Building affordable, sustainable homes through community partnership.
A Canadian non-profit built to expand affordable housing delivery
Nesting Ground works with community housing providers, governments, social service organizations, development partners and mission-aligned investors to create and steward mixed-income rental housing.
We bring together the partnerships, development capacity, and financing tools needed to move strong projects from idea to construction. Our goal is straightforward: more affordable homes, built well, and connected to the people and services that help communities thrive.
Community housing delivery needs more than a good idea.
Many non-profit and community organizations do not have the development capacity nor balance-sheet strength to deliver housing at scale. Nesting Ground helps close those gaps.
We are a non-profit that collaborates with private-sector partners to build at scale, partnering with social service organizations to deliver community benefit that is authentic and provides long-term affordability.
Our Mission
Deliver non-profit affordable housing at scale in Canada through community partnership, modern construction, and leading sustainability practices.
We focus on practical, repeatable approaches that help create more homes and strengthen the community housing sector’s ability to deliver over the long term.
What We Do
Create community housing partnerships
We bring together non-profits, co-operatives, Indigenous organizations, faith-based groups, service providers and public-sector partners around a clear housing plan.
Structure and coordinate projects
We help define roles, ownership, governance, operating models, budgets and delivery plans, then coordinate experienced development and construction partners.
Mobilize and manage financing
We assemble public programs, grants, insured debt, municipal tools and mission-aligned investment. We also created and administer a financing product, the Affordable Housing Guarantee Pool.
Support long-term stewardship
Depending on the project, Nesting Ground may own or co-own the housing and work with local partners on operations, resident services, programming and long-term asset stewardship.
Sustainable and modern building
We advance high-performance, low-carbon housing by integrating modern methods of construction and leading sustainability practices that can improve building performance, reduce operating costs and support long-term affordability.
Affordable Housing Guarantee Pool
The Affordable Housing Guarantee Pool is a non-profit-managed credit-enhancement facility that helps affordable housing projects secure construction financing.
Created and administered by Nesting Ground, the Pool is one part of our broader housing delivery work, alongside partnership formation, project structuring, development coordination, and long-term stewardship.
Why it exists
A strong project is not always able to access the financing it needs.
Many community housing organizations have land, approvals, public support and a viable development idea, but do not have the balance-sheet capacity to provide the guarantees required by construction lenders.
The Affordable Housing Guarantee Pool addresses that specific gap. It provides an additional layer of security for projects, helping lenders and public funders move committed financing into construction.
What the Pool is
A credit-enhancement tool for approved non-profit housing projects
A financing product created and administered by Nesting Ground
A defined layer of security that complements lender underwriting
A recyclable use of mission-aligned capital when guarantees are released
What the Pool is Not
A grant or donation program
A replacement for public funding, insured debt or project equity
An unrestricted real estate investment fund
A substitute for project readiness, due diligence, or cost controls
How the Guarantee Pool works
An eligible project is approved
The project must have a non-profit structure, strong lender underwriting, meaningful affordability, environmental performance and defined construction risk controls.Mission-aligned capital is committed
Capital partners pledge funds to the Pool.The Pool supports construction financing
The guarantee pool gives the senior construction lender an additional layer of security. Each supported project pays a guarantee fee to the Pool.The guarantee is released and can be reused
Once the project reaches stabilization and the guarantee is no longer required, it is released so the capital can support another approved project.
Launched and ready to scale
A legally formed facility with a completed first close
The Affordable Housing Guarantee Pool reached a $20 million first close in 2026. Foundational capital partners include Realize Capital Partners, The Atmospheric Fund, Ottawa Climate Action Fund and Northpine Foundation.
Nesting Ground is working to scale the facility to $50 million. The initial portfolio is designed to support more than 2,000 homes in non-profit, mixed-income projects across Ottawa, Toronto and Guelph.
Who Benefis
Community housing organizations
A practical way to address construction-guarantee requirements without asking each organization to carry the full balance-sheet burden alone.
