The Steering Committee meets monthly for information sharing and networking with other industry professionals, to engage with guest speakers and presentations, to identify projects to support, as well as to identify opportunities for and organizing presentations to other organizations and local government
Goals
The goal of the Housing Affordability Partnership is to effect change in addressing housing affordability by being:
- an organized and informed body of diverse expertise that is routinely consulted on the full spectrum of housing development; and
- recognized as a major regional catalyst of change and champion of initiatives that address housing affordability.
Activities
Strive to take a pivotal role in assisting housing providers, developers, community organizations, and local governments in developing/facilitating projects, policy and practices that address housing affordability.
HAP is developing a series of relevant best practice case studies of housing affordability initiatives in the Capital Regional District
Developed and organizes the annual Housing Affordability Week event for the Captial Regional District
Completion of a pilot on developing a framework for a regional housing facilitator and information/resource centre
Convene a conference on housing affordability to showcase the role of a housing affordability partnership and discuss issues and solutions around housing affordability
Letters of support for development projects that support housing affordability throughtout the region
Information presentations at community events
HAP has a proven track record. This includes:
- HAP’s instrumental role in the CRD’s decision to undertake the development of the Regional Housing Affordability Strategy, the development of the Terms of Reference for the Strategy the development of the Strategy itself (particularly through member participation on the Steering and Advisory Committees and at workshops), and implementation of the recommendation re: the Regional Housing Trust Fund.
- HAP’s raising of public, stakeholder, and local government awareness and understanding of housing affordability (including individual and community health and economic impacts) through presentations, meetings with key stakeholders/ decision makers, the media, web site, and Housing Affordability Week.
- HAP’s support of a number of proposed developments through the zoning process e.g. a 23 unit Women's Transition House in Saanich and the conversion of the Jolly Knight Motel on Gorge Road to a unique apartment building designed for single men.
- HAP’s facilitation of housing affordability projects by bringing potential partners together and identifying opportunities for increasing supply.
- HAP’s advice to local government on policies and practices to encourage housing affordability (e.g. adaptable housing, secondary suites, and density).
