About Us
Providing affordable rentals to Londoners since 2004.
LAHF was formed in 2000 to address the growing housing crisis in London Ontario. We received charitable status in 2004 and began raising funds to help solve this problem. The first project was completed in 2007 and the organization grew from there.
Almost 20 years later, LAHF is now partnering with five other non-profits in London to make ‘Vision SoHo’ a possibility. The combined projects will be a hybrid of ‘market homes’ and affordable housing. Once completed, the complex will make a difference in hundreds of Londoners lives.
Our Mission
To deliver quality and affordable housing that supports the needs of families and individuals with the help of donors, builders, government and business.
Our Vision
We are a group of like-minded individuals with a passion for helping the residents of our community to find affordable and stable housing.
Sister Joan Atkinson
Board Chair
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Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ, is a Founding Director and is presently thePresident of the London Affordable Housing Foundation. She has been involved with all of LAHF's projects in a fundraising and project development capacity. Sister Joan has also served as a volunteer on the planning committees of two National Housing Conferences, All Our Sisters National Network on Women and Homelessness. She has worked as an educator with the London and Middlesex Catholic School Board and at the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, the Faculty of Education at the University of Toronto, and has served on the Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada.
Artem Serikov
Vice Chair/Board Treasurer
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Artem Serikov currently works as Senior Account Manager, Business/Personal with the Royal Bank of Canada, managing a portfolio of small business clients. With over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, Artem brings a strong financial background to his role with LAHF. He possesses an MBA degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business. Artem is also a long-term Board member of the London Housing Registry and serves as Vice-President of the Business Club of London.
Brenna Keatinge
Board Member
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Robert Sexsmith
Board Member
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Since 1965 Bob Sexsmith has served his community in a variety of community and neighbourhood organizations, faith groups, cooperatives and unions. He has served as Director of the London & Middlesex Housing Corporation, as Chair for Neighbourhood Legal Services for London & Middlesex, as a Board Member and Executive Board Secretary of the Advocacy Centre for Tenants, and as Chair of the London Homeless Coalition.
Alfonso Ballasone
P.Eng.
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Owner of Consult 4 Construct, Alfonso has over 30 years of construction experience and has worked for one of Canada’s largest construction organizations, Ellis Don.
Shereen J. Goncalves
LLB
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A lawyer with Cohen Highley, Shereen works in the Multi-Residential Housing Group who represents condominium corporations, developers, non-profit housing providers, and property managers, with a focus on affordable housing.
Ritesh Manandhar
Treasurer
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With a background in banking, Ritesh is IFC Certified with 6 years experience in Canada and Nepal. He is currently rounding out his skills with further education.
Ann Hayes
Secretary
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Now partially retired, Ann is a former restaurateur and realtor with a background in housing the homeless with a London agency.
Deborah Crowe
Board Member
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Deborah Crowe is an Executive & Leadership Coach, award-winning author of The Heart-Centered Leadership Playbook, and certified EQ-i 2.0 / EQ-i 360 facilitator who helps leaders build trust, clarity, and high-performing, people-first cultures. Known for her heart-centered yet results-driven approach, she partners with executives and boards to align culture with execution. Deborah proudly serves as a Director with the London Affordable Housing Foundation, advancing safe, stable housing across the community she calls home.
Trevor Ready
Board Member
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Trevor Ready is passionate about making products, processes, and people better. With over 30 years of manufacturing leadership, from consumer product start-ups to global automotive juggernauts. He has had the opportunity to contribute to the successfully turned around of multiple facilities and the launch of both small and large-scale operations in the automotive and fabrication sector. He continues to learn how to merge the technical and financial aspects of the business with heart-centered leadership. The opportunity to apply his knowledge and skills acquired over a lifetime to affordable housing is tremendous.
Common Questions
When was London Affordable Housing established?
LAHF was established in 2001 and received its charitable status in 2004. The first housing unit was completed in 2007.
What percentage of my donation is going directly to a project?
As an organization, LAHF has not relied upon paid staff members. We lean on our Board of Directors, allowing us to designate your generous donations directly to our projects. We are passionate about improving the lives of lower-income people in our community. Having a "working" Board assures you that your funds are being allocated where you have directed them.
Timeline
Presently we are working with 5 other non-profits in an alliance called Vision SoHo. The land was formally a part of the Victoria Hospital complex. LAHF will build 75 units of which 50% or more will rent at 70% or 80% of median market rent. The whole development will add over 600 units of much needed new housing. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DHE3jaliEnA
Completed project on Dundas Street is Nightingale Place. A 41 single bedroom apartment building of which 9 are fully accessible.
A three-storey, 25-unit apartment building geared towards low-income seniors. G Completed and fully occupied in September 2013. The building features four fully accessible units for residents with disabilities. Rents for all units are set below the market average. 1461 Huron St. London.
The first project was Sunningdale Townhomes to help young single parent families. Completed in 2007, Savannah Drive, London.
Applied for and received corporate and charitable status.
London Affordable Housing Foundation (LAHF) came into existence to address a growing affordable housing need for individuals and families with limited resources.
When is Vision SOHO expected to be completed?
The Vision SOHO project is expected to be completed by 2024. The project broke ground in October 2022 and is on track to be completed in the next three years. The fast turnaround is essential in helping address the growing housing crisis in London Ontario.
Where can I find upcoming community meetings for Vision SOHO?
Updates on the Vision SoHo project and any other LAHF projects will be announced on our media page.
Do you have statistics on homelessness in London?
The current wait list for affordable housing in London Ontario is upwards of 7,000 individuals and families.
Where do I go for housing?
If you are in need of affordable housing, please visit the City of London affordable housing page.