The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association

What The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association does

The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) is an independent, member-funded and member-directed non-profit association founded in 1988 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It represents more than 700 non-profit housing organizations that collectively manage over 163,000 affordable rental units across 220 Ontario communities and all 47 provincial Service Managers, advocating to provincial and federal governments on housing policy, sector funding, and regulatory frameworks including the Housing Services Act 2011.

ONPHA operates a member-driven platform-plus-modules architecture. The core ONPHA Membership spans three tiers (Housing Provider, Service Manager, Associate) and unlocks an integrated portfolio: ONPHA Enterprise (a group purchasing program powered by Round Table Procurement Services offering up to 60% savings across 40+ supplier categories, scaled to 250+ members and $5M+ in supplier spending in 2025); the Sector Transformation Enterprise Program (STEP) providing transition consulting under the Housing Services Act 2011; the Community Housing Transformation Initiative with five-stage transition templates; and the Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing Implementation Plan. Knowledge exchange is delivered through the annual ONPHA Conference (~1,000 attendees, one of the largest in North America), the Sector Summit, and the Opening Doors Podcast. Data products include the LEMR Housing Monitor (six Canadian urban regions), the Funding Tracker, and the Canadian Rental Housing Index (800+ regions/municipalities). Professional development includes self-paced online courses, webinars, customized training, and First Aid CPR via St. John Ambulance.

Revenue is generated through membership dues (annual, undisclosed pricing), conference and event registration and sponsorships, course and training fees, job board postings ($90-$99/post by tier), project-based government and foundation grants (e.g., $1M from Ontario MMAH in May 2024), and ONPHA Enterprise supplier/admin fees. The association's customer base is geographically concentrated in Ontario (no claimed global footprint) and segmented across non-profit housing providers, municipal Service Managers, and associate sector suppliers. Tech stack is conventional (WordPress on WP Engine, MailPoet/Informz for email, Cloudflare CDN, Wordfence security, PayPal for payments, Google Analytics) with no disclosed AI-native capabilities.

Name

The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association

Legal name

Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association

Website

https://onpha.on.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) is an independent, member-funded non-profit association founded in 1988 that represents 700+ Ontario non-profit housing providers managing 163,000+ affordable rental units, delivering advocacy, group purchasing (ONPHA Enterprise), professional development, sector data tools, and annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Housing Association Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Non-profit housing association
• Affordable housing advocacy
• Community housing services
• Group purchasing program
• Housing sector training

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual recurring membership dues from three tiers: Housing Provider Membership (for non-profit housing providers), Service Manager Membership (for Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services Administration Boards), and Associate Membership (for housing sector suppliers, service providers, partners and advocates). Self-described as 'funded and directed by its members.'
2. Job Board Posting Fees: Recruitment/job posting fees with tiered pricing: Free for Upgraded Members, $90/post for Upgraded Members, $99/post for Core Members & Service Managers, plus a fee tier for Non-Members.
3. Conference, Summit & Event Registration / Sponsorships: Revenue from annual ONPHA Conference (one of North America's largest community housing events, drawing nearly 1,000 housing professionals), annual Sector Summit, plus event sponsorship and exhibiting packages (corporate partners/sponsors). Special member pricing on Conference registrations.
4. ONPHA Enterprise Group Purchasing Program: Powered by Round Table Procurement Services (RTPS), offers members pre-negotiated contracts in 40+ categories with up to 60% savings. Reached 250+ members and over $5M in member spending through preferred suppliers in 2025. Revenue model likely involves supplier rebates/administration fees.
5. Government & Foundation Grants: Project-based grants from federal/provincial agencies. Examples: $1 million grant from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to support the Sector Transformation Enterprise Program (STEP); funding from CMHC and Community Housing Transformation Centre for the Indigenous Housing Plan; funding from the Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy Research and Planning Fund (administered by CMHC) for scalable solutions research.
6. Professional Development / Training Fees: Revenue from paid online courses (e.g., Governance Essentials, Community Housing Development, RGI Administration, Supportive Housing Core Competencies, GST/HST Series, Living Safely with Dementia), webinars, and customized on-demand training. Members get complimentary live webinars and discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ONPHA is an independent, member-funded and member-directed non-profit housing association that leads, supports, and advocates for Ontario's non-profit housing sector. Its core offering is tiered annual membership (Housing Provider, Service Manager, and Associate) that unlocks access to group purchasing (ONPHA Enterprise), policy advocacy, professional development, sector data tools, an annual conference, and a member helpline. The association represents 700+ non-profit housing organizations managing 163,000+ housing units across Ontario, and has helped secure $23+ billion in affordable-housing funding through its advocacy.

