LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR COMMUNITIES

What LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR COMMUNITIES does

Love Your Neighbour Communities (LYNC) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 2020 (originally as the Wilmot Affordable Housing Collaborative, a committee of Wilmot Family Resource Centre) and headquartered in New Hamburg, Ontario. The organization's mission is to revitalize people and rural communities through equitable housing and social enterprise, executing a three-pronged approach spanning Economic Development, Community Living, and Equitable Housing. Its primary customers and intended beneficiaries are housing-insecure individuals and families in Wilmot Township and the broader Waterloo Region, including low-income renters, the local workforce priced out of the community, and intergenerational community members at risk of social isolation.

LYNC's central product is the Mill Block Community, a 31-unit mixed-income, intergenerational housing development being created through adaptive reuse of a historic 1905 B&W Feed Mill and the adjacent former Waterloo Regional Police station. The development uses Passive House and Phius-certified net-zero-ready construction standards, including triple-glazed windows, suite energy recovery ventilators (ERV), low-carbon concrete, and adaptive reuse to reduce embodied carbon. The unit mix integrates market-rate, affordable (60–80% of market rent), and Rent Geared to Income (RGI) units within a single building without differentiating amenities by income tier, supported by a commercial kitchen, community gardens, and social programming such as Bridges Out of Poverty.

The business model is community-led philanthropy and grant-funded project development rather than revenue sales. Pre-construction capital has been assembled through individual donations, major gifts from local businesses (Zehr Insurance $150,000; Josslin Insurance $145,000 with a $50,000 match pledged through September 2025), federal and municipal grants (a $126,000 study grant from FCM's Green Municipal Fund; a pending CMHC application in final review), church and foundation giving, and community events. The organization currently has no operating revenue and is pre-construction, with a $5 million capital campaign ("The Story of a Mill") underway to bridge the construction equity gap. Once operational, recurring rental income from the 31 units will replace donation-dependent funding as the principal revenue stream.

Name

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR COMMUNITIES

Legal name

Love Your Neighbour Communities

Website

https://lyncommunities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Love Your Neighbour Communities is a Canadian charity developing equitable, mixed-income, intergenerational housing in rural Ontario. Its flagship Mill Block Community will deliver 31 affordable, market-rate, and RGI units via adaptive reuse of a 1905 feed mill, funded through donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Development

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE), Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Mixed-income housing
• Adaptive reuse construction
• Passive house design
• Community development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Hamburg

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, local businesses, and community groups. The Seed to Feed Campaign raised over $1 million, and a $5 million capital campaign (The Story of a Mill) is currently underway.
2. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from federal agencies including CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) and FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) Green Municipal Fund. The organization has received a $126,000 study grant from FCM and is awaiting final CMHC application review.
3. Rental Revenue (Future): Once constructed, the Mill Block Community will generate rental income from 31 units including market-rate units, affordable units at 60-80% of market rent, and RGI (Rent Geared to Income) subsidized units.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Love Your Neighbour Communities (LYNC) is a registered Canadian charity that develops equitable, mixed-income, intergenerational housing in rural communities. Its primary project, the Mill Block Community in New Hamburg, Ontario, involves the adaptive reuse of a 1905 historic feed mill into 31 housing units (market-rate, affordable at 60-80% of market rent, and Rent Geared to Income), along with community spaces including a commercial kitchen and community gardens. The organization is funded through donations, grants, and corporate contributions.

Product overview

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR COMMUNITIES (LYNC) operates as a non-profit community development organization rather than a traditional product company. Its primary offering is the Mill Block Community — a mixed-income, intergenerational housing development that revitalizes a historic 1905 feed mill into equitable housing with market-rate, affordable, and Rent Geared to Income units. Supporting offerings include community programming spaces (commercial kitchen, community gardens), social programs (Bridges Out of Poverty, food security initiatives), and fundraising campaigns (Seed to Feed Campaign raising $1M+ and the current $5M Story of a Mill capital campaign). The organization is currently pre-construction with site plan approval secured and awaiting CMHC funding finalization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mill Block Community A mixed-income, intergenerational housing community in New Hamburg, Ontario, developed within a 1905 historic feed mill. Includes 31 equitable housing units (market-rate, affordable at 60-80% of market rent, and Rent Geared to Income), community spaces (commercial kitchen, community gardens), and social programming such as Bridges Out of Poverty. Targeted at housing-insecure individuals, low-income families, local workforce, and intergenerational community members.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, former and minor.

