By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

B’nai Brith Housing, Caldwell Residences and Kehilla Montréal Residential are integrating under one roof under the banner of Les Maisons Kehilla, the organizations announced last week.

“The newly formed housing organization will represent eight buildings with over 1,000 apartments offering a mix of social and affordable rents to a full spectrum of the Montreal community from young families to seniors,” says a statement from the organizations.

Avi Hasen, President of Kehilla Montreal Residential Programs, stated that “by bringing together three Montreal community housing organizations under a single entity, we are creating an opportunity for operational synergies, common governance and coordinated advocacy.

“Integration allows us to better deploy our limited resources across a broader set of real estate and most importantly, maximize availability of affordable housing to those in need in the community.”

Les Maisons Kehilla will be led by its recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Leah Berger, who “has an extensive history of involvement in the Montreal Jewish community including in strategic planning and allocations at Federation CJA where she spearheaded the creation of Kehilla Montreal Residential Programs.”

The organizations’ statement points out that Caldwell Residences and B’nai Brith Housing “have served the senior population in six buildings across the Cote des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce borough and Côte St. Luc for 70 and 20 years respectively.

“Kehilla Montréal’s first building, Kehilla I, welcomed tenants into its 68 one- to three-bedroom apartments, built to the highest standards, in 2020. A second Kehilla building is located in Côte des Neiges and is home to individuals and small families in its 15 renovated apartments.”

Dean Mendel, president of Caldwell Residences and incoming president of Les Maisons Kehilla, said that “our provision of safe, quality housing at affordable rates uplifts thousands of vulnerable people.

“But this is also about building and strengthening communities. At Caldwell and B’nai Brith Housing, a full range of programming is integrated into the residences in order to reduce isolation, increase socialization, and improve quality of life.” n