Martinway Contracting Ltd. has been in the affordable housing industry for almost 30 years, and will have constructed almost 1,500 affordable housing units by 2010. But Martinway’s units are no bare bones construction – every building design attempts to achieve LEED Platinum Certification and all units accommodate individuals with disabilities. How do they do it? In 2002, Martinway created a corporate sponsorship program where major corporate entities donate employee time, building supplies, or furnishings. Millions of dollars are raised by each project.

“The program is so successful that we as builders stock the kitchen cupboard shelves with food donated from major food stores in Canada,” says John D’Angelo, partner.

D’Angelo has advice for city councils looking to solve the homelessness situation.

“They have to start looking at these projects as being priority above everything else because they are dealing with human lives,” he says. “Municipalities have to streamline their process. They’ve got to make the zoning process straightforward and eliminate their development charges so they don’t encumber the project. And build affordable housing units to the highest and best possible quality.”