• Nith Valley ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Awarded the role of Construction Manager for the Mill Block development following an RFP process. Has an outstanding reputation for collaborating with owners, non-profits, and sub-trades. Portfolio includes affordable housing projects like House of Friendship, St. Marks Church, and Thresholds Homes and Supports.
• SHS ConsultantscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Professional consulting firm providing needs analysis, financial sustainability models, guiding design principles, space requirements, and initial site plan designs. Working alongside Invizij Architects through the tendering process.
• Invizij Architects Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Canadian leader in Passive House design principles. Providing professional architectural services including detailed design, working drawings, and guidance on net-zero ready buildings, energy usage intensity, and embodied carbon considerations.
• Community Housing Transformation CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by Scott Piatkowski, Project Manager, who provided messages of support at the Community Launch event. Provides guidance on community housing transformation initiatives.
• Wilmot Family Resource CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLYNC originated as a committee of Wilmot Family Resource Centre. Ongoing partnership addressing housing needs, with LYNC participating in Coldest Night of the Year walk to support WFRC services.
• Region of WaterloosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government body that has shown support for the project. Karen Redman, Regional Chair, provided messages of support at Community Launch.
• Township of WilmotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipal government that has prioritized LYNC's site plan for review, approved parking plans and minor variances, and announced a 20-year property tax exemption for affordable housing developments like the Mill Block Community.
• Just Working Construction / Just HomesformerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Jeff Van Gyssel, original co-founder of LYNC. Jeff provided construction expertise, historic property renovation experience, and green building knowledge. Left LYNC Board in November 2023 to focus on housing for new immigrants through Just Homes initiative.
• Louise Street Marketing Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWeb development partner credited for developing the LYNC website. Volunteer Matt Williams provides website design, development, and digital marketing consulting through his team at Louise Street Marketing.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo: Regional YWCA providing transitional housing, shelter, and community programs for women and families. Comparable as a non-profit affordable housing/service provider in the same region but with broader mandate and larger scale than LYNC.
• Habitat for Humanity Canada: Largest national non-profit affordable homebuilder in Canada. Comparable mission of providing equitable housing, but operates a much broader multi-project model vs. LYNC's single pilot, and uses a volunteer build / homeownership model rather than LYNC's mixed-income rental with embedded community services.

Emerging players

• 100+ Homes Waterloo Region: Local coalition-style initiative aimed at housing individuals experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region. Comparable regional focus on housing-vulnerable populations; less integrated service delivery than LYNC's planned facility.
• Just Homes (Just Working Construction): Founded by Jeff Van Gyssel, LYNC's former co-founder, to address housing for new immigrants. Highly comparable rural-equitable-housing mission and similar organizational stage; emerging spin-off from the LYNC ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Thresholds Homes and Supports: Kitchener-based affordable housing provider and Nith Valley Construction portfolio reference. Serves similar housing-vulnerable populations in the same region as LYNC, with comparable mixed-income and support-services integration.
• House of Friendship: Kitchener-based non-profit providing affordable housing, food programs, and community services to vulnerable populations in Waterloo Region. Highly comparable to LYNC in geography, target population, and integrated housing-plus-services model; Nith Valley has built projects for both organizations.
• Cornerstone Community Association: Kitchener-based non-profit addressing poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity through housing and community programming. Direct peer in mission, geography, and integrated housing/community-services delivery model.
• Lutherwood Housing Alternatives: Waterloo Region affordable housing and community support provider operating supportive and transitional housing units. Comparable service population and geographic market to LYNC's Wilmot Township focus.

Regional players

• ReFrame Group (Habitat Heartland Ontario): Regional Habitat for Humanity affiliate serving midwestern Ontario including Waterloo Region. Comparable non-profit affordable housing mission in the same broader geography; uses the volunteer-build homeownership model rather than LYNC's mixed-income rental approach.
• Woolwich Community Hub: Neighbouring Waterloo Region non-profit providing community services, food programs, and housing support. Comparable regional community-development model though operating in adjacent township rather than directly competing for Wilmot residents.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Love-Your-Neighbour-Communities-LYNC-103797319135051
• Instagraminstagram.com/lync_wilmot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/love-your-neighbour-communities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR COMMUNITIES