ABOUT
Community Land Trust of Niagara – CLTN is a not-for-profit organization with the goal of increasing the supply of accessible, affordable, and sustainable housing in Niagara.
Working non-competitively with existing housing providers in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, the CLTN aims to acquire land and buildings from the private market and then work with partner organizations to develop and renovate the properties to secure long-term affordability. Niagara’s unhoused and poorly housed residents, as well as the agencies dedicated to their well-being, stand to benefit immeasurably from the assets, expertise and networks forged by the Trust.
MISSION
To relieve poverty by:
Acquiring and holding land and buildings in Niagara for the purpose of providing affordable housing to residents of Niagara and surrounding areas with low or limited means;
Partnering with other agencies and organizations to create affordable housing in Niagara for residents of Niagara and surrounding areas with low or limited means.
VISION
Creating and stewarding affordable housing options for future generations.
Values
Equitable
Everyone deserves decent, affordable housing.
Collaborative
We build stronger communities by working collaboratively with like-minded partners.
Innovative
We proactively seek out solutions, wherever they may lie, to bridge the gaps and strengthen the affordable housing system.
Accountable
We are open, transparent and accountable to the community as we work to fulfill our mission and vision.
History of the CLTN
Addressing a need in our Community
The CLTN emerged from the vision of a dedicated group of residents from the Niagara region, mobilized to action in response to an acute housing affordability crisis. Now more than ever, innovative strategies across all sectors of the community are needed to get more people into safe, decent homes.
Several organizations across Niagara are seeking affordable, accessible land to increase the inventory of housing – however most do not have the means to confront the challenges alone. Able to bring a wealth of expertise to bear around financing and property, the CLTN will be there to provide the linkages and resources that will enable community agencies to find and develop much needed homes.
The Community Land Trust of Niagara is committed to being a part of the solution.
What is a Community Land Trust?
Land trusts work with governments, community groups, developers, financial institutions, and any other partners with a stake in affordable housing.
Land trusts are just recently seeing an emergence throughout Canada. There is a growing network of CLTs across the country.
Land trusts not only work to make housing attainable, but they also ensure that any housing they develop remains affordable.
For more information on CLTs and resources contact the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts (CNCLT):
Board
If you are interested in a board position with the CLTN click here to find out more on how you can volunteer.
Lori Beech
Lori has 30 years’ experience in non-profit management and program development in charitable, government, and association organizations in a variety of sectors with local, provincial and national scope. For the past 11 years, Lori has worked in community housing and social services as Executive Director of Bethlehem Housing and Support Services. She brings her expertise to various leadership roles on a wide range of community social service tables. Lori holds a General BA degree with a major in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, Post Diploma Certificate in Non-Profit and Association Executive Management.
Rob DePetris
Rob is a Tax Principal at WMKL He specializes in owner/manager client, charities and not for profit organizations and estate planning. He has an Honours Bachelor of Administration from Brock University, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto and was called to the bar in Ontario in 1994. He has also graduated from the Tax In Depth Course offered by the CPA Institute and is a graduate of the !CD-Rotman Directors Education Program. He currently i on the board of directors of the Canadian Automobile Association of Niagara and is Treasurer of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce and the Welland Tennis Club. Rob has served in the past as chair of the board of the St. Catharines and Thorold Chamber of Commerce, chair of the board of the United Way of St. Catharines and District, and President of the St. Catharines Minor Baseball Association. He is a proud member of the St. Catharines Rotary Club.
Jim Dimanis
Jim is a transformational leadership coach, strategic business adviser with more than two decades of experience as a multifamily and commercial real estate executive serving both the public and private sectors. His business acumen and deep understanding of diverse real estate verticals, including real estate development and property management, give him unique insights into managing complex projects.
