Catalyst
Catalyst is a BC-based not-for-profit real estate developer that develops, owns, and operates affordable rental housing under BMU, LEM, HILs, RGI, and Deep Subsidy programs, serving low- and moderate-income households, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities across British Columbia through partnerships with municipalities, BC Housing, and non-profit housing societies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Catalyst does
Catalyst Community Developments Society is a British Columbia-based not-for-profit real estate developer founded in 2013 that develops, owns, and operates affordable rental housing across the province. The company targets low- to moderate-income households, very-low-income renters (including those needing deep subsidy or Rent Geared to Income support), seniors, families, and individuals with disabilities through five program structures - Below Median Income (BMU), Lower End of Market (LEM), Housing Income Limits (HILs), Rent Geared to Income (RGI), and Deep Subsidy - with rents set 10-40% below market and aimed at keeping housing costs at or below 30% of household income.
The portfolio currently comprises approximately 699 homes across seven completed projects and three in development, with an asset base valued at roughly $221M and 483,665 sq ft of community and commercial space. Properties span Burnaby (7392 16th Avenue, 6889 Royal Oak, Parkwood Gardens, 6521 Telford Ave), Vancouver (Aspen, Alder, Hannelore), North Vancouver (Timberline I), Victoria (Madrona), Tofino (Headwaters, Creekside), Port Moody (The Springs), Penticton (The Rise), Langley (Emmaus Place), and Richmond (Rivermark), with a new Health Centre and Housing partnership signed with the District of Sooke in August 2025. Beyond direct property ownership, Catalyst offers Development Management Services, Community Management and Property Operations, and Capital Services to municipalities, non-profits, and other partners under three revenue streams: rental income (recurring), development management fees (professional services), and capital/funding navigation (managed services). The delivery model is community-led, relying on joint ventures and co-ownership structures with the Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency (VAHA), BC Housing, City of Burnaby, Tofino Housing Corporation, and a network of non-profit housing societies (OLC, St. Andrews, OneSky, SVLC Langley). Funding is assembled from public sources (BC Housing, CMHC) and impact investors (notably Vancity).
Catalyst firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catalyst
- Legal name
- Catalyst Community Developments Society
- Website
- https://catalystcommdev.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Catalyst is a BC-based not-for-profit real estate developer that develops, owns, and operates affordable rental housing under BMU, LEM, HILs, RGI, and Deep Subsidy programs, serving low- and moderate-income households, families, seniors, and persons with disabilities across British Columbia through partnerships with municipalities, BC Housing, and non-profit housing societies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catalyst industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Development
- NAICS
- New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), Residential Building Construction (2361)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF), Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds (FSANAJAK), Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)
Keywords
Where Catalyst is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Catalyst business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Rental Income: Revenue generated from rental payments across portfolio of 7 completed projects with 699 homes and 3 projects in development. Rents priced at 10-40% below market rates through Below Median Income (BMU), Lower End of Market (LEM), Housing Income Limited (HILs), Rent Geared to Income (RGI), and Deep Subsidy programs.
- Development Management Services: Catalyst provides development management services to partners, managing design, permitting, and construction of affordable housing projects as either partner or consultant.
- Capital/Funding Services: Catalyst helps navigate and secure public funding opportunities and financing through private lenders and investors for affordable housing development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | 7392 16th Avenue - BMU Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | 7392 16th Avenue - LEM Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | 6889 Royal Oak - BMU Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | 6889 Royal Oak - LEM Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | Timberline I - HILs Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | Timberline I - LEM Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | Headwaters - Deep Subsidy |
| Subscription | Monthly | Creekside - HILs Units |
| Subscription | Monthly | Creekside - LEM Units |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Catalyst product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catalyst develops, owns, and operates affordable rental housing communities across British Columbia. The portfolio consists of purpose-built, mixed-use residential buildings with rents priced 10-40% below market rates through BC Housing-administered affordability programs (BMU, LEM, HILs, RGI, Deep Subsidy). In addition to direct property ownership, Catalyst provides Development Management Services, Community Management and Property Operations, and Capital Services to municipalities, non-profits, and partner organizations.
