The Church and Affordable Housing, by CityGate Leadership Forum

We know that housing unaffordability has become a growing issue that drives people away from our neighbourhoods. Yet we also know the importance of having a place to call home. We believe the church has a role in fostering a sense of home and belonging. In this context, how can followers of Christ creatively foster affordable housing options?

This one day event is part of the ongoing Missional Leadership Certificate offered through St. Andrews Hall at UBC. The Missional Leadership certificate provides a visioning exercise for congregation cohorts that explores a deeper understanding of our secular culture, imagination for ways to form a thicker and more porous shared life, and collective responses to issues like housing unaffordability, poverty, racial injustice and the climate crisis. Because housing has become such a pressing need and interest, for this day only, we have partnered with CityGate Leadership Forum and the Co:Here Foundation to open up registration to groups outside the program.

The cost for this event is $20 per person, or $40 for groups of 3 or more from the same church. We encourage you to register as a group as this will allow you to imagine possibilities together and thereby move further towards your own responses as a community.

This event is hosted in Vancouver, the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.

Outcomes of the day

• Articulate a theology of place that can shape your church’s involvement in housing as an expression of your mission
• Hear stories of various approaches other churches are taking to address housing issues in their neighbourhoods and to create homes
• Consider next steps for your own context

Joining a virtual event

This event will be held virtually through Zoom videoconference. For security reasons, we will not publish the meeting information. You will receive details for the Zoom meeting and further instructions on how to join when you register.

On the agenda

1. “Building a Theology of Place: Why Place Matters”

Lecture by Tim Dickau, CML Associate for the Certificate in Missional Leadership

2. Interview series exploring three creative options for housing and homes in Vancouver

Co:Here Housing, a building with 26 homes designed for community living on a former parking lot

Kinbrace, which provides homes and support for refugee claimants

Inhabiting a common city block with Erin Peters, Rebecca Pousette, and Michael Guenter

3. “From Liability to Asset: The common barriers to development and how to overcome them”

Presentation by Dave Harder, Principal Consultant of Parish Properties

4. Considering next steps in creating homes in your own context

Conversation facilitated by Michael Guenter, Co:Here Foundation Chair and Rebecca Pousette, Co:Here Foundation Project Manager

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-church-and-affordable-housing-tickets-125680980195