity application or launch. Our advocacy will focus on housing policy, not support for a political party or candidate. Read the CRA's explanation of nonprofits and registered charities and its guidance on charitable public policy advocacy.
We welcome policy, research and funding conversations. Please do not email identification, tax returns, banking records or a personal funding application. This page is not a loan offer, donation appeal or financial application form.
Published October 23, 2026. OPHI program page and linked 2026 FAQ checked October 23, 2026. This proposal is independently developed by ACRES and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OAHS, MBDC, CMHC or a government.