Government and public funders
A tool that can help approved grants, loans and insured financing reach construction and support a larger pipeline of non-profit housing.
Mission-aligned capital partners
A structured way to support affordable and low-carbon housing through credit enhancement.
Projects
Housing shaped by community.
Nesting Ground is advancing a pipeline of mixed-income, non-profit rental housing in partnership with local housing and service organizations, government, and experienced development teams.
Each project is structured around local needs. That can include affordable rental homes, market rental homes that support project viability, accessible housing, childcare, community space, resident services, and long-term operating partnerships.
More than 2,000 homes in the pipeline.
Current projects are located in Ottawa, Toronto, and Guelph. Additional project profiles will be added as partnership agreements, funding, and delivery milestones are confirmed.
Across our portfolio, Nesting Ground is pursuing strong environmental performance, modern methods of construction, and partnership models that support long-term community benefit.
384 ArlingtonOttawa, ON
This 300 unit rental building will be delivered in partnership with Perley Health, Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition and Operation Come Home.
2475 ReginaOttawa, ON
This rental project includes a new space for Parkway House — a non-profit care facility for people with disabilities requiring 24/7 care.
1460 RiversideOttawa, ON
This two-tower mixed-use project will be delivered in partnership with Ottawa Community Housing and will use prefabricated mass timber construction.
What We Do
From opportunity to occupancy and beyond.
Nesting Ground helps community housing projects get organized, financed, built and stewarded over the long term. We work as a partner across the project life cycle and adapt our role to each site and community.
Our work combines housing development capacity, cross-sector partnership and practical financing innovation within an independent non-profit mandate.
How We Work
Start with community need
We work with local partners to understand the site, people to be served, housing mix, supports, community space, and long-term goals.Define the partnership
We establish clear roles for ownership, governance, decision-making, development, operations, resident services and programming.Build the business and financing plan
We coordinate project budgets and identify the grants, loans, incentives, insured debt and mission-aligned investment needed to move forward.Coordinate delivery
We work with experienced development managers, architects, engineers, contractors, cost consultants, lenders and public agencies through approvals, financing, and construction.Plan for the long term
We support operating partnerships, capital planning and responsible stewardship so affordability and community benefit remain central after occupancy.
Our Services
Partnership formation & project structuring
We work with non-profits, co-operatives, Indigenous organizations, faith-based groups, public agencies and community service providers to turn a site or housing need into a defined partnership. Together, we clarify the housing program, community space, resident supports, ownership, governance, operations and decision-making roles.
Development coordination & delivery
Working with qualified development managers and consultants, we coordinate the preparation of feasibility studies, business plans, designs, approvals, development budgets, funding applications, construction financing and construction delivery. This gives community partners access to specialist capacity without requiring every organization to build a full in-house development team.
Financing strategy & capital assembly
We help projects combine the funding sources they need, including grants, public programs, insured debt, municipal incentives, project equity and mission-aligned investment. Eligible projects may also be supported by the Affordable Housing Guarantee Pool, a financing product created and administered by Nesting Ground.
Ownership, operations & long-term stewardship
Project structures vary. Depending on the partnership, Nesting Ground may own or co-own the housing and work with community organizations on leasing, resident intake, day-to-day operations, services and programming. Nesting Ground supports responsible asset stewardship, capital planning and long-term housing performance.
Sustainable & modern delivery
We pursue high-performance buildings and modern methods of construction to improve quality, predictability and long-term affordability. Project strategies may include prefabricated mass timber, high-performance envelopes, low-carbon mechanical systems, zero-carbon targets and One Planet Living® principles.
Our Team
Nesting Ground exists to advance affordable housing and community benefit. Nesting Ground is led by Graeme Hussey and overseen by an independent board of directors with experience in affordable housing development, social finance, public policy, governance, real estate, law, and community planning. We work with private-sector development and capital partners when their expertise or financing can advance a project. Those relationships operate within a non-profit-led model, with clear roles, governance, and accountability.
