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Ten Ways to Keep and Attract Your Staff, Labour Market Dialogues, January 2009
A Youth Housing Study for BC’s Capital Region, prepared for CAFCA and Threshold Housing Society by the Community Council, July 2008
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March 2009 Lessons from the past - Housing and Homelessness
In the post war period, concerned with the continued housing shortage and cost of rent, the Housing Committee of the Community Welfare Council (now known as the Community Council) undertook an extensive housing study. As the Committee's report noted, "In our survey we have made little of the physical inadequacies of housing in the Victoria district. We have not brought in the many cases where people are crowded together in unhealthful surroundings. The picture is bad enough without that...The chief concern is that people are being forced to pay rents that are too high, and as a consequence are not obtaining the essential food, clothing, and recreation." The Housing Committee recommended the establishment of a Victoria Housing Authority to build subsidized housing and to take over the administration of houses that had been built by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Company after the war. The Committee also recommended that two projects of 1000 units each be built for low and moderate income earners and that these be based on the Regent Park Housing Project in Toronto, (a purpose built neighbourhood for social assistance recipients.) They also suggested that all projects have provision for a shopping centre, a recreation centre, schools, playgrounds, and clubrooms. In 2009, it seems unthinkable to do a poll asking citizens if they have extra rooms and if so – given the current crisis of homelessness – would they be willing to house a person who needs shelter. Likewise, despite the number of rental buildings that have been vacant in this region for many years and despite the increasing number of citizens without shelter, compelling landlords to rent or relinquish these premises is unheard of. In the past, it is interesting that the Housing Committee was concerned not only with the food, clothing and shelter needs of Victorians, but also with their recreational needs. Today, when someone pays more than 30% of their income for housing this is considered "housing affordability stress." In 1949, there was a North America-wide accepted standard that no on should pay more than 20% of their income for housing. What has changed? While food and shelter are still seen as essential, recreation is not. This extra 10% of income that nowadays is supposed to be spent on housing has replaced a model that looks at the essential needs of the whole person, not just what is necessary for bodily survival. Citizens in Victoria have been active in combating this City's housing crisis for sixty years now. These brief snippets from the past might be useful in creating a different kind of present and imagining a different future for all citizens in this region, both the sheltered and shelterless. Lisa Helps is writing her doctoral thesis on the history of homelessness in Victoria and San Francisco. She is an active volunteer with the Victoria Street Newz. She is also currently involved in helping to create the Victoria Citizens' Trust, a citizens' response to the current economic crisis. The Trust will invest in Victoria from non-profits to small businesses; from creative individual endeavours to neighbours in need.
Editorial
"Changing Economic Times"...We hear those words everywhere as businesses, non-profit agencies, families and individuals across the region brace themselves for the looming crisis descending upon us like a cloud of doom on helpless victims. It is important that we remind ourselves that this is not necessarily the case. BC's Capital Region is a resilient and capable community. We have leaders and individuals like Don Storch, a tireless individual and past volunteer for the Community Council who has contributed in so many ways to the community; like Bill McElroy, another individual who has contributed to our Board as well as sitting on the Boards of several other organizations and by contributing his years of experience in management positions. We have reminders from the results of the Happiness Index of what is really important to our well being and how hardy a community we are. And we have other associations like the Victoria Real Estate Board who are actively engaged in quality of life work. In contrast, Lisa Helps' article highlights the history of homelessness and affordable housing in Victoria. She reminds us that this is not the first time we have seen this kind of crisis, in fact, this article challenges us to consider if we have insidiously become desensitized to these issues and instead of dealing with housing stresses and the chronic shortage of affordable housing, we have 'raised the bar' in defining those experiences to mask the magnitude of the issue. Ms. Helps' article highlights that during WWII, a housing study by the Community Welfare Council (now known as the Community Council) found that there were 552 rooms in private dwellings available to the city to help house people. Currently, people have hypothesized that each night in BC's Capital Region, there are more empty than full beds in private dwellings. As we move towards a greener and more sustainable community, does all of this make sense? We lose over 200 rental units every year in our region, many families are teetering on not being able to make ends meet, and even a short term lay off could be the breaking point. Financial stress destroys relationships and families – while another homeless individual or family actually costs more for the tax payer than providing the financial assistance to bridge them to stay in their home. It will take leadership, shedding some basic assumptions and pulling together to address these complex issues. I think that this region is resourceful, has the community leaders, is ahead of many places in Canada in other issues and can and does pull together to make changes. Here at the Community Council, we have been bringing the community together to discuss these issues since 1937. We are obviously in it for the long haul! As the new Executive Director, there are large shoes to fill and a legacy of value driven leadership left by individuals such as Mabel Jean Rawlins. I am honoured to be the new Executive Director and part of the amazing team at the Community Council and to be engaged in the issues that make a difference to the quality of life for everyone in BC's Capital Region.
