We have made great strides in the past year towards our goal of creating new affordable housing here at York University.

Here is a list of our activities and accomplishments:

- Starting with two students with a passion for affordable housing, our committee has now grown to include 15 students, 5 professors and 2 alumni members. In addition, other students and community members have volunteered with us in various capacities.

- We have secured support and funding from numerous campus organizations, including the York Federation of Student (YFS), York University Faculty Association (YUFA), York University Staff Association (YUSA), CUPE3903, York University Graduate Students Association (YUGSA), Regenesis York and OPIRG York.

- We registered as a club with York University and the York Federation of Student (YFS).

- We hired Tim Welch Consulting, a non-profit housing consultant.  

- We applied as a co-applicant on a proposal call issued by the Presidents of OCAD, Ryerson, University of Toronto and York University to address student housing affordability through research and action.  Our proposal was selected (along with another proposal).  Members of the Affordable Housing Committee at York will be participating on this new initiative, called StudentDwellTO.  StudentDwellTO will be conducting research on student housing and holding various events over the next two years.  A summit on affordable student housing will be held in early 2019.

- An initial business plan has been completed.

- We were connected with a non-profit housing provider that is interested in collaborating with us on a site at York.

Our goals for the coming year include:

- Secure a land agreement with York University

- Submit a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Seed Funding application.

- Begin the real estate development process.

- Submit an entry to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Student Challenge for Affordable Rental Housing.

- As part of StudentDwellTO, start organizing for the Affordable Student Housing Summit.  This will include inviting speakers from organizations such as UTILE (Unité de travail pour l'implantation de logement étudiant), Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation).

- Apply for a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Connections Grant in support of the Affordable Student Housing Summit (happening in early 2019).