Kehilla Residential Programme

What Kehilla Residential Programme does

Kehilla Residential Programme, operating as Kehilla Affordable Housing, is a Toronto-based registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration #11897 8402 RR0001) that delivers affordable housing and rental assistance exclusively to members of the Jewish community in the Greater Toronto Area. Founded circa 1982 and led since 1988 by Executive Director Lisa Lipowitz, the organization runs three lines of activity: a Rental Assistance Program (RAP) providing up to C$400 per month to 300+ households paying more than 35% of income on rent; ownership and operation of 338 affordable housing units across three purpose-built properties (Project MARC at 90 units, The Avenel at 111 units, Moshav Orr at 133 units) plus 4 condominium units through Kehilla Homes Inc.; and development partnerships with at least five GTA real estate developers (ALMADEV, WESTBANK, Stafford Homes, Shiplake Properties, and others) that have secured 75+ Affordable Market Rent units and growing in new residential projects.

The business is funded through a mix of rental income from the owned portfolio, named foundation grants (Azrieli Foundation for a 95-survivor Holocaust Survivor RAP; Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation for a Young Adult RAP serving former foster care clients aged 18-30), individual donations via CanadaHelps, and broader community support including UJA Federation. Service delivery is community-led: beneficiaries enter via a waitlist and are vetted by Kehilla before referral, while ongoing tenancy support is coordinated through a referral network of at least nine partner agencies (Bernard Betel Centre, Circle of Care, JACS, JF&CS, Jewish Free Loan Toronto, JIAS, REENA, UJA Federation). Kehilla also holds preferred-partner status with the City of Toronto, providing advocacy at Committee of Adjustment and Council hearings alongside developers to advance affordable-housing allocations.

Operations are lean — the organization runs with four paid staff supported by a 20+ member volunteer board drawn from senior real estate, finance, legal, and planning roles across the Toronto market. Kehilla has no proprietary technology and no AI/ML components; the operating model is human-coordinated social-service delivery and real-estate stewardship rather than a technology platform.

Name

Kehilla Residential Programme

Legal name

Kehilla Affordable Housing

Website

https://kehilla.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kehilla Affordable Housing is a Toronto-based registered charity that provides rental assistance (up to C$400/month) and operates 338 affordable housing units for members of the Jewish community in the Greater Toronto Area, funded by foundations, donations, and rental income.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Rental assistance programs
• Community housing support
• Non-profit housing agency
• Subsidized housing management

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Kehilla operates as a registered charity (Charitable Registration #11897 8402 RR0001) funded by generous supporters and donors. The organization accepts donations through CanadaHelps and other channels.
2. Foundation Grants: Dedicated programs funded by foundations including the Azrieli Foundation (Holocaust Survivor Rental Assistance Program - capacity for 95 survivors) and Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation (Young Adult RAP).
3. Rental Income: Revenue from 338 affordable housing units across three properties: Project MARC (90 units), The Avenel (111 units), and Moshav Orr (133 units). Units include both affordable market rent and Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) units.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kehilla Residential Programme is a Toronto-based registered charity that provides affordable housing services to the Jewish community in the Greater Toronto Area. Its core offerings include the Rental Assistance Program (monthly cash support up to $400), dedicated programs for Holocaust Survivors and young adults aging out of foster care, direct ownership and operation of 338 affordable housing units across three buildings plus Kehilla Homes Inc., and development partnerships with real estate builders that secure affordable units in new residential projects. The organization serves as both a housing operator and a community-based funding conduit for low-income Jewish households.

Product overview

Kehilla is a non-profit housing agency offering a portfolio of housing support programs and managed properties for the Jewish community in the GTA. Its core offerings consist of the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) providing up to $400 monthly to over 300 households, a Dedicated Holocaust Survivor RAP (capacity 95), and a Young Adult RAP for foster care youth. Kehilla also partners with developers to secure affordable units in new developments, currently providing access to 75+ units at Affordable Market Rent across multiple partnerships including Galleria on the Park, Mirvish Village, Tippet Park, Whitehaus, and Downsview Park. The organization directly manages three housing buildings: Project MARC (90 units), The Avenel (111 units), and Moshav Orr (133 units), plus 4 units through Kehilla Homes Inc., totaling over 330 affordable housing units.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rental Assistance Program (RAP) Monthly rental assistance program providing up to $400 per month to Jewish community members in the GTA who pay more than 35% of their gross income on rent. Supports over 300 households with eligibility based on combined household income thresholds and rent burden.
• Dedicated Holocaust Survivor Rental Assistance Program Specialized rental assistance sub-program for Holocaust Survivors holding a Claims Conference number, funded by the Azrieli Foundation. Provides annual rental support allowing survivors to live with dignity without choosing between rent and food. Capacity to assist 95 Survivors with no waitlist.
• Young Adult Rental Assistance Program Housing assistance program for Jewish youth aged 18-30 aging out of the foster care system, funded by the Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation and facilitated through Jewish Family & Child Services (JF&CS). Helps participants avoid falling through the cracks during the transition to independent adulthood.
• Development Partnerships Partnership program with real estate developers to secure affordable housing units within new residential developments. Kehilla provides advocacy at City of Toronto Committee of Adjustment and Council hearings, letters of support, prospective resident vetting, rental assistance bridging to make AMR truly affordable, and ongoing tenancy support. Currently provides access to 75+ AMR units across partnerships including Galleria on the Park, Mirvish Village, Tippet Park, Whitehaus Condominiums, and Downsview Park.
• Project MARC (Mutually Assisting Residential Community) Multi-unit affordable housing building with 90 units offering a mix of affordable market rent and Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) units for seniors, families, and individuals with physical, mental health, and developmental challenges.
• The Avenel Multi-unit affordable housing building with 111 units offering a mix of affordable market rent and Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) units for eligible tenants in the Jewish community.
• Moshav Orr Multi-unit affordable housing building with 133 units offering a mix of affordable market rent and Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) units for eligible tenants in the Jewish community.
• Kehilla Homes Inc. Operating entity holding four condominium units operated as part of Kehilla's affordable housing portfolio, providing additional affordable rental capacity for the Jewish community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ households supported through Rental Assistance Program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and support.