Product overview

The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) operates a member-driven association platform-plus-modules architecture serving Ontario's non-profit housing sector, founded in 1988 as an independent association funded and directed by its members. The foundational ONPHA Membership (with Housing Provider, Service Manager, and Associate tiers) unlocks access to an integrated portfolio of programs and resources. Operational support is delivered through ONPHA Enterprise, a group purchasing program powered by Round Table Procurement Services, and the Sector Transformation Enterprise Program (STEP) for transition consulting. Regulatory navigation is supported through the Community Housing Transformation Initiative and the Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing Plan. Annual knowledge-exchange events include the ONPHA Sector Summit and the larger ONPHA Conference (one of the largest community housing events in North America). Content products include the Opening Doors Podcast, the LEMR Housing Monitor data tool, the Funding Tracker, and the Canadian Rental Housing Index. Member capabilities are built through the Professional Development Program (courses, webinars, First Aid/CPR training via St. John Ambulance), with member recognition delivered via the annual ONPHA Awards program (Award for Excellence, Innovation Award, Sybil Frenette Outstanding Leadership Award, Young Changemaker Award, Tenant Achievement Award, Lifetime of Service Award), the Kathleen Blinkhorn Indigenous Student Scholarship, and the ONPHA Job Board for career opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ONPHA Enterprise: Group purchasing program for ONPHA members, powered by Round Table Procurement Services (RTPS), offering up to 60% savings on goods and services in over 40 supplier categories.
• STEP (Sector Transformation Enterprise Program)
• Opening Doors Podcast

Products and services

• ONPHA Membership Member-based association offering with three tiers (Housing Provider, Service Manager, and Associate) that provides members with advocacy, education opportunities, ONPHA Enterprise access, templates, networking, the Member Support Helpline, weekly email newsletter, Board Connections newsletter, Job Board discounts, Sector Transformation Enterprise Program access, and special pricing at ONPHA events.
• ONPHA Enterprise Group Purchasing Program Group purchasing program powered by Round Table Procurement Services (RTPS) that connects ONPHA members with a network of pre-vetted suppliers in over 40 categories, offering savings of up to 60% on goods and services, expert guidance on procurement policies, RFP process support, and access to online tools for managing purchasing activities.
• Sector Transformation Enterprise Program (STEP) Program providing ONPHA members access to pre-vetted, qualified consultants at a reduced cost to support their transition into new funding agreements following the end of mortgages or operating agreements under the new Housing Services Act, 2011 regulatory framework.
• Community Housing Transformation Initiative Initiative helping ONPHA members navigate Ontario's Community Housing Renewal Framework and the new Housing Services Act, 2011 regulatory framework, with a five-stage transition process, downloadable guides (Transformation Guide, FAQ 3.0, Technical Backgrounder), Service Agreement and Exit Agreement templates, and a Sector Transformation Enterprise Program for additional consulting support.
• Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing Plan for Ontario First-of-its-kind strategy addressing the disproportionate rates of housing insecurity among Indigenous households living off-reserve in Ontario, with six key recommendations for building 22,000 Indigenous-owned and operated affordable housing units over the next decade generating $14.3 billion in economic benefits and savings, developed in partnership with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit community members.
• ONPHA Sector Summit Annual members-only virtual meeting bringing together hundreds of housing providers to explore the latest policies, trends, and innovations shaping community housing in Ontario, featuring key policy insights, procurement policy updates from ONPHA Enterprise, and a special announcement about the ONPHA Conference.
• ONPHA Conference and Trade Show One of the largest community housing events in North America, drawing nearly 1,000 housing professionals and a diverse array of cross-sector collaborators for networking, education, and knowledge exchange, with updates from provincial, federal, and municipal housing leaders.
• ONPHA Awards Annual awards program celebrating outstanding organizations, individuals, and teams in the non-profit housing sector, with six award categories: Award for Excellence, Innovation Award, Sybil Frenette Outstanding Leadership Award, Young Changemaker Award, Tenant Achievement Award, and Lifetime of Service Award. Winners are recognized at the annual ONPHA Conference.
• Kathleen Blinkhorn Indigenous Student Scholarship Annual $2,000 scholarship supporting Indigenous students living in non-profit housing in Ontario for use towards post-secondary education costs, commemorating Kathleen Blinkhorn's work developing Aboriginal housing programs.
• Opening Doors Podcast Podcast series raising awareness of housing affordability issues in Ontario and showcasing the community housing sector's ability to lead solutions, with in-depth discussions on current sector issues and member/sector stories. Hosted by ONPHA CEO Marlene Coffey and Director of Operations Andrew McKenzie.
• LEMR Housing Monitor Centralized data tool that maps the location and characteristics of affordable 'low-end' market rental housing in six Canadian urban regions, providing key trends in housing affordability and showing how the rental stock has changed over time.
• Funding Tracker Interactive mapping tool that monitors Ontario's funding announcements and tracks sector wins and the latest government commitments, supporting the 10-year goal of building 99,000 new community housing units by turning announcements into tangible housing projects.
• Canadian Rental Housing Index Comprehensive database compiling rental housing statistics for cities, regions, and provinces across Canada, with an interactive map allowing exploration of rental housing statistics for more than 800 regions and municipalities across the country.
• Professional Development Program Comprehensive training program for housing providers featuring self-paced online courses (Governance Essentials, Ready Set (Re)Build, Supportive Housing Core Competencies, RGI Administration, Living Safely with Dementia, Community Housing Policy, GST/HST Series for Non-Profits), the Housing Passport international webinar series, First Aid CPR training via St. John Ambulance, live webinars, and customized on-demand training brought directly to organizations.
• ONPHA Job Board Career opportunities hub for Ontario's community housing sector featuring paid positions and volunteer positions at member organizations, with posting fees varying by membership type (free for Upgraded Members, $90/post for Core Members & Service Managers, $99/post for Non-Members).