Early in his career, he worked for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, and he served on the board of homeEd, an affordable housing organization in Edmonton. He also served as the capital campaign chair to raise funds for a supportive housing project developed by the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. For several years, he served as Master of Ceremonies at the Canadian Apartment Symposium Series. He spoke at the Keyspire Real Estate Investing Wealth Tour and the Vancouver Real Estate Forum. He was the keynote speaker at the Building Stronger Partners Real Estate Conference, hosted by the Edmonton Realtors Association. In 2021, the Lieutenant Governor appointed Jim to serve as board chair of the Office of the Employer Adviser for the Province of Ontario. Jim lives in St. Anns, Ontario. He enjoys hiking, spending time with his family and advocating for a better world.
Nicholas Godfrey
Nick is a Registered Professional Planner based in the Niagara Region. His interest in joining the CLTN comes from a desire to develop innovative and practical solutions to address the full range of housing needs in Niagara.
Margaret Jarrell
Throughout her career, Margaret Jarrell has assumed many key roles as an administrator or analyst in various federal government agencies, such as Manpower and Immigration, the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Department of Health and Welfare, Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Industry Trade and Commerce and Regional Economic Expansion.
Her career includes major roles in key organizations and agencies around Niagara: Affirmative Action and Employment Equity Coordinator, Lincoln County Board of Education; CEO of Adolescent’s Family Support Services of Niagara; CEO of Design for a New Tomorrow; and CEO of Hospice Niagara.
Margaret’s community involvement runs deep in Niagara. She has been President of the United Way of St. Catharines and District, as well as a board and committee member for many years. She was both a board member and president of Crime Stoppers of Niagara and chair of the St. Catharines Refugee Committee. She was a founding member of Victim Crisis Support Services of Niagara, and has been involved with the Coalition to End Violence Against Women (CEVAW).
Her current community involvement includes Rotary Club of St. Catharines, the St. Catharines Federal Liberal Riding Association and a founding member of the Garden City Community Land Trust.
Sarah Lukaszczyk
My name is Sarah. I was born in St. Catharines, Ontario and I returned to the Niagara Region for graduate studies during the pandemic.
Long story short, after I completed my undergrads at the University of Waterloo, I did research on renewable energy for a remote island in the Philippines. I then returned home for a year break and did my master’s at Brock University. My grad research focused on Canadian housing policies and specifically on the City of St. Catharines’ ‘Compassion Charter’, which focused on addressing the lack of affordable housing in the area. Further, and while in school, I worked at Community Care’s Housing Help Centre. This Housing Help Centre worked with individuals and families to secure housing and to avoid eviction. Additionally, this work led me to the Niagara Regional Friendship Centre, where we worked together to ensure community members avoided evictions and they had access to cultural supports. My motivation now is to plan for and build more inclusive and sustainable communities.
Paul Miller
B.A., M.Div. Ph.D.
A resident of Niagara for 27 years, Paul Miller is a minister with the United Church of Canada and holds a Ph.D. from McMaster University. He is a past Board Chair of Habitat for Humanity Niagara and currently chairs the Board of Start Me Up Niagara. Paul is an avid singer and member of the Avanti Chamber Singers. He is married to Rev. Diane Walker. They have four adult children and six grandchildren.
Shannon Mitchell
Shannon Mitchell is currently serving her second term as trustee for the District School Board of Niagara, is also the chair of the DSBN Equity Committee. With a passion for governance and community-building, she also works for MPP Wayne Gates, amplifying her commitment to serving her constituents. Shannon’s leadership and advocacy reflect her unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in her community.
Caleb Ratzlaff
Elected in 2022, Caleb Ratzlaff is a St. Catharines City Councillor and Niagara Region Transit Commissioner. Before entering politics, Caleb completed a Master’s degree in Political Philosophy and spent time working in the trades. After finishing school, he put down roots in his hometown, establishing several place-based neighbourhood associations and advocacy groups. Grassroots organizing has brought to light stories of displacement, evictions, and rent increases far beyond the inflation rate. The neighbours behind these stories ignited a desire in Caleb to find non-market housing solutions that allow everyone, especially young families, newcomers, and seniors, to feel secure and rooted in their homes.
When he’s not watering neighbourhood ice rinks or wrangling his three children in the park with his partner, you’ll find him in the kitchen baking sourdough bread.
OUR Funders
