Stories

Building for community

Trinity Lutheran Church’s gift helps address affordable housing in Hamilton

This is a story about honouring the past. And building for the future.

It starts in the 1950s, when there were so many Lutherans in Hamilton — many arriving in the city as immigrants and refugees following WWII, with growing families — that one church became four. Today, shrinking numbers mean the four congregations are again one, united under the name Trinity Lutheran. Trinity has properties it no longer needs. And a dream to share its good fortune with the city that gave its members so much.

One of the surplus churches, located on King Street East on a main bus route across from a grocery store, is an excellent candidate for affordable housing. “Our members see the tents. They understand the huge community need,” says Michael Schuster, chair of Trinity’s redevelopment committee. “Offering the property at a reduced rate to a community partner is a legacy for us.”

Trinity’s committee approached HCF to play matchmaker: to use the Foundation’s affordable housing networks and resources to facilitate the church’s goals. This included the potential for HCF to help an affordable housing development partner hold the property to keep it out of the private market.

“The road to affordable housing isn’t straight,” says Yulena Wan, Vice-President, Finance & Operations at HCF. “We explored many options and a couple of detours arose during the many months it took to find the right match.”

That match was local supportive housing provider, Indwell. They agreed to purchase the property, with HCF providing bridge financing until government funding becomes available, with the goal of building supportive housing units on the site.

HCF has been previously outbid by private developers when trying to secure property for affordable housing. “We’re so grateful to Trinity for not putting such a desirable property on the open market,” Yulena says. “Making projects a reality is complicated. Our role is to connect people, ideas and resources so housing is built.”

“I don’t think this could have happened without HCF coming forward with an innovative financial proposal,” Michael says. “We looked outside our congregation for examples of what to do with our property. Now maybe we can be an example to others.”

Excerpt from 2023-24 annual report