National Housing Justice Convergence Sparks New Movement Infrastructure

In March 2025, the Housing Justice Convergence brought together over 280 attendees from coast to coast for three transformative days, uniting organizers, tenants, researchers, artists, and movement builders in the fight for housing justice. With the support of 36 community partners and contributors, the convergence created a space for collective learning, strategizing, and action through 9 panel discussions, 4 workshops, and 4 caucuses, where we grappled with the challenges of decommodifying housing, resisting displacement, and building tenant power. Beyond structured sessions, the energy of the movement was palpable in the 4 networking gatherings, 2 walking tours, and 2 social events, strengthening relationships and sparking new collaborations across sectors.

These three days were more than just a conference: they were a call to action, a commitment to deepening the fight for housing justice, and a moment to build the collective power needed to win. Whether through direct action, tenant organizing, policy advocacy, or cooperative housing initiatives, the work continues, and the momentum we’ve built together will carry forward.

Key Shared Priorities Emerged

Through workshops, assemblies, and strategy sessions, participants highlighted the urgent need to:

• Grow tenant power through the expansion of tenant unions and organizing

• Scale community-owned and non-speculative housing, such as housing co-ops and community land trusts

• Confront financialization, corporate landlordism, and speculative profit-taking

• Strengthen collaboration across sectors, regions, and organizations

From Ideas to Infrastructure

The Convergence did more than identify priorities, it catalyzed major developments in national movement-building, including:

• The creation of HousingJustice.Now
  A new online hub for resources, coordination, and movement visibility.
• The co-founding of the National Tenant Organizing Fund (NTOF)
  A tenant-led funding body set to launch in January 2026 to resource organizing across the country.
• A Collective Vision for Housing Justice in Canada
  Articulating what a just, dignified housing future looks like shaped by those within the movement.