Residency
Live in Christian community, grow in faith and explore your calling while sharing life with others.
What Is Residency?
Are you a young adult (age 21+) looking for intentional Christian community? Welcome to Residency. This formative community living experience is designed for individuals in seasons of transition (mostly post-college/university age young adults). Residents learn and grow alongside gap year students while pursuing work or further study in Hamilton.
Community life centres around shared meals, times of prayer, recreation, practicing hospitality, programmed events & outings, and more. We have space for three to six young adults to live year-round at the Act Five residence.
Residency is for
Young adults (ages 21-30) seeking Christian community.
Those working, studying, or discerning next steps.
Individuals looking for spiritual formation and community.
Expectations & Commitments
Come and Join!
8-10 hours/week of community engagement
Enjoy cooking and eating shared weeknight meals, including neighbourhood Spaghetti Wednesdays and Sunday pancake breakfasts.
Participate in rhythms of spiritual formation such as Evensong, prayer, sabbath, retreats and engagement with those on the margins.
Learn with us through book and podcast studies, jazz night discussions and more!
Build new relationships strolling through Gage Park, growing your own food, cycling through the neighbourhood or hiking up the Wentworth Stairs.
Want more adventure? Travel to Russet House Farm in Fenelon Falls, take a road trip to Lamppost Farm (Ohio) or Windstone Farm (Ottawa), explore Six Nations, participate in disaster response with World Renew (Texas or Louisiana), winter camp in a quince or hit the Appalachian Trail in the Spring. (Trip prices vary.)
Cost Breakdown
$1245/month for a single room, $995 for a shared room*
| Single Room | Shared Room |
| $1245/month ($5105 per term) | $995/month ($4105 per term) |
| $750 Bedroom, bathrooms, access to all common spaces | $500 Bedroom, bathrooms, access to all common spaces |
| $225 shared meals $50 utilities $220 program fees: staff support, monthly mentorship and spiritual direction, facilitation of household rhythms, and access to the benefits of the Act Five gap year program, residency activities (e.g. Jazz Nights and fun nights), and two end-of-term retreats (December 3-5, 2025 and April 18, 2026) |
|
What's Included
- All utilities (incl. WiFi)
- Fully furnished
- In-house laundry
- Front porch, large backyard, veggie garden and pizza oven
- Multiple common spaces, including a large basement rec room
- Shared kitchens and bathrooms (each shared with up to 5 people)
- Walkable neighbourhood, access to public transit, bikes available for use
- Parking spots are available, but limited
- Pet free, smoke free environment
*We do not want cost to be a barrier. Please speak with us if you wish to be part of the Residency Program and cannot afford this cost, and we will work with you.
*Prices vary slightly for some specific spaces in the home.
*Residents are invited and welcome to join Gap Year Trips. Additional costs apply.
*For more information on optional trips, click here.
Application Process
2. Interview
We’ll reach out to you to schedule a time to connect and learn more about you and hear how you would fit in as an Act Five Resident.
3. Move In!
Once your application is approved, we’ll send you any information you need ahead of Move In Day!
Apply for the
Act Five Residency
The Act Five Residency is more than just a place to live—it’s an opportunity to grow in faith, build deep relationships, and explore your calling in a supportive Christian community.
FAQ
Many of your questions might be answered in our 2025-2026 Residency Handbook.
In addition, see the following answers to commonly asked questions:
What is the monthly Residency Program monthly fee for?
The monthly program fee helps to cover staffing and other costs for program elements like one-on-one mentorship, “State of the Heart” group spiritual direction, household rhythms, residency activities (i.e. Jazz Nights and fun nights) and two end-of-term retreats.
What meals are included as part of the Residency Program? Can I opt-in to have all my meals included?
Residents pay a monthly food cost of $225 which covers weeknight dinners (and any leftovers from those meals!) and Sunday breakfast. If you would like to opt-in to have all meals covered, you can do this at an additional cost.
What are the optional trips and program activities, and how much do they cost?
As a Resident you will choose at the beginning of each semester which of our optional trips you would like to participate in. For the best value, you can choose to join every trip in the first term which costs an additional $800, and $1000 for the second term. If you don’t want to join every trip, the cost will be calculated per trip. See descriptions of each trip and cost breakdowns here.
- Russet House Farm
- Windstone Farm
- Six Nations 1
- Six Nations 2
- Manitoulin Island
- Listening Prayer Retreat
- Amazing Race
- Thunder Bay Indigenous Learning Trip with New Hope Youth Centre and Living Hope Native Ministries
- Winter Camping with Coldwater Canada
- Backpacking with Coldwater Canada
There will also be opportunities for Residents to join workshops and conferences, like the Enneagram workshop and the True City Conference, for $25 per event. Residents will be invited to join various gap year sessions and lessons for free throughout the program year, and will be notified of these opportunities 1-2 weeks in advance.
Can I work a regular 40 hour work week while doing this program?
Given the participatory and engaged nature of life in the Act Five community, members of the Residency Program tend to have a more fulfilling experience while working 30-35 hours per week, which is what we recommend. However, a 40 hour work week is common and allowed.
