DRAFT: Build Together: A Roadmap...

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DRAFT BUILD TOGETHER: A ROADMAP FOR SUPPORTING THE MOBILIZATION, EMPOWERMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF NOVA SCOTIA’S COMMUNITY HOUSING SECTOR1 Build Together: Strengthening the Community Housing Sector in Nova Scotia The Build Together: Strengthening the Community Housing Sector in Nova Scotia project took place in 2021 and was comprised of four provincial consultations designed to engage members of the community housing sector, which for the purpose of this project was defined as co-operative and other forms of non-profit housing providers as well as housing groups, networks, and coalitions concerned about housing issues in the province. Participants in the project were asked to identify sector strengths, where capacity needs to be built, who it is helpful to connect with, and what changes would better enable the sector to achieve its goals. People were also asked whether they saw value in working together as a sector and if so, what that could look like. Findings from all four consultations (A, B, C, and D) can be found at https://coady.stfx.ca/extension/build-together/ as well as seven thematic briefs that were written based on information shared. Nova Scotia Non-Profit Housing Association A key element of the Build Together Roadmap is the formation of a Nova Scotia Non-Profit Housing Association (NSNPHA) to support the mobilization, empowerment, and sustainability of Nova Scotia’s Community Housing Sector. Throughout the work of Build Together, it became evident that the province’s co-op housing organizations are well served by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada – Atlantic Region (CHF-Atlantic) (https://chfcanada.coop/). Therefore, the development of a NSNPHA - a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors – is proposed to support and be comprised of members who are non-profit housing providers and informal housing groups, networks, coalitions. The NSNPHA will form strategic partnerships at the provincial level to support the work of the sector, and it will convene and support regional housing networks to foster coordination and collaboration throughout the province. The NSNPHA’s responsibilities include: • Adopting and promoting the values and beliefs2 articulated through the Build Together project, • Advancing policy issues, including those illuminated by regional housing networks, • Advocating for the desired changes3 to the community housing sector documented in the Build Together project, • Collaborating with government, • Convening regional housing networks, including First Voice and underrepresented group advisors, • Developing and coordinating programs and services to leverage economies of scale in the sector, • Creating a Management Information System (MIS), • Developing and implementing a communications strategy, • Forming strategic provincial partnerships, • Identifying and communicating funding program information, 1

Please note, the Build Together Model and Roadmap remain conceptual at this point. Partnership discussions have not been initiated with potential collaborators and partners. 2 As articulated throughout the Build Together project, Nova Scotia’s community housing sector believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including First Voice, in the community housing sector; equitable access and opportunity for both rural and urban community housing organizations; ending racism and stigma that limits access to appropriate housing; housing as a human right; and providing navigation and support services to people in housing need. 3 Based on 239 responses (online survey, focus group meeting, online engagement sessions, interviews), the following desired changes to Nova Scotia’s community housing sector were noted: capacity building - 34%, provincial organization and visibility of the sector - 22%, funding - 17%, inclusion of all races, first voice, and human rights – 16%, and policy development – 11%.


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DRAFT: Build Together: A Roadmap... by coadystfx - Issuu