Legacies of Liberalism and Faith-Based Institutions: Woodgreen Community Services and Gentrification in Riverdale by Helen Ketema A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Geography Graduate Department of Geography and Planning University of Toronto © Copyright Helen Ketema (2020) Legacies of Liberalism and Faith-Based Institutions: Woodgreen Community Services and Gentrification in Riverdale Helen Ketema Masters of Arts Geography Department of Geography and Planning University of Toronto 2020 Abstract This thesis aims to bring literature on gentrification and the social economy in conversation in order to examine the role of non-profit housing providers in navigating gentrification within their neighbourhoods. Much of the literature on the role of non-profits and community organizations in responding to gentrification focuses on what De Verteuil (2015) calls the ‘post-welfare city’. Through building on the framework of ‘neoliberal communitarianism’ (DeFilippis, 2004), this thesis takes a historical and place-based analysis to demonstrate the ways in which non-profits’ synergy with processes of gentrification should be understood beyond the temporal scope of neoliberal co-optation under the shadow state (Wolch, 1990). This thesis contributes this argument to the literature on non-profit actors and gentrification in Toronto through examining the case study of Woodgreen Community Services and their redevelopment of the Edwin hotel in the Riverdale community. ii Acknowledgments I dedicate this thesis to all people threatened by displacement from the neighbourhoods they call home, as well as those unable to find adequate and affordable shelter within the current housing crisis. I would also like to extend my gratitude to all the individuals who participated in this study, taking time out of the important work they do, to speak with me. In particular to Woodgreen Community Services for their willingness to cooperate. I especially wish to thank Dr. Michelle Buckley for being of immense support throughout the process of completing this master’s thesis. Thank you for your constant flexibility, detailed feedback, honesty, patience, and guidance. Lastly, I wish to thank my family and friends for being an unwavering support system. Most importantly I dedicate everything I do to my mother Meaza, without her none of this would be possible. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vi List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................. vii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................... viii 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Main Arguments ...............................................................................................................3 1.2 Placing Woodgreen and South Riverdale in Context...................................................5 1.3 Welfare State Retrenchment, Neoliberalism and the Provision of Affordable Housing........................................................................................................................................7 1.4 Non-Profit Actors, Gentrification, and the Rise of the Shadow State ...................... 10 1.5 Neoliberal Communitarianism and Organizational Limits to Resisting Gentrification ............................................................................................................................ 11 2 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 15 2.1 Methods and Rationale .................................................................................................. 15 2.2 Policy Document Analysis ............................................................................................ 17 2.3 Interviews ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.3.1 Sampling and Recruitment ............................................................................................................... 19 2.3.2 Data Collection and Structure of Interviews .................................................................................. 20 2.4 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................. 22 2.5 Archival Research .......................................................................................................... 23 2.6 Positionality and Ethics ................................................................................................. 23 2.7 Conclusion and Limitations .......................................................................................... 26 3 ‘Placing’ the New Edwin: .......................................................................................... 28 Genealogies of Gentrification and Social Service Legacies .................................... 28 3.1 History of Riverdale: Industrialism and Marginalization ........................................... 31 3.2 Genealogies of Social Services in Riverdale: Woodgreen United Church and Community Centre ................................................................................................................... 32 3.3 Social Reform, Settlement Homes, and Traditions of ‘Living with Neighbours’ .... 33 3.3.1 Woodgreen’s Response to Gentrification: Maintaining a ‘Healthy Mix’ .................................... 40 iv 3.4 ‘Deconcentration’ of Social Housing: State Withdrawal, ‘Mixed-Income’ Communities, and Neoliberal Redevelopment ..................................................................... 43 4 Constructing the ‘Deserving Subject’: Woodgreen’s Funding Model and the Role of Corporate Philanthropists ................................................................................ 46 4.1 Social Reformers, Philanthropy, and Housing: Woodgreen in Historical Context 47 4.2 Devolution of State Funding ......................................................................................... 50 4.3 Promotion of “Housing First” Policies ........................................................................ 54 4.4 Becoming “Shovel Ready”: How Organizational Reputation and Corporate Philanthropy Steer Investment ............................................................................................... 57 4.4.1 Corporate Philanthropy’s Influence ................................................................................................ 61 5 “Being the Mediator”: On the Futures of Woodgreen’s Legacies of Neoliberal Communitarianism .......................................................................................................... 68 5.1 The New Edwin and Woodgreen’s Limitations to Mitigating Gentrification ........... 73 6: Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 81 Works Cited ......................................................................................................................... 85 Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 90 Appendix A: Policy Chronology ............................................................................................. 90 Appendix B: List of Interview Participants ............................................................................ 93 Appendix C: Informed Consent Sheet ................................................................................... 94 Appendix D: Interview Guideline ............................................................................................ 96 Copyright Acknowledgments ........................................................................................ 99 v List of Figures Figure 1-North Riverdale .................................................................................................. 30 Figure 2- South Riverdale ................................................................................................ 30 Figure 3- "Woodgreen Settlement Challenge",1938 ....................................................... 47 Figure 4- George C. Metcalf, Woodgreen Neighbourhood House, 1959 ....................... 49 Figure 5- Brochure for 'First Steps to Home' ................................................................... 63 Figure 6- Map of Woodgreen Properties ......................................................................... 78 vi List of Acronyms BIA…………Business Improvement Area CDC………...Community Development Corporation SRO…………Single Room Occupancy RFP…………Request for Proposal HOPE VI……Home Ownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere HUD…………Housing and Urban Department TCHC……….Toronto Community Housing Corporation THC…………Toronto Housing Corporation HPS…………Homelessness Partnership Strategy HPI………….Homelessness Partnership Initiative vii List of Appendices Appendix