Graeme HusseyBoard President
Graeme Hussey is the Board President of Nesting Ground, where he provides strategic leadership to advance the organization's mission to deliver sustainable, mixed-income affordable housing at scale. A recognized national expert and frequent public speaker, Graeme is widely respected for his ability to help turn ambitious affordable housing goals into real-world delivery. He previous served as President of Cahdco, where he helped lead the creation of more than 1,000 affordable homes and launched Toolbox+, a national community of practice supporting affordable housing development. Graeme has also served in other sector leadership roles, including on the Green Municipal Fund Council Investment Committee and as Treasurer of the Housing Services Corporation.
Steffan JonesBoard Director
Steffan Jones is a seasoned housing strategist and innovation leader with more than 25 years of experience shaping Canada's housing finance and policy landscape. During his career at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, he held several senior executive roles, including Vice-President of Innovation, Vice-President of Strategy and Organizational Excellence, and Vice-President of Business Technology Transformation. Today, Steffan advises organizations focused on housing innovation, finance and real estate, including Peakhill Capital and Key Living. He brings deep public-sector expertise, private-sector insight and a collaborative approach to advancing housing affordability and lasting social and economic impact.
Julie FavreauBoard Director
Julie Favreau is a specialist in real estate finance and development and an accomplished lawyer with 20 years of industry experience. She is the founder and President of Fi3, a consulting firm specializing in impact real estate, investment strategy, organizational development and public policy. Known for her multidisciplinary approach, Julie brings expertise in financing, governance, risk management and innovative real estate business models. Her work spans residential and commercial real estate, including heritage and religious buildings, ESG fund design, real estate pre-development, urban revitalization and the creation of Quebec's first commercial real estate impact investment fund.
Aleeya VeljiBoard Director
Aleeya Velji is the Founder and CEO of Enfin Impact, where she develops practical solutions in housing, capital deployment, and community economic development. Working at the intersection of finance, policy and social innovation, she partners with governments, investors and community organizations to expand access to affordable housing and deliver measurable economic and community outcomes. Previously, Aleeya held roles with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, advising senior leaders on strategy, public policy, and capital allocation. She serves on several boards and has studied at the University of Cambridge.
Martin CoteBoard Director
Martin Coté is the founder and managing member of Bluenose AC Investments Inc., an investment vehicle focused on real estate in Canada and the United States, and the Canadian investment manager and partner to BXR Group. He brings more than 20 years of experience across real estate asset classes in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. Previously, Martin worked with RPG Real Estate in the Czech Republic, overseeing a 12,000-acre land portfolio and international investments, and served as CEO of Tower Group A.S. He holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, a Bachelor's degree from HEC Montréal and is Chairman of Pro REIT.
Cyndi Rottenberg-WalkerBoard Director
Cyndi Rottenberg-Walker is a land use planner, consultant and Partner Emerita at Urban Strategies Inc. Her experience spans campus and community master plans, development approvals, and comprehensive policy studies, with a focus on shaping healthy and enduring urban environments. Cyndi has led large, multidisciplinary teams working across urban settings at many scales. Known for her ability to motivate diverse groups around a common purpose, she brings deep expertise in navigating complex planning challenges and synthesizing public and private interests to support positive, lasting change in communities.
Our Partners
Partnership is how housing gets built.
No single organization can solve the affordable housing challenge alone. Nesting Ground works with organizations that bring different but complementary strengths to affordable housing delivery:
Community housing providers, non-profits and co-operatives
Indigenous organizations and communities
Faith-based and community land organizations
Health, social-service and supportive-housing providers
Municipal, provincial and federal governments and agencies
Development, design, construction and operations partners
Foundations, impact investors and other mission-aligned capital partners.
Our commitment to partners
We define roles early, document decisions, and keep community outcomes visible throughout the project. Local partners remain central to decisions about who the housing serves, how services and programming are delivered, and what long-term stewardship should look like.
People
Planet
Partnerships