Building Community, Brick by Brick

My journey with Brique par Brique began not with a blueprint, but with a collective dream. Rooted in the vibrant neighborhood of Parc-Extension, our mission has always been to create spaces that reflect the diverse tapestry of our community. While I never set out to fight for housing justice, I have an intimate understanding of how deeply housing is tied to safety and stability. It almost feels like kismet that my more than decade-long journey with community organizing and activism led me to where I am now. 

In the early 2010s, we were a group of artists and activists, united by a shared vision of social change. Our collective, Artivistic, sought to blend art, academia, and activism to address underrepresented issues. We organized festivals and discussions, aiming to foster dialogue and understanding. 

However, as time passed, I recognized the need for more tangible interventions. The transient nature of activist spaces and the systemic challenges faced by marginalized communities highlighted the importance of stability and infrastructure. While confronting this reality was uncomfortable, it sparked a vision of self-sustained community infrastructure, one that empowers people to take care of themselves rather than rely on funding from the government or foundations. It also led us toward an organizing model rooted in class struggle that aims to redistribute power and resources, not just provide services. Altogether, these realizations led to the birth of Brique par Brique.

- Faiz Abhuani

It led us toward an organizing model rooted in class struggle that aims to redistribute power and resources, not just provide services

Building more than affordable housing

The need for housing is a story that plays like a broken record across Canada. People are working multiple jobs yet still struggle to pay rent. Dreams of homeownership have become a thing of the past for the younger generation. Even middle-class families are being priced out of the cities they’ve called home for years. And yet, the Canadian government’s programs fall short of addressing the skyrocketing demand and burden of rising cost of living. 

We asked ourselves, “How can we fight for housing justice and make a real impact? How can we do things differently instead of sticking with the status quo while hoping for the different results?” In the spirit of self-sufficiency, our most ambitious initiative is raising capital to build affordable housing and vibrant community spaces through a social finance tool called community bonds. 

[Our] activities are meant to build strong community bonds and cultivate solidarity between groups affected differently by capitalism and colonialism.

Our approach is multifaceted. While our primary focus is on creating affordable housing, our work also extends beyond bricks and mortar, encompassing free community dinners, art and music workshops, information sessions for refugees and immigrants, mutual aid exchange, movie screenings, festivals, and more. These activities are meant to build strong community bonds and cultivate solidarity between diverse groups of people affected differently by capitalism and colonialism. “Act locally, think globally” comes to mind. 

Still, housing is the issue that underpins many facets of life, from health and wellbeing to education and economic stability, and freedom from domestic violence. And the challenges to affordable housing are numerous: navigating bureaucratic systems, securing funding, and addressing systemic inequalities require persistence and adaptability. Yet, the resilience and commitment of our community members inspire continued effort and innovation. 

Investing in lasting impact with community bonds 

Community bonds allow nonprofits, cooperatives, and social enterprises to raise funds from their community. They function like traditional bonds where investors lend money to an organization in exchange for interest payments. The difference is that they’re issued to community members, which could be anyone from a next-door neighbor to a local business owner and prioritize social or environmental impact over pure financial returns. 

At Brique par brique, we saw firsthand how community bonds can affect tangible change. From 2017 to 2018, we developed and launched our first community bond campaign and raised $364,000 from 40 investors. This allowed us to leverage both the social capital and financial equity to grow. Today, we own the community centre that houses a diverse array of events and programs, as well as our first housing project, which has 31 units and is currently being built at 8600 Avenue de l’Épée. 

Fast forward to April 1, 2025–the day we launched a second community bonds campaign to achieve a much loftier goal. This time, we’re aiming to raise $5 million to fund a second housing project and a new community space—the Centre for Creative Collective Action—designed to meet the needs of residents in Parc-Extension. 

By prioritizing organizing over charity and creating spaces for people to gather, build relationships, and develop political power, we hope to show what it looks like to address the housing crisis not from the top down, but from the ground up. 

By prioritizing organizing over charity... we hope to show what it looks like to address the housing crisis not from the top down, but from the ground up.

Looking to the future, together

There’s no single solution to the housing crisis—no magic policy or program that will undo decades of disinvestment, gentrification, and inequality. Looking ahead, our vision remains clear: to build inclusive, sustainable communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. By centering the voices and needs of those most affected by systemic injustices, we aim to create a model of community development that is both equitable and empowering. 

At Brique par Brique, we believe in the power of collective action. Together, brick by brick, we are constructing not just buildings, but a more just and compassionate society.