A national organization is working with four struggling churches in Winnipeg to repurpose land into affordable housing.

Relèven, which is based in Montreal, announced its “Winnipeg declaration” Thursday in an effort to address homelessness and the affordable housing crisis in Canada.

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There’s a perfect storm happening right now. Attendance at faith institutions is dwindling. In many areas, these places of worship get preferred tax status, or don’t pay property tax at all. Still, because of shrinking attendances and fundraising efforts, many of the building are falling into disrepair. Surrounding parking lots are empty.

It used to be the churches, mosques, synagogues and temples were on the lookout for converts.

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Now, many of them are looking to be converted.

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There’s a perfect storm happening right now. Attendance at faith institutions is dwindling. In many areas, these places of worship get preferred tax status, or don’t pay property tax at all. Still, because of shrinking attendances and fundraising efforts, many of the building are falling into disrepair. Surrounding parking lots are empty.

The National Trust, a charity which helps communities renew heritage places, estimates a third of Canadian religious buildings are at risk of closure. Today in Edmonton, a symposium will explore how those spaces can be transformed into affordable housing. Tai Ziola is an architect and partner with Dialog Design. Marisa Redmond is the executive director of the Right at Home Housing Society, which provides affordable housing in Edmonton.

Relèven Launches Relèven Realty Brokerage Foundation: The First Charity-Owned and Operated Real Estate Brokerage in Canada

Cambridge, ON – Releven is proud to announce the launch of Relèven Realty Brokerage Foundation (Releven Realty), Canada’s first charity-owned and operated real estate brokerage specialising in faith properties. This pioneering initiative marks a significant milestone in the intersection of real estate and philanthropy, providing a unique opportunity for faith groups seeking to align property transitions with faith values and community impact.

Over the next eight years, 4,000 church properties are expected to change hands. That figure might translate to big dollar signs in the eyes of some Realtors, but to others it’s an opportunity to better the communities they serve, says Corey de Villiers, managing director of Releven Realty Brokerage Foundation.

From his office at St. James the Apostle, a 160-year-old Anglican church in downtown Montréal, Rev. Graham Singh is telling us about taxes. “Churches don’t like to talk about wealth. They almost pretend as though they’re poor.” In fact, as he points out, Christian churches in North America are the largest single landowning category of the charitable sector.