our mission

We are working to build affordable, adequate, and suitable housing for Ontarians, aiming to put a dent in the homelessness crisis and offer first, second, and further chances to everyone that may need it, and help alleviate poverty.

the problem

The lack of affordable housing across Ontario has left individuals facing, or at risk of facing, housing insecurity, and it's a uniquely difficult challenge for students, who must navigate the professional, financial and academic worlds at once.

Faiz Jan

Executive Director

Derek Akkiprik

Director of Finance

Mia Rodrigo

Director of Strategic Innovation

Faraaz Jan

Software Development Lead

our team

why us

We are dedicated to improving quality of life and alleviating poverty in Ontario, primarily through supporting the development of affordable, non-market housing. Founded in early 2024 as the Students’ Housing Development Commission, VDC has partnered with non-profits across Ontario to help move affordable housing projects forward, including through pro-bono project management services, and the development of systems to streamline the process of bringing development projects from conception to completion. Our team has a broad range of backgrounds in public policy, lobbying, planning, finance, and development project management, experience that shapes us and makes us uniquely able to help with development project management in a thorough and inclusive process. To date, we have helped to push forward projects to support creation of more than 105 units of affordable housing.

In practice, our work includes leading in-depth consultation processes to gauge all project stakeholders' needs, overseeing and coordinating project consultants and contractors, preparing the necessary approval applications from Official Plan to Construction Permit, and staying on top of project costs through rigorous financial modelling, funding application submissions, and invoice accounts management.