Building Roots in Potton: A Community-Led Path to Affordable Housing

In Potton, we cherish the quiet beauty of our landscapes, the strength of our community ties, and the sense of belonging that comes from knowing your neighbours. But for many, the rising cost of housing is making it harder to stay, settle, or return home. Young families, seasonal workers, seniors, and long-time residents are all feeling the pressure. The question isn’t just how we build more housing—it’s how we build the right kind of housing: affordable, lasting, and rooted in our values.

One promising path is the creation of a fiducie d’utilité sociale, or community land trust. This model, already thriving in nearby towns like Sutton and Frelighsburg, offers a way to protect land from speculation and ensure that housing remains affordable—not just for a few years, but for generations. In a fiducie, the land is held in trust for the benefit of the community, while residents own or rent the buildings on it. It’s a structure that prioritizes people over profit and places over markets.

Unlike federal social housing programs, which often rely on short-term subsidies and standardized approaches, a fiducie is locally driven. It reflects the needs, character, and aspirations of the community it serves. Sutton’s trust has enabled mixed-income housing that blends into the village’s heritage. Frelighsburg is exploring a model that combines housing with agriculture and ecological stewardship. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions—they’re thoughtful, flexible, and deeply rooted in place.

Potton has everything it needs to take this step: engaged citizens, a strong sense of identity, and a desire to preserve what makes our town special while making space for those who want to live and contribute here. Imagine a cluster of eco-friendly homes near Mansonville, built with local materials, designed for affordability, and surrounded by shared green space. Imagine seniors living close to services, families planting roots, and artists finding space to create—all on land held in trust for the public good.

This isn’t just about housing—it’s about dignity, inclusion, and resilience. It’s about ensuring that Potton remains a place where people of all backgrounds and incomes can thrive. A fiducie offers us a way to shape our future together, with care and intention.

To explore how this model is already working across Quebec, here are some inspiring examples:

• Fiducie du Chantier de l’économie sociale– A pioneering trust that has supported over 350 collective projects with long-term financing and impact-driven development.

• TIESS Knowledge Summary on Fiducies– A comprehensive guide to the legal, social, and economic foundations of fiducies in Quebec.

• RQIS Case Study on Fiducies– An overview of how fiducies are being used to protect land, support social enterprises, and create lasting housing solutions.

The next step could be a community conversation: learning from Sutton and Frelighsburg, identifying potential land, and exploring partnerships with local organizations. With collaboration and vision, Potton can lead the way in creating housing that reflects who we are—and who we want to be.

Let’s build something lasting. Let’s build it together.