"Poverty is not a problem for individuals, it is a community problem that we all have a role in resolving," says Patrice Pratt, Chair of Vancity Credit Union. "We need to make the community investment now and have our political parties commit to legislated targets and timelines to reduce poverty and homelessness in BC." To find out more, visit www.bcpovertyreduction.ca .
Local leader receives Order of Canada Don is an outstanding model of a dedicated volunteer. While he has been working closely with us on community projects, he has also been very busy connecting with people all across Canada to further the good work of the Victoria Order of Nurses and other national initiatives. And through it all, he maintains his joy in a healthy life balance - deeply committed to his family, particularly his grandchildren in whom he finds his greatest delight. An exemplary Canadian, he inspires the best in those around him, challenging us to integrity and decency. He calls for clarity in thinking and decision-making. His leadership is far reaching and results in changes that make our community and our country strong and vibrant.
Quality of Life CHALLENGE 2008 - 2011
The Quality of Life CHALLENGE is diverse community partners working together to generate long-lasting solutions that prevent and reduce poverty in BC’s Capital Region. The CHALLENGE has identified 3 priority areas for this phase: increasing sustainable incomes, reducing costs of living and creating learning opportunities. The CHALLENGE is contributing to poverty reduction in BC’s Capital Region, most notably through human resource changes in the workforce. The CHALLENGE employs a range of communications tools to reach businesses, including media campaigns (e.g. Living Wage), case study development (employer CHALLENGE newsletter) and one on one contacts (Labour Market Dialogues). Highlights from 2008 The 2008 Living Wage release contributed to an estimated 1,600 businesses’ decisions to increase wages or benefits, impacting 3,200 employees. This continues to be an area of interest for business in BC’s Capital Region. Many people with addictions identify housing and employment as the two most critical ingredients for successful recovery and a sense of community belonging. The Quality of Life CHALLENGE gathered information from existing research; conversations with landlords successfully housing, and employers successfully employing, people with addictions; and from discussions with people with past or current addictions. This information was compiled in two information guides
Available online at www.qolchallenge.ca. In June 2008, the CHALLENGE conducted a statistically significant survey of randomly selected businesses in BC’s Capital Region to assess their impact. Results were very positive:
The CHALLENGE continues to engage and work collaboratively with other groups working on poverty related issues. The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness.and the CHALLENGE address the continuum of housing issues and solutions for individuals and families who are homeless or in unstable, inadequate housing or who lack access to affordable housing in this region. In October 2008, these two collaborations co-hosted the Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) “Seeing is Believing” Tour in Victoria. Twelve business leaders spent half a day touring facilities and meeting with individuals to see for themselves the issues related to poverty, homelessness and adequate, affordable housing for families and what actions need to be taken. The effectiveness of corporate community investment is increased as executives see and hear about the complexity of the problems first-hand and understand the implications and emerging opportunities for improved business engagement and support. Moving into 2009 A three-year business plan has identified strategies, initiatives and a financial plan for Phase Two of the CHALLENGE. In 2008, the Leadership Roundtable confirmed that accessing adequate resources to support a full time staff person at this time was not feasible. Therefore, the Leadership Roundtable and Community Council Board of Directors have decided that the CHALLENGE will be a strategic business initiative of the Community Council and Community Council staff will continue to provide leadership and services to support the important work of the CHALLENGE. The CHALLENGE Leadership Roundtable is committed to reducing costs of living in the Capital Region, including housing. The Workforce Housing Initiative engages employers and decision makers who are concerned about labour shortages, in ongoing discussions on policy and strategies to improve housing affordability for the workforce in this region. The Quality of Life CHALLENGE, and two other BC-based poverty reduction initiatives, Vibrant Surrey and Vibrant Abbotsford, are working together to identify areas where they can strengthen their impact and develop strategies to inform public policy. The Business Plan outlines a range of projects and initiatives that will transform BC’s Capital Region through preventing and reducing poverty and improving our overall quality of life. For more info: www.qolchallenge.ca .
