As requested, I am posting the letter that was read on CBC this morning.
If you have thoughts, comments, ideas on how to move forward I would love to hear from you.
I have been listening quite intently to your expose on the housing situation in Cape Breton. From the market squeeze, to the deplorable conditions, it seems that CBRM, like many other Canadian municipalities, is experiencing a disconnect between the housing stock and the liveable housing solutions.
The one subject that has not been covered, and I believe needs to be discussed, is the idea of co-operative housing in Cape Breton.
Non-profit housing co-operatives were started as a response to Canada’s need for affordable housing with resident control.In 1999 there were over 2,000 housing co-ops in Canada with 111,000 members and combined assets of nearly $5.6 billion.
Co-ops are a long term, secure and affordable solution to many housing conundrums.
Not only do they bridge the gap between socially subsidized housing, they give tenants the opportunity to be part of a community within a supportive environment.
Co-ops are self managed, and because of that members gain knowledge, skills and confidence in managing and maintaining their housing community.
So rather than feeling as though they are getting a hand out, they play a part in maintaining every aspect of their living environment, which builds pride, and in broader social sense- it can improve skills, health and confidence.
Coming from Victoria, B.C., the land of million dollar homes and very un-affordable rental situations, I have first hand experience living in, and being part of a housing Co-op.
At the time I was a single parent, working full time and going to school full time.
The housing co-op I was a part of gave me a chance to get on my feet financially, create a support system of babysitters, children for my kids to play with, adults to talk to and even more importantly, a place to truly call home.
It was a place where upward mobility was possible, and even encourage. It was a place where we felt safe and secure. And it was a place that nurtured people from all walks of life.
I see how important family is to Cape Bretoners, and creating housing co-ops is, in a special way, creating family. It is a way of bringing the community together in a positive, and self sufficient way. And I believe that the CBRM is the perfect place to champion a model housing community.
Let’s take some of the buildings that are vacant in the CBRM and return them to life with a little co-operative TLC.
If anyone is interested in exploring the opportunities that remain, these are the people to call.
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia CHF Canada (Tim Welch)
twelch1061@rogers.com 1-800-268-2537
Co-op Housing Federation of Canada
http://www.chfcanada.coop/eng/pages2007/home.asp
Guide To Co-op Housing
http://www.cmhc.ca/en/co/buho/gucoho/
Nova Scotia Co-operative Council
PO Box 1872
Truro, NS
B2N 6C7
Tel.: 902-893-8966
http://www.nsco-opcouncil.ca/
This is the provincial development arm of the co-operative and credit union system
If you have thoughts, comments, ideas on how to move forward I would love to hear from you.
I have been listening quite intently to your expose on the housing situation in Cape Breton. From the market squeeze, to the deplorable conditions, it seems that CBRM, like many other Canadian municipalities, is experiencing a disconnect between the housing stock and the liveable housing solutions.
The one subject that has not been covered, and I believe needs to be discussed, is the idea of co-operative housing in Cape Breton.
Non-profit housing co-operatives were started as a response to Canada’s need for affordable housing with resident control.In 1999 there were over 2,000 housing co-ops in Canada with 111,000 members and combined assets of nearly $5.6 billion.
Co-ops are a long term, secure and affordable solution to many housing conundrums.
Not only do they bridge the gap between socially subsidized housing, they give tenants the opportunity to be part of a community within a supportive environment.
Co-ops are self managed, and because of that members gain knowledge, skills and confidence in managing and maintaining their housing community.
So rather than feeling as though they are getting a hand out, they play a part in maintaining every aspect of their living environment, which builds pride, and in broader social sense- it can improve skills, health and confidence.
Coming from Victoria, B.C., the land of million dollar homes and very un-affordable rental situations, I have first hand experience living in, and being part of a housing Co-op.
At the time I was a single parent, working full time and going to school full time.
The housing co-op I was a part of gave me a chance to get on my feet financially, create a support system of babysitters, children for my kids to play with, adults to talk to and even more importantly, a place to truly call home.
It was a place where upward mobility was possible, and even encourage. It was a place where we felt safe and secure. And it was a place that nurtured people from all walks of life.
I see how important family is to Cape Bretoners, and creating housing co-ops is, in a special way, creating family. It is a way of bringing the community together in a positive, and self sufficient way. And I believe that the CBRM is the perfect place to champion a model housing community.
Let’s take some of the buildings that are vacant in the CBRM and return them to life with a little co-operative TLC.
If anyone is interested in exploring the opportunities that remain, these are the people to call.
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia CHF Canada (Tim Welch)
twelch1061@rogers.com 1-800-268-2537
Co-op Housing Federation of Canada
http://www.chfcanada.coop/eng/pages2007/home.asp
Guide To Co-op Housing
http://www.cmhc.ca/en/co/buho/gucoho/
Nova Scotia Co-operative Council
PO Box 1872
Truro, NS
B2N 6C7
Tel.: 902-893-8966
http://www.nsco-opcouncil.ca/
This is the provincial development arm of the co-operative and credit union system
RSS Feed