Finding solutions to labour challenges in the non-profit housing sector

Share your insights through the Labour Market Challenges and Solutions Study

Throughout the province’s non-profit housing sector, housing societies face labour-market recruitment and retention challenges, and training gaps. In an effort recommend solutions, we are seeking to hear directly from organizations experiencing these issues.

BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA), with funding from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills’ Sector Labour Market Partnerships Division, is conducting a critical research initiative throughout 2025. The Labour Market Challenges and Solutions Study in-person focus groups will gather insights from housing societies and other non-profit housing sector knowledge holders.

Finding Solutions

To gather these valuable insights, BCNPHA is hosting in-person, regional focus groups at our 2025 Regional Education, Networking and Tradeshow (RENT) events. The event schedule is: 

The focus-group sessions will explore: pathways into BC’s non-profit housing workforce; training and skills gaps; and staff recruitment and retention challenges and solutions. 

The information gathered through this research will play a critical role in informing recommendations for professional-development and training programs that can better address the labour needs of the non-profit housing sector in BC. The information will also help housing societies in BC, so they are better-positioned to recruit and retain qualified staff.   

Your organization’s participation will help to ensure the solutions and recommendations resulting from this study are practical and effective in addressing the workforce challenges facing the sector.    

How to participate

The focus-group sessions are for: executives, board members, and people involved in recruitment at housing societies in BC; employees in the sector; funders and policy-makers; and those working for organizations providing on-site supports to people living in non-profit housing in BC. 

Each attending housing society will receive a $100 honorarium per participant in recognition of their valuable contributions to this study. Registration is limited to two individuals per organization.    

Participants’ contributions to the study will only be reported at the aggregate level and quotes will not be attributed to a particular participant or organization. Consent forms will be emailed in advance to registered participants. 

Your voice matters

We believe that together, we can address the challenges we face and build a stronger, more resilient workforce to support our sector’s mission. Your voice is essential in this process, and we hope you will join us in this important conversation. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.  

To register for the in-person regional focus groups, please visit the RENT web page. The page lists when online registration opens for each event, and includes links to the event registration websites once they are active. If you aren’t already, you can also subscribe to BCNPHA emails to receive notification once registration opens for the event in your region. We will also host a virtual session in Fall 2025 for any housing societies that could not attend the in-person sessions but want to participate in the consultations – details to be announced.

Related Links

Get more information about the Labour Market Challenges and Solutions Study.

Project Overview
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FAQ for Focus Groups
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Focus Group Details
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