Product overview
Catalyst is a not-for-profit real estate developer that builds, owns, and operates affordable rental housing across British Columbia. The company operates a portfolio of distinct residential properties across BC, including projects in North Vancouver (Timberline I - 89 units), Burnaby (7392 16th Avenue - 203 units; 6889 Royal Oak - 134 units; Parkwood Gardens - 79 units; 6521 Telford Ave - 66 units), Vancouver (Aspen - 145 units; Alder - 119 units; Hannelore - 46 units), Victoria (Madrona - 49 units), Tofino (Headwaters - 72 units; Creekside - 14 units), Port Moody (The Springs - 55 units), Penticton (The Rise - 56 units), Langley (Emmaus Place - 82 units), and Richmond (Rivermark - 31 units). In addition to direct property ownership, Catalyst offers development management services, community management and property operations, and capital services for municipalities, non-profits, and other partners. The company provides approximately 699 homes across 7 completed projects and 3 projects in development, with $221M in assets under management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 7392 16th Avenue A 203-unit rental community in Burnaby, BC offering studios to three-bedroom units, priced across Below Median Income (BMU) and Lower End of Market (LEM) rental categories. Pet-friendly community with professional property management.
- Headwaters A 72-unit affordable rental project in Tofino comprising two buildings (Headwaters North with 35 units and Headwaters South with 37 units), with studios to three-bedroom apartments offered at market rent, Rent Geared to Income (RGI), and Deep Subsidy rates.
- Aspen A 145-unit, 9-storey mixed-use building in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood developed in partnership with VAHA, featuring ground-floor restaurant and health centre, community gardens, and rooftop terrace.
- Madrona A 49-unit rental property in Victoria's Dockside Green community offering studios to two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom townhouses, located on the Galloping Goose Trail.
- Timberline I An 89-unit purpose-built rental building in North Vancouver with studios to three-bedroom units, reserved for households meeting BC Housing income criteria under HILs and LEM categories.
- 6889 Royal Oak A 134-unit, six-storey mixed-use development in Burnaby offering Below Median Income (BMU) and Lower End of Market (LEM) units, with six ground-floor commercial units.
- Parkwood Gardens A 79-unit rental community in Burnaby on 2.62 acres with three buildings offering four two-bedroom and 75 three-bedroom homes, with onsite parking, daycare, and proximity to Expo Line stations.
- 6521 Telford Ave A 66-unit, six-storey midrise near Metrotown light rail station in Burnaby, offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with transit-friendly accessibility.
- Hannelore A 46-unit LEED Platinum affordable rental building in Vancouver built atop Oakridge Lutheran Church with commercial space, jointly owned with OLC Housing Society and operated by Catalyst.
- Creekside A 14-home affordable rental development in Tofino with a mix of townhouses and apartments (one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes), split between HILs and LEM rental rates.
- The Springs A mixed-use development in Port Moody with 55 affordable rental units (studios to three-bedroom apartments) and commercial space for Kinsight and SHARE Family and Community Services. Jointly owned with St. Andrews Housing Society.
- Alder A 119-unit below-market rental building in Vancouver's River District, including 20 accessible homes, developed in partnership with VAHA.
- The Rise A 56-unit affordable rental project in Downtown Penticton with studios to three-bedroom apartments, developed in partnership with OneSky Housing Society and including units designed for people with physical disabilities.
- Emmaus Place An 82-unit mixed-use development in Langley comprising 70 seniors (55+) units and 12 family-friendly townhomes, jointly owned with SVLC Langley Housing Society.
- Rivermark A 31-unit affordable rental building in Richmond's Oval neighbourhood near Lansdowne Skytrain Station, built by Intracorp and now owned and operated by Catalyst.
- Development Management Services Standalone service in which Catalyst manages all aspects of affordable housing development as either partner or consultant — from initial project visioning and site investigation through design, permitting, and construction. Offered to municipalities, non-profit societies, and other partners.
- Community Management & Property Operations Standalone service in which Catalyst manages rental communities for external owners/developers, providing expertise in Housing Agreements, Income Testing, and Tenant Selection Criteria. Available for other affordable housing projects.
- Capital Services Standalone service in which Catalyst helps partners navigate and secure public funding opportunities and private lender/investor financing for affordable and mixed-income housing projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10-40% below market rent pricing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Catalyst
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Catalyst technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Catalyst partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sooke (District Municipality)coreHealth Centre and Housing project progressing in Sooke on Wadams Way. Partnership between Catalyst and District of Sooke for combined healthcare and affordable housing facility.
- Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency (VAHA)corePartnership with VAHA on Aspen (145 units) and Alder (119 units) projects in Vancouver. VAHA is the City of Vancouver's affordable housing agency.