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 60% savings on goods and services through ONPHA Enterprise group purchasing
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Round Table Procurement Services (RTPS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRound Table Procurement Services (RTPS) powers the ONPHA Enterprise group purchasing program, bringing 20+ years of experience supporting Ontario non-profits. Through RTPS, ONPHA members access pre-vetted suppliers in 40+ categories with up to 60% savings, RFP process support, legislation interpretation, policy development, expense management, and supplier selection guidance. ONPHA Enterprise reached 250+ members and $5M+ in supplier spending in 2025. RTPS Principal David Rourke is a recurring guest on the ONPHA Opening Doors Podcast.
• Daniel J. Brant and AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDaniel J. Brant and Associates (including Daniel J. Brant, Catherine Irwin-Gibson, and Brad Greyeyes-Brant) prepared ONPHA's Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing Implementation Plan for Ontario, with support from ONPHA's URIHA Committee and ONPHA staff.
• StrategyCorpcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategyCorp is ONPHA's long-time advocacy partner and a preferred supplier through ONPHA Enterprise. ONPHA is partnering with StrategyCorp on the 'Optimizing and scaling community housing development' research initiative (April 2025). StrategyCorp's Liam Thompson is a recurring guest on the Opening Doors Podcast discussing election impacts and housing change.
• St. John AmbulanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerONPHA partners with St. John Ambulance to give members access to standardized, provincially certified First Aid CPR training through the ONPHA professional development program.
• Build Canada Homes (BCH)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuild Canada Homes (BCH) is the federal government's newest housing initiative, launched September 14, 2025 with $13B in investment, 88 public land sites (463 hectares), and a 'Buy Canadian' focus. ONPHA is working closely with federal and provincial partners to ensure BCH delivers real results for Ontario's community housing providers. ONPHA CEO Marlene Coffey and members have met with BCH CEO Ana Bailão and Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson. BCH targets reducing timelines by 50% and costs by 20%.
• Hillcrest ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHillcrest Construction is a preferred supplier through ONPHA Enterprise, providing general contractor services to non-profit housing providers. Highlighted by CRC Self-Help Inc. testimonial for cost savings on a new housing construction project and subsequent renovation projects.
• Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSHC collaborates with ONPHA and AdvantAge Ontario on aging-in-place models. Featured in ONPHA Opening Doors Podcast S3E2 (January 2026). Partnered with Baycrest Hospital and Long-Term Care and several Ontario Health teams to wrap clinical services around senior tenants in their buildings; achieved 15% drop in emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
• AdvantAge OntariocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvantAge Ontario is a sector partner collaborating with ONPHA and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) on aging-in-place models for seniors. Featured in ONPHA Opening Doors Podcast S3E2 (January 2026).

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Round Table Procurement Services (RTPS):
• Yardi Systems: Major property management software vendor that supplies ONPHA's housing provider members. ONPHA lists Yardi as an Associate Member, reflecting the supply-side ecosystem ONPHA curates for its members through ONPHA Enterprise.

Direct peers

• British Columbia Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA): BC's province-wide non-profit housing association, the closest structural analogue to ONPHA. Both serve as the membership-based voice for non-profit housing providers, run sector conferences, deliver training, and advocate to their respective provincial governments.
• Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada): National federation representing housing co-operatives in Canada. Closely comparable to ONPHA in serving member-owned housing providers with advocacy, training, and member services, though focused on the co-op subset rather than the broader non-profit model.
• Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC): Canada's largest social housing provider and an ONPHA-affiliated member organization. Comparable as an Ontario non-profit housing operator (and featured on ONPHA's Opening Doors Podcast), illustrating the type of large institutional member ONPHA serves.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA): National umbrella association for community housing across Canada. Comparable to ONPHA at the federal level: advocates to Ottawa, runs a national congress, and offers training/professional development, but covers all provinces rather than focusing on Ontario specifically.

Regional players

• BC Housing: British Columbia's provincial housing agency. Comparable as a provincial-level sector steward that partners with non-profits, delivers sector data and policy, but is government-run rather than member-funded like ONPHA.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity Canada: National affordable housing non-profit active across Canada including Ontario. Comparable in mission (affordable housing) and operates volunteer/member-driven affiliate model, though focused on homeownership pathways rather than the rental/operating model ONPHA members represent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ONPHA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/onphajm
• Facebookfacebook.com/ONPHA
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/onpha
• Instagraminstagram.com/onpha

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association