Online Learning Events
OLE Pathway: General

Covid-19 Recovery and Preparing for Future Crises

The Role of Social Resilience and Connectedness in Multi-unit Rental Housing

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.

Some are calling Covid-19 the ‘great revealer.’ Amongst the MANY things the pandemic is revealing are the primacy of adequate and affordable housing in a public health crisis; the importance of knowing your neighbours and having strong social connections to lean on; and inequities in access to safe space for activities that support health and well-being.

Join three partners in the Hey Neighbour Collective to learn about:

  • Benefits they’re seeing as they deal with Covid-19 from prior investments in community-building and resident engagement.
  • What they plan to focus on as we slowly – and unevenly – move into the “recovery” period.
  • What might work during a prolonged time of physical distancing to safely and responsibly re-engage in efforts to build social connectedness and resilience amongst residents.

Details

Date:

July 17, 2020

Time:

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Cost:

Free

Member Cost:

Free

Who should attend

Building managers, property managers, landlords, other rental housing support staff (both supportive housing models and independent housing models). Municipal staff, emergency planners, health authority staff and others interested in affordable housing and the importance of social connectedness and resilience are also very welcome to join.

What you will learn

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Contemplate the benefits of undertaking intentional  community-building programs with residents..
  • Consider opportunities to foster social resilience as part of COVID recovery: new ideas and strategies for moving beyond ‘lockdown’ mode and into safe ways of fostering social connectedness amongst residents.

Presenters

Sarah Hunn is the Emergency Management Community Liaison with the City of Victoria where she is responsible for public outreach around emergency preparedness. This outreach focuses on community connectedness and everyday readiness to create disaster-resilient communities.

She has a BSc in Geography and minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria and Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management from Sheridan College. Starting as a volunteer, Sarah is the team lead of the VictoriaReady Cyclist Response Team, a unique group of skilled volunteers who train to respond after a damaging earthquake.

Along with emergency management, Sarah is passionate about environmental and social sustainability and believes small everyday decisions can have a big impact.

Maura Chestnutt is VP of Operations and Strategic Initiatives for Catalyst Community Developments Society. As a key member of the senior management team, her focus is to develop workable, innovative, and responsive strategic plans, systems, and processes in order to achieve the organization’s goals.

Maura is keenly committed to community and heads up Catalyst’s “Community Connections” program, which seeks to address issues of social isolation within Catalyst projects.

In her spare time, Maura enjoys spending time designing and rebuilding her house in Hope, where she also enjoys gardening, hiking, kayaking, and exploring.

Liam Griffin is the Communications and Fundraising Manager at Brightside Community Homes Foundation, one of Vancouver’s longest-standing non-profit affordable housing organizations.

As the Communications and Fundraising department lead, Liam builds and implements communications strategies that promote the organization’s mission, support growth and redevelopment initiatives, and strengthen community and stakeholder engagement.

He has also been involved in Brightside’s annual Community Enhancement surveys that assess residents’ happiness and well-being and the responsive initiatives that flow from them to build resilience and community amongst residents.

With deep ties to Vancouver’s progressive Ukrainian Canadian community, Liam is also on the volunteer Board of the Lesya Ukrainka Housing Society.