Housing seminar reimagines living space

A recent seminar in Abbotsford, B.C., considered how churches can help fellow British Columbians find reasonably priced housing. The November 18 event was hosted by Emmanuel Mennonite Church. The Affordable Housing Task Group of Mennonite Church B.C., formed after the 2023 MCBC AGM, recognized that some church communities are ideally positioned to apply faith-based resources to this critical issue.

Lisa Helps, of B.C. Builds, a program of BC Housing, explained that while most of the focus has been on low-income housing, the government realizes that a different group of people, middle-class essential workers such as nurses and teachers, also have difficulty keeping up with the housing market. BC Builds focuses on finding and partnering with organizations such as churches that have underutilized land. However, she explained, the process from the idea stage to shovels in the ground can take three to five years.

Tim Kuepfer, pastor of Chinatown Peace Church in Vancouver, explained how a group of Mennonites there are exploring how both revitalization and the Vancouver housing crisis could create a “golden opportunity.” They are working on a proposal for a communal living four-storey building on the property of Sherbrooke Mennonite Church. It would maximize shared common living space, combined with traditional apartments. Kuepfer described this as, “Young Mennonites living, serving, worshipping together.”

Participants heard from Rebecca Pousette of the Co:Here Housing Community in Vancouver, a mixed-income apartment building that sits on the former parking lot of Grandview Church. More Than a Roof resource persons Lee Ann Michayluk and Lorne Epp gave in-person input on their faith-based program to provide housing to low- and middle-income seniors, families and singles and to break cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Participants also heard from Peter Andres of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church In-Community Committee, which has explored reimagining the church property to include construction of affordable housing units along with worship space. An original plan to use the former Clearbrook Mennonite Church property for a combined church and living space did not work out for financial reasons.

Several years ago, the church had also proposed building on the existing church property, but the City of Abbotsford did not approve the project because the land was not zoned for high residential use. However, since that time the provincial government’s plans have evolved, and it has cited Abbotsford as one city needing more affordable housing, so the concept is being explored once more. Emmanuel’s plan for a housing unit would include building on its existing property without razing the existing building. Michael Redekop, of Emmanuel, presented figures on how such a housing unit would look, including underground parking and various combinations of living space.

Dan Kyte of GiveWise Foundation, a charitable giving facilitator, explained possible structures of creative funding for affordable housing ventures. He noted that housing costs have risen several times above income over the last years. “What if social ROI (return on investment) and the health of our communities entered our everyday analysis?” he asked.

Participants then had opportunity to ask questions of the presenters and ask, “Where to from here?”