This grant will support work from March 1st 2021 through to June 30th 2022 with four of our five practice partners. Together we’ll be exploring social sustainability innovations for affordable multi-unit rental housing. In particular, we’ll be highlighting the role that landlords, property managers and policy-makers can play in the process of building community, social connectedness and resilience in multi-unit housing contexts.
Led by Dr. Meg Holden, the SFU Research Team has published an article on The Conversation Canada about the importance of prioritizing social connections during the COVID-19 recovery.
The Hey Neighbour Collective has prepared this input for the review of Metro 2040’s goal area 4.2: Develop healthy and complete communities with access to a range of services and amenities.
We worked with Happy Cities to develop a guidebook of engagement ideas to help people stay connected during times of physical distancing.
As part of a comprehensive company-wide approach to social sustainability, building on their experience in the City of Vancouver’s original Hey Neighbour Pilot Project, Concert has hired a dedicated Social Sustainability Coordinator.
The West End Seniors’ Network focuses on supporting older adults living in multi-unit residential buildings through their Close to Home initiative.
Building Resilient Neighbourhoods’s Connect & Prepare program builds emergency preparedness and community resilience between immediate neighbours by strengthening social connections.
Catalyst is carrying out a “Community Connections Pilot” which includes landlord-led or supported social events, workshops, and “Town Hall meetings”, as well as support for resident-led community building initiatives. In addition, they have set up communication systems to support community interaction, and are actively working with tenants to identify opportunities to maximize the social potential of the physical design of their buildings and properties.
Brightside carries out an annual community enhancement survey to assess residents’ happiness and well-being. Based on this, they are supporting a number of Community Development initiatives designed to build resilience and community amongst residents.
Panelists brought ideas, evidence and stories from their practice and research on what is at stake for the common humanity of our cities as we respond to and recover from the pandemic.
COVID-19 has presented particular challenges to operators of multi-unit rental housing, from mounting financial pressures due to residents’ challenges in paying rent, to managing new health protocols and restricting use of common spaces, to increased concerns around mental well-being, food security and tenant conflicts.
Read our Change Theory (PDF) about our intended impacts, supports of change, key strategies, collaborators, foundational principles, and more.
Explore our collective organization, from Experiment & Learn, to Research & Document, and Share & Mobilize.
The pilot aimed to Increase a sense of community amongst residents within their buildings, decrease the frequency and intensity of loneliness among residents, support participating buildings to feel like home, and not just a temporary place of residence, and more.
The Hey Neighbour Collective emerged from collaboration between staff involved in the City of Vancouver’s 2018-2019 Hey Neighbour! pilot project and a number of advisory committee members working on similar projects.