- Tofino Housing CorporationcorePartnership on Headwaters (72 units) and Creekside (14 units) affordable rental projects in Tofino. Tofino Housing Corporation provides local government partnership and land assets.
- OLC Housing SocietycoreJoint ownership partnership on Hannelore project (46 units) in Vancouver. OLC Housing Society owns the land through the Oakridge Lutheran Church site.
- St. Andrews Housing SocietycoreJoint ownership with St. Andrews Housing Society on The Springs project (55 units) in Port Moody, built on the site of Inlet United Church.
- OneSky Housing SocietycorePartnership with OneSky Housing Society on The Rise project (56 units) in Penticton for affordable rental housing.
- SVLC Langley Housing SocietycoreJoint ownership with SVLC Langley Housing Society on Emmaus Place project (82 units) in Langley, adjacent to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.
- City of BurnabycorePartnership with City of Burnaby on 6889 Royal Oak (134 units), Parkwood Gardens (79 units), and 6521 Telford Ave (66 units) projects.
- PALS Adult Services Society (PASS) HousingminorPartnership providing specialized housing for people on the autism spectrum at Aspen project in Vancouver. First of its kind initiative in Canada.
- IntracorpminorIntracorp built the Rivermark project (31 units) in Richmond; Catalyst now owns and operates the property as affordable housing.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Catalyst competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- BRIDGE Housing: California-based non-profit affordable housing developer that builds, owns, and operates affordable rental communities, offering a comparable scale and structure to Catalyst for operating performance and growth benchmarking.
- Mercy Housing: US national non-profit affordable housing developer and operator with a comparable mission-driven multifamily model, useful as a benchmark for scale, funding strategy, and program structure outside BC.
Broad incumbents
- BC Housing: Provincial housing agency that funds, regulates, and operates affordable housing across BC at much greater scale than Catalyst; serves as the key counterparty and regulator for Catalyst's portfolio.
Direct peers
- YWCA Metro Vancouver: Operates affordable rental housing for women, families, and youth across Metro Vancouver, comparable in mission, geographic focus, and partnership-driven operating model.
- Atira Women's Resource Society: BC-based non-profit that develops and operates affordable rental housing for women and children, directly comparable to Catalyst's non-profit affordable rental development and operations model in the same regional market.
- Coast Mental Health: BC non-profit that develops and manages supportive and affordable housing for people with mental health challenges, comparable in ownership model, operations, and BC geography.
- New Commons Development: BC non-profit real estate developer focused on affordable and community-owned housing, sharing Catalyst's mission-driven development approach and BC operating footprint.
- PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver-based non-profit providing affordable and supportive housing, with an overlapping affordable rental operating model and BC geographic focus.
- Hollyburn Family Services Society: BC non-profit operating affordable rental housing and family services, with an overlapping model of affordable rental ownership and BC-focused service delivery.
- SUCCESS Housing Society: Vancouver-area non-profit providing affordable rental housing and community services, sharing Catalyst's mission-driven development model and BC geographic focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Catalyst social profiles
Digital presenceCatalyst financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catalyst leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Catalyst funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catalyst M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Catalyst
What does Catalyst do?
Catalyst develops, owns, and operates affordable rental housing communities across British Columbia. The portfolio consists of purpose-built, mixed-use residential buildings with rents priced 10-40% below market rates through BC Housing-administered affordability programs (BMU, LEM, HILs, RGI, Deep Subsidy). In addition to direct property ownership, Catalyst provides Development Management Services, Community Management and Property Operations, and Capital Services to municipalities, non-profits, and partner organizations.
Is Catalyst a public or private company?
Catalyst is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Catalyst founded?
Catalyst was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Catalyst based?
Catalyst is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Catalyst make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Rental Income is the primary driver. The others are development Management Services and capital/Funding Services.
Who are Catalyst's main competitors?
Regional players on record are BRIDGE Housing and Mercy Housing. BC Housing is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are YWCA Metro Vancouver, Atira Women's Resource Society, Coast Mental Health, New Commons Development, PHS Community Services Society, Hollyburn Family Services Society and SUCCESS Housing Society.
Does Catalyst have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catalyst.
What industry is Catalyst in?
Catalyst's product category is Affordable Housing Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAI, Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction, with a secondary code of FSALAKAF, Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans). Its NAICS code is 236116 and its SIC code is 6799.