Victoria Realtors® committed to 'quality of life' at home and in the community
“Through the work we do during the year in support of the Community Council initiatives and through our own ‘Quality of Life’ principles adopted in June 2005, Victoria Real Estate Board continues to make valuable contributions to our 1,300 member REALTORS®, to our employees and to the community at large,” says Chris Markham, 2009 President of the Victoria Real Estate Board. Markham notes that from a REALTOR® perspective, ‘Quality of Life’ means focusing on things the Board and its members can do through our community involvement that helps (1) support economic vitality in our region; (2) support the concept of housing for all in our communities; (3) contribute to a sustainable environment; (4) protect property owners by helping to protect investment in people’s homes; and (5) build better communities through support for infrastructure. “Over the past three years, our Quality of Life initiatives have sometimes been confused with the ‘Quality of Life CHALLENGE’ in Greater Victoria,” Markham admits. “However the goals of the ‘CHALLENGE’ to help reduce poverty fit nicely with our goals at the Victoria Real Estate Board to improve our overall surroundings and livability on Southern Vancouver Island.” Employees and professional REALTOR® members at the Victoria Real Estate Board have been involved over the past three years in a variety of community projects:
“The Victoria Real Estate Board also strives to be a positive and fulfilling place to work for our 18 employees”, says Glenn Terrell, Executive Officer. “We certainly like to think of ourselves as an equal opportunity employer and take the welfare of our staff seriously in all our planning.” Terrell notes, “In the last year we’ve added a monthly distribution of an electronic newsletter through our Employee Assistance Program on life skills to our HR activity list. Employees can read about and get assistance on a wide variety of topics along with support and online resources.” The VREB is also generous in providing employees with three weeks holiday in their first year with the Board, a retirement plan provision whereby contributions are made to employees’ Registered Retirement Savings Plans along with generous extended health and other benefits. Terrell added that, “In 2008 we also strived to involve all who work here in ‘Going Green’ by offering prizes for office suggestions on recycling and other activities. We also give an extra day off for those employees who donate a day’s pay to the annual United Way fund-raising campaign.” Jim Bennett is a member of the Community Council Board of Directors. He is the Government Relations Coordinator with the Victoria Real Estate Board and is actively involved in identifying housing opportunities in this region as chair of the Housing Action Team of the Capital Regional District.
How can happiness be measured? Traditional measures of community well-being include levels of poverty, wealth, chronic illness, employment, crime, homelessness, and more. However, there is a fresh new approach to measuring community well-being – by measuring citizen happiness. In BC’s Capital Region, the Partners for the Well-Being of Greater Victoria (Community Council, City of Victoria, CRD, United Way of Greater Victoria, University of Victoria, Victoria Foundation, Vancouver Island Health Authority) have undertaken an initial wellness study. This study is the first of its kind in Canada and joins a growing trend around the world to view wellness as a critical component to successful, vibrant communities where the aspirations of individuals are valued, their needs addressed and their engagement in community affairs encouraged and facilitated. Wellness is not simply a measure of our physical health but includes all aspects of our community that we use every day. Sponsors of this study believe our wellness is reflected by how satisfied we are with our community and our place in it – with where we live, work and play. More information: www.victoriafoundation.bc.ca
Workplace Wellness at the Community Council With leadership from Tricia Irish, Mary Katharine Ross and Stephanie Gabel, the Community Council staff team explored workplace wellness. The intent was not to change but to improve upon successes already in place at the Community Council, to build on existing activities and understandings of a common vision of wellness in our workplace. The Community Council definition of wellness includes Personal Wellness: ie. body, mind and spirit –things that are in personal domains but that come to work with you, or are expressed at work Workplace Wellness: work is maintained at challenging and sustainable levels – and includes qualities such as options for breaks when needed, productive work environments (ergonomics, lighting, heating, appropriate computer hardware and software, etc.), working within limits, clear communication channels, celebration of accomplishments. Workplace wellness also includes the ideals of support towards each employee’s best potential in management, leadership or individual growth. Work-Life Balance: a basic attitude of the workplace and the individuals that people have lives outside of the workplace that come with them to work and that we have flexibility in this area to the extent that is possible. Support for work-life balance in the workplace is also a support of each employee’s best potential in both their work life and personal life. Wellness values include flexibility for work-life balance and support to rest when sick (including paid sick days); environmental, economic and social/personal concerns; physical space such as having a functional, welcoming and “green” office environment; economic benefits related to wellness, such the employer’s contribution to employee’s RRSP and health benefits; emotional support and support during stressful work periods, humour, staff meetings, check-ins at staff meetings, and recognition of accomplishments. On-going monitoring of workplace wellness happens informally, and is formalized by check-ins at staff meetings. Interested in finding out more, or assessing wellness in your workplace? Contact info@communitycouncil.ca.
