Mänia Hormozi joined the Community Land Trust (CLT) in March 2023, bringing more than a decade of experience in the development sector to her role. She was introduced to the community housing sector in 2011 when she joined a boutique developer building the first affordable home ownership project in the Downtown Eastside at 100 East Hastings St., in partnership with BC Housing and CMHC.

“I discovered I had a good knack for problem solving, getting right into the challenges to find a way out, and bringing people together to move things along,” Hormozi shared in a recent conversation.

Over the next seven years she worked as a development management consultant with a range of non-profits before joining BC Housing in 2018 as a senior project officer. Hormozi helped to usher in the modular housing boom, and then expanded her portfolio when the Housing Hub was created five years ago.

She worked closely with CLT in 2022 on the groundbreaking partnership between BC Housing, the City of Burnaby and CLT to purchase and preserve 425 units of co-op housing.

“It’s how I was introduced to the organization in a more in-depth way,” Hormozi recalled. “I really liked how the team was working and the leadership – there was a lot of synergy and alignment of values in coming over to this organization.”

CLT Executive Director Tiffany Duzita says the organization’s growth since 2015 meant a full-time Director of Development was needed to support current and future projects.

“Mänia comes to the CLT with a wealth of industry knowledge and connections within the community housing sector,” Duzita said. “Her strong foundation in the industry will build upon CLT capacity to quickly navigate some challenged projects underway, while bringing in fresh insight to help CLT transition into a new growth phase. She is passionate about housing and a committed advocate to be part of CLT shaping the future and building a legacy of safe, secure, permanently affordable housing.”

Hormozi oversees CLT’s development portfolio, securing funding and financing for projects in pre-development and seeing them through construction before handing them over to the operations team. The organization has 14 projects at various stages, with about 600 units currently under construction, including one of its biggest projects to date – a mass timber passive house project at the corner of Burrard and Davie streets – as well as projects on West Pender and in North Cowichan.

“Mänia will play a key part in CLT growth plans to assess and acquire existing rental and housing co-operative properties and seek new development opportunities,” added Duzita. This is a perfect fit for Hormozi’s problem-solving nature and keen interest in the community housing sector.

“The co-operative model of housing has been less understood in the sector,” Hormozi noted. “The fact that CLT has been working to create more housing under the co-operative model—the type of housing that provides security, affordability, decision-making power for members—really interests me. “I’m looking forward to learning more about it…and being part of CLT as we move the co-op sector forward.”