Aerial view of a house under construction with a wooden frame, walls, and roof structures being built on a gravel and dirt foundation, surrounded by some green vegetation.

Multi-Generational. Purpose-Built. Sustainable.

An innovative, multi-generational housing concept for special needs families.

Two construction workers, an older man with gray hair and a beard, and a younger man, standing on a construction site with a wooden frame of a building, blue sky, and trees in the background. Both wear high-visibility safety vests and safety helmets.

The Legacy Building Project

Our pilot project in North Toronto takes a restorative architectural approach, and was conceived by parents Joseph and Rhonda, who have an extensive background in the architecture and construction industries. The purpose-built home takes into account accessibility, universal design, and materiality, specific to the special needs of the family. In this way, the design is as thoughtful as it is functional.

It involves the construction of two properties, created on our severed lot once containing a 1947 bungalow. A leading objective behind this build is to create communal living spaces for the family residing here, so they can live into the future together. Here, they can provide the necessary mutual support they require, accommodate live-in caregivers, and offer rental suites to other special needs adults who are unable to find suitable social housing. The essence of the principal home builds upon the foundation and concept of the existing property, and enhances its heritage character.

OUR MISSION

A Voice for the Vulnerable.

The Legacy Building Project seeks to confront the systemic barriers that special needs families face with their housing so they can thrive.

Our mission is to facilitate tailored and appropriate housing solutions for special needs families, to help them secure a long-term housing future.

We do this by working directly with these families to better understand their challenges and needs. From there we have the information we need to discuss and propose relevant and affordable strategies to help them reach their goals.

Our hope with this initiative is to support community and future generations who currently lack the pathways to succeed, but certainly have the will, capacity, resilience, and drive to do so.

If you would like to contribute to our mission, visit our volunteer page or email us at: legacybuildingproject@gmail.com

Volunteer

What’s Next for us?

The Legacy Building Project is family-founded and volunteer-led initiative based in Toronto. Our plan beyond this pilot project is to consult and work with other special needs families, with the goal of helping them facilitate and work towards the most appropriate housing solutions that meet both their short-term and long-term needs.

We recognize that for many special needs families, parents and guardians need to spend additional time with their special needs adult child, which impedes their ability to work full-time. By working with these families to develop additional dwelling units to rent (i.e., basement apartments, garden suites) we’re addressing the income shortfall in a meaningful way, while creating more housing supply.

We are accepting inquiries from now. If you or someone you know would like to meet with us, you can send us an email at legacybuildingproject@gmail.com.