Check out the new website and let us know what you think – www.communitycouncil.ca Need help with your website? Contact us –info@communitycouncil.ca.
Unsung Hero Award and Celebration
An unsung hero is a skilled, dedicated and diligent person who has served the larger community long and well but has never won the headlines. Their contributions within “social profit organizations,” (otherwise known as non-profits) deserve to be better known, more fully appreciated and publicly applauded – because they will inspire the rest of us. The Unsung Heroes Award is an initiative of First Unitarian Church of Victoria and the Community Council, a non-profit organization providing leadership to bring the community together to create a sustainable quality of life for everyone in BC's Capital Region. This annual award acknowledges and celebrates the work of one from surely a number of deserving citizens within BC’s Capital Region, someone whose unusual service to the community over time reflects the principles of both the First Unitarian Church of Victoria and the Community Council. We are partners in the presentation of this annual celebration because of these shared values and because there are so many deserving but unsung heroes. The 2009 Unsung Hero is Gordon Harper, now Executive Director of the Umbrella Society for Addictions and Mental Health. But he started at the bottom 20 years ago. At some point back then, after days of drinking alone in his apartment, a family member knocked on his door. A drunk and unkempt Gordon turned her away. But she returned and when Gordon opened the door, his cousin Marilyn said to him “This has to stop. What are we going to do about it?” Having someone say “we” moved Gordon to start down that hard road to recovery. At the core of Gordon’s work is that “we” statement. He believes everyone needs a “we.” Having been there, he wants to help people, wherever they are in their addiction, walk with them through their journey of recovery. And he is passionate about it. The Umbrella Society has a working board of directors and a staff of four. You will find Gordon and his staff all over Victoria, meeting people in coffee shops, hospitals, the detox facility, recovery houses, shelters, their homes. Wherever they are at, Umbrella will support them. That’s the account you will hear from others at the 27 March celebration dinner. A good news story from a pain-filled, haunted world. Click here for your invitation to the Unsung Hero Award and Celebration, Friday March 27, 2009.
The Quality of Life CHALLENGE and the Community Council gratefully acknowledge the support of their sponsors and donors. Please click below to see these listings: Quality of Life CHALLENGE supporters
We are concerned about your privacy The Community Council and Quality of Life CHALLENGE take your privacy seriously. To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, simply click the links below.
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In Victoria during the Second World War, newspaper articles exposed the plight of "homeless war workers" and their families. One response to the housing shortage was to conduct a survey in order to determine the number of spare rooms in private dwellings that could be used to house war workers. In June 1943 the Victoria Times noted that the survey revealed there were 552 rooms available in the city. However, those with extra rooms weren't compelled to house the homeless workers. Yet by 1945, with Victoria still in the midst of a housing crisis, the Times reported that Mayor George backed billeting as an emergency measure. Billeting was not made mandatory at the time, but by the fall of 1945 the City did compel landlords whose buildings were vacant to rent these premises within 30 days. 
The Community Council joined more than 200 signatories in an Open Letter to British Columbia Political Parties to develop a comprehensive poverty reduction plan with reduction targets and timelines. "Too many people in our community are vulnerable," says Michael McKnight, President & CEO of the United Way of the Lower Mainland. "We know that poverty hits children and seniors especially hard. Resilient families living in healthy, caring and inclusive communities provide the social infrastructure we need for all of us to be successful."
Donald William (Don) Storch, long-time member of the Community Council and the Quality of Life CHALLENGE, has been named as a recipient of the Order of Canada. Governor General Michaëlle Jean presents the Order of Canada to nominated citizens as recognition of a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Community Council was honoured to write a letter to support Don's nomination. 
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