We’ve compiled answers to the questions we hear most often and grouped them by subject matter. If you don’t see your question answered here, we’d love to hear from you at admin@bcnpha.ca!
The Basics
1. What is the role of BCNPHA?
BC Non-Profit Housing Association helps members in creating and supporting a high standard of affordable housing throughout British Columbia. When our members formed BCNPHA nearly 30 years ago, it was with two goals in mind:
- Deliver evidence-based advocacy for increased investments into affordable housing, at a time when the federal government was withdrawing; and,
- Provide education to non-profit housing providers.
Today, we run major advocacy campaigns that build the case for affordable housing, provide a range of professional services to the sector, and deliver high-quality education through in-person conferences and workshops and online learning events.
2. What is non-profit housing?
Non-profit housing is rental housing that is owned and operated by community-based non-profit societies. The mandates of these societies are to provide safe and secure affordable homes to individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. Most non-profit housing societies receive some form of financial assistance from government to enable them to offer affordable rents. Non-profit housing providers own/operate a broad range of housing types in BC, which include shelters, supportive, transitional, and independent housing.
People who live in non-profit housing include seniors, families, people with disabilities and/or health challenges, women and children leaving violent relationships, and working professionals.
Each society operates independently under the direction of a volunteer board of directors. Most employ staff to manage the day-to-day operations, though volunteers run some smaller societies. Non-profit housing is not public housing.
3. How do I apply for non-profit housing?
BCNPHA does not provide housing services; however, there are several other ways to apply for housing. Contact BC Housing (the provincial housing authority) to begin the process by applying through the Housing Registry, a centralized database of applicant information for housing providers and a single application point for households. The Housing Registry makes it possible for applicants to apply for housing with multiple housing providers by contacting one agency and completing one application form.
Not all non-profit housing providers belong to the Housing Registry, and they manage their own waitlists. Information Services Vancouver also publishes The Red Book, which has a housing section.
4. What is the difference between non-profit housing and co-op housing?
The primary difference between non-profit and co-op housing developments is their governance model. Non-profit housing providers are typically professionally managed by paid staff, and are governed by a volunteer board of directors from the broader community.
Co-op housing is typically managed by a volunteer board drawn from the members of the housing co-op, who are also volunteer governors of the co-op. Some co-ops hire professional property managers, and others do not.
Together non-profit and co-op housing form the community housing sector in British Columbia, with the shared mission of safe and secure housing that everyone can afford.
5. Where do I get information about rental housing data?
The Canadian Rental Housing Index provides a solid, data-driven foundation for policy-making decisions at all levels of government. The Index uses the latest supply and affordability data from the census to measure the health of rental housing across Canada.
BCNPHA also holds an extensive database of non-profit assets. This information can be made available in aggregate form upon request for the purpose of research and housing needs studies.
For more information or guidance on using RHI data or to access our non-profit asset database, please contact research@bcnpha.ca.