On June 16, 2023, BC Non-Profit Housing Association, the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC, and the Aboriginal Housing Management Association submitted our Budget 2024 consultation paper.
Taken together, our proposals will ensure that British Columbians have increased access to affordable housing and that their housing is affordable, safe, and in a livable state of repair.
Housing Central and CHF Canada recently submitted recommendations on the financialization of housing to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA).Â
The financialization of housing is the process where housing is increasingly treated as an investment rather than someone’s home.
The Rental Protection Fund Board of Directors recently announced that Katie Maslechko is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Rental Protection Fund. The appointment is effective April 26, 2023.
The announcement marks an important milestone in the rollout of this innovative, sector-led solution to the housing affordability crisis
On April 28, 2023, CHF BC resumed its program of neighbourhood events with a group of housing co-ops located in the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood of Vancouver.
Members from a number of housing co-ops from the neighbourhood had the chance to meet and discuss issues of common interest and visit several of the neighbourhood non-profit housing co-ops.
CHF BC board member Sahara Shaik has received a prestigious Community Award from the BC Achievement Foundation.
The Community Award program honours excellence and inspiring achievement in community service and leadership. It celebrates British Columbians who go above and beyond in their dedication and service to others. The award recognizes individuals who devote their time and energy to making their communities more caring, dynamic, beautiful, resilient and inclusive.
Atira Women’s Resource Society is nonprofit organization based in Vancouver, B.C.. They have found a unique solution to address the affordable housing crisis and improve employee well-being by providing housing to its staff members. This move has sparked interest in the potential for co-operative housing initiatives among other nonprofit organizations.
We appreciate the focus on improving social supports for low-income Canadians, but are disappointed to see a lack of new investments in affordable housing. Indeed, no number of social supports will do more for low- and middle- income Canadians than ensuring that everybody has access to a safe, secure, affordable place to call home.
Alas, despite communities across the country experiencing explosion in housing need, Budget 2023 does little to address Canada’s worsening housing crisis. Instead, it puts existing affordable housing at risk.
Our Housing Central partners at the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) are pleased to see significant investment in Affordable Housing and Homelessness across BC in the 2023 BC Budget. This investment is long overdue and needed as BC deals with a housing and homelessness crisis that disproportionately impacts Indigenous people and communities.
Investments will protect existing homes, accelerate funding for new affordable homes, and reduce the growing affordability gap for renters.
Housing co-op members have a long-standing history of helping others in need. As the war enters its second year, we hope you will help the Co-operative Development Fund of Canada raise the needed money to continue their important work in Ukraine.