• City of TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred partner of the City of Toronto for affordable housing initiatives. Kehilla collaborates at every stage to secure new affordable units for the community within new buildings, provides letters of support, and advocates at Committee of Adjustment and Council hearings.
• Stafford HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Downsview Park project providing 23 affordable 2 and 3 bedroom townhouses for the Jewish community.
• ALMADEVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for affordable housing projects including Mirvish Village (12 apartments).
• WESTBANKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Tippet Park Phase I & II project providing 20 one-bedroom apartments.
• Shiplake PropertiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner where founder Maurice Wager previously served as VP of Development, overseeing purpose-built rental portfolio focused on community impact and sustainable growth.
• JF&CS (Jewish Family & Child Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency facilitating the Young Adult RAP for former foster care clients aged 18-30. Kehilla works with partner agencies to refer clients requiring support services beyond housing.
• Bernard Betel CentresupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for referring clients who require additional support services beyond housing.
• Circle of CaresupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for referring clients who require additional support services beyond housing.
• JACSsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for referring clients who require additional support services beyond housing.
• Jewish Free Loan Toronto (JFLT)supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for referring clients who require additional support services beyond housing.
• Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (JIAS)supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for referring clients who require additional support services beyond housing.
• REENAsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency for referring clients who require additional support services beyond housing.
• UJA FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner. UJA Federation logo appears on Kehilla website. David Gasch is involved with UJA Federation. Kehilla identifies and champions affordable housing initiatives responsive to community needs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Toronto: Major GTA non-profit operating affordable housing, shelters, and community programs. Comparable as a large non-profit housing provider serving low-income populations in Toronto, with a broader women-and-girls mission than Kehilla's community focus.
• Toronto Community Housing Corporation: Largest social housing provider in Canada and Toronto's primary public landlord. Directly comparable as a large-scale affordable housing operator serving low-income tenants in the same GTA market, though operating as a city-funded entity rather than a community-based non-profit.

Direct peers

• Fred Victor: Toronto non-profit delivering transitional and permanent affordable housing, plus wraparound social services, to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable in combining housing provision with social assistance programming in the same GTA market.
• Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area: Major GTA-based non-profit affordable housing provider that builds and operates housing for low-income households. Comparable in mission (housing affordability for vulnerable populations) and GTA geography, though focused on homeownership pathways rather than rental assistance.
• Tikva Housing Society: Vancouver-based non-profit providing affordable housing to the Jewish community and beyond. Closely comparable as a Canadian Jewish-community affordable housing organization with a similar owned-portfolio-plus-rental-assistance model, though serving a different metro.
• UJA Federation of Greater Toronto: Central fundraising and planning body for Toronto's Jewish community and a Kehilla partner/funder. Highly comparable as a Jewish-community umbrella organization funding affordable housing and social services in the GTA, with overlapping donor and partner networks.
• Jewish Family & Child Services (JF&CS) of Toronto: Toronto Jewish social service agency and direct Kehilla partner that facilitates the Young Adult RAP. Comparable as a Jewish-community social services provider with overlapping client base and referral relationships.

Emerging players

• Options for Homes: Toronto non-profit housing developer creating below-market ownership and rental units through partnerships with for-profit developers. Closely comparable in the developer-partnership model Kehilla uses to secure affordable units in new condo projects.

Regional players

• Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto: Federation representing the GTA's non-profit and co-op housing providers, many of which offer rent-geared-to-income units. Comparable as a network of GTA affordable housing providers, though structured around co-operative ownership rather than a centralized non-profit operator.
• Na'amat Canada: Canadian Jewish women's organization that supports affordable housing projects and social services. Comparable as a Jewish-community non-profit active in affordable housing provision in Canada, with an overlapping donor and partner base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DYmg-3PFR56
• Xx.com/KehillaRP
• Facebookfacebook.com/kehillaresidentialprogramme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kehilla-residential-programme

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Kehilla Residential Programme