Webinar recap: The Benefits of Being an Enabling Host

How in-building social programming sparks connections and support.

By Hey Neighbour Collective Webinars, Videos, Podcasts
In this graphic overlay, the bottom-most layer shows an illustration showing of a diversity of people in community, with screenshots of four presentations layered on top for the sixth 'Housing That Connects Us' webinar.

On April 14th, 2026, Hey Neighbour Collective and United Way BC’s Seniors’ Housing Working Group co-hosted the webinar “The Benefits of Being an Enabling Host.” This session marked the second installment in a three-part series focused on building social connection in housing.

You can watch the March 6th webinar, “Innovative Community Programs to Build Social Connection in Housing,” here:

Watch the first webinar installment

More than 120 participants joined this two-hour, participatory session. Break-out groups at the end of the webinar gave participants a chance to discuss their own work and experiences and to take part in facilitated conversations with our presenters and other HNC-affiliated experts. (Stay tuned for a future post with notes on the session.)

What participants had to say

“I’m taking away from this webinar that we are not alone. There are many of us in this space trying to create the same connections to our neighbours. Together we can effect change.”

“This was an invigorating experience – lots packed in, so worth every minute. Very exciting to see how much amazing work and enthusiasm there is in our field.”

Webinar recap

Our brilliant lineup of presenters and panellists shared their experiences delivering in-building social programming, highlighting a wide range of initiatives designed to foster neighbourly connections, strengthen social resilience, and support residents’ sense of belonging across different life stages, ultimately helping people age in place.

Rental housing operators – acting as enabling hosts – also reflected on the value of partnering with community-based organizations to support social programming. They spoke about the shared benefits for both residents and landlords, the internal alignment and decision-making required to achieve strong outcomes, and the importance of intentionally prioritizing partnerships with community-based organizations to build stronger, more connected communities within their buildings.

Since 2019, Hey Neighbour Collective has been bringing together housing operators, community-based organizations, researchers, policy makers, governments, housing associations, and health sector organizations to collaborate with residents of multi-unit housing. 

Throughout this time, HNC’s core partners have been taking  action to build social connectedness, resilience, and capacity for neighbourly mutual support among residents. The impacts of our partners’ work – and of our work together as a collective – are  presented in our five-year learning report (2019-2024.) Key learnings from that major evaluation mirror key takeaways from this webinar.

Read our learning report

We’ve also been capturing the benefits of in-building social programming and of being enabling hosts through stories and conversations with our partners. 

Take a look at what we’ve learned: 

Presentations and resources

Thank you to our amazing presenters and panellists: 

Moderator: Michelle Hoar 

Presenters / Panellists:  

Browse presentations and additional resources below.

Catherine Donnelly HTCU PresentationDownload

Take a look a the latest publication by Dr. Catherine Donnelly and the Oasis team: “Deepening Understanding of Oasis, a NORC-Based Program: Perspectives from Housing Partners”

Kathrin Brunner HTCU PresentationDownload

Older adults and community members who are interested in discussing their own aging in place initiative can sign up for monthly NORC Talks through their website, and can find ideas and inspiration on the NORC Ambassadors website.

Jaime Hewat HTCU PresentationDownload

Learn more about Brightside Community Homes Foundation through our “Demonstration Partner Snapshot” (PDF).

Rebeca Robles HTCU PresentationDownload

We’re also grateful to our incredible breakout room experts and facilitators for adding to the conversation. 

Topics: , , , , ,