Download the BCHA Spring Newsletter 2009 (PDF - 16 MB)

The spring newsletter featured several articles, including:

• Gnome Houses Spring Up Out of Nowhere - about the four small houses created by students at Emily Carr University of Art and Design on the theme of affordability, which were on display on Bowen Island
• Dash for Cash - about preparations for the 15th Annual Bowen Island Run for the Ferry event on August 29, 2009.
• What Has the BCHA Accomplished So Far?
• BCHA’s Annual Membership Fair
• Social Housing for Citizens in Greatest Need
• Homeless to Me Means Without a Roof, Living Rough
• A Message from the President of BCHA
• Bowen Island Housing Affordability Update

The Bowen Community Housing Association would like to thank our new board members Amanda Euringer, Daniel Heald and Tim Rhodes for joining our team.  Each of these new board members brings a varied and substantial amount of expertise to the BCHA. We look forward to their involvement and continued commitment to the housing needs of the island. I would also like to thank our amazing returning board members, Stephanie Legg, Roger McGillivray, Richard Best, Bob McGilvray and Gordon Reid.

While BCHA has achieved much by way of awareness for housing needs and accomplished much regarding affordable housing policies through the Bowen Island Municipality, the most difficult work of all is yet to come. Our board will continue to focus building on public education and awareness, fund raising through the Run for the Ferry and most importantly land acquisition.

The BCHA has made the decision to change our AGM dates from November to June for convenience reasons and therefore our membership year will be July 1, 2009 to June 31, 2010. Membership renewal is very important to keep our objectives present in our community. Membership renewals for 2008 are due and we thank you for your continued support.

Our community needs affordable housing options for everyone and with your help we can make a difference.

We, as an association, look forward to new ideas and incentives in order to provide housing options for Bowen Islanders.

Together we can make it happen,

Robin Burger, Chair, Bowen Community Housing Association Contact us at info@bowenhousing.org

In British Columbia, provincial elections are held every four years. Your vote is an opportunity to tell the province that affordable and non-profit housing matters to you. In preparation for the upcoming provincial election on Tuesday, May 12th, BCNPHA has put together this toolkit to help you put affordable and non-profit housing on the provincial agenda. It contains:

1)     Housing fact sheets (PDF);
2)     A list of questions you can ask your local candidates (PDF);
3)     A letter you can give to your tenants, encouraging them to vote (MS Word); and
4)     Party leader contact information.

Watch your mailbox in the coming weeks for your Where to Vote information card, and check out www.elections.bc.ca for information on candidates, political parties, and electoral districts. In the meantime, when a candidate comes to your door - tell them affordable and non-profit housing matters to you! Ask them what they will do to make affordable housing a priority in your community.

How you can help? Here are some things you can do to help bring affordable housing to the forefront of the provincial agenda:

• Write, e-mail, or call your local candidates to tell them why affordable and non-
  profit housing is important to you.
• Attend all-candidates’ meetings in your riding and ask questions.
• Question candidates on their views on affordable and non-profit housing at
  public forums or through the media.
• Make sure your tenants know how to vote. Give your tenants information on
  the importance of housing in your community, so that they too can ask
  questions of the candidates.
• Display non-partisan posters in your building encouraging people to vote.
• And don’t forget to vote for candidates who support the development and
  retention of affordable and non-profit housing in your community!

BC Non-Profit Housing Association
303 - 3680 E. Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC  V5K 2A9
P: 604-291-2600 F: 604-291-2636
Toll Free in BC: 1-800-494-8859
www.bcnpha.ca

Across B.C., general elections are held every three years for mayors, councillors, regional district directors, and school board trustees. There are many simple things your municipality can do to support the development and preservation of affordable and non-profit housing in your community. In preparation for the upcoming municipal elections on Saturday, November 15th, BCNPHA has put together this toolkit to help you put affordable and non-profit housing on the local agenda. It contains:

1) Housing fact sheets
Housing fact sheets (MS Word document)

2) A list of questions you can ask your local candidates
A list of questions you can ask your local candidates (MS Word document)

Community members came together at the Forum on June 24th, 2007 to share ideas on ways to bring affordable housing to Bowen and help shape the strategy document. Margaret Eberle, social planning and housing research consultant, presented highlights of the Housing Needs Assessment completed in May, and then led the participants in an exploration of goals and actions for Bowen Island.

Here are links to reports and materials for the conference…

It’s Your Turn” - Housing Strategy Comments Form (PDF)

Forum Directions (PDF)

Forum Powerpoint Presentation Part One (Powerpoint)

Forum Powerpoint Presentation Part Two (Powerpoint)

Forum Program (PDF)

BCHA Forum Article (PDF)

Housing Forum Ad (PDF)

Affordable Housing Strategies (PDF)

Affordable Housing (PDF)