CitySpaces team Gwyn Symmons, Emma Watson and Lani Brunn attended the Housing Central Conference in Vancouver BC November 18-20, 2018. Put on by the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, it is the largest affordable housing conference in Canada. After three days of sessions, we had lots of great information to take home and begin implementing!
BCNPHA planned a great kick-off event for the Housing Central conference. It was a packed house with both Premier John Horgan and the Honourable Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, speaking about provincial priorities and investment in affordable housing.
Gwyn was a presenter at the conference, speaking about Planning Affordable Housing with Civic Facilities with Arthur Mills of the YWCA in Metro Vancouver. They discussed how to co-locate affordable housing with civic facilities for affordable housing on high-density mixed-use sites. Lots of great examples were shared of design features from a variety of sites, including of extra-wide corridors, the incarnation of amenity/play areas for children, programming, security, and the complexity of building housing above uses like libraries, fire halls, and other civic facilities.
Lani presented twice at the conference. First at the Pacific Housing Research Network’s Symposium on Housing Research as a part of a panel presenting on on Homelessness: Research in Action. Lani presented her SFU research on Housing that Works: Planning and Design Solutions from Adult Women who have Experienced Homelessness on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Panellists also included Naomi Reichstein and Shannon Lambie from SCARP (UBC School of Community and Regional Planning) and Bruce Wallace from the University of Victoria.
Lani also co-presented the session Reducing Barriers: Housing for Women with Amy FitzGerald of the BC Society of Transition Houses. The session explored the housing needs of women fleeing violence and those who have experienced homelessness. From the physical needs of creating housing for women to building design, location and support services.
Emma enjoyed attending many sessions at the Housing Central Conference, including “Asking for Sugar From Your Neighbour” about creating opportunities to connect with community members in residential buildings, learning about new provincial legislation enabling communities to conduct Housing Needs Assessments, and about international examples of successful non-market housing from the last century from the UK and the Netherlands. She thoroughly enjoyed the stories and performance by Vijay Gupta, world-renowned violinist and social justice advocate, who sparks community connection through participating in arts and music. Emma came away from the conference feeling inspired by the hundreds of individuals who come together to support those in need in the affordable housing sector.
A big thank you to BCNPH housing staff and volunteers for putting on another wonderful conference! It is always a worthwhile few days of networking, learning and sharing knowledge to move forward affordable housing in our communities.
