Tenant Involvement In Social Housing Governance - Best Practices around the World

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Application ID: 001218
This project is available.
Project Description
Project Title
Tenant Involvement In Social Housing Governance - Best Practices around the World
What is the central research question you want answered?
What are the objectives of your project?
Outline and investigate best practices from around the world and steps to achieving meaningful tenant involvement in decision making in a non profit social housing setting.
To create a step by step program to increase tenant involvement in governance and decision making both at the housing site and on a larger scale – a Federation of Tenant Associations and possibly sitting as a voting member of the MVHC Housing Board.


Project Type
Computer Related     
Creative     
Formal Research     
 Organizational Development     
Survey     
Other  
Size of Project (Number of pages, minutes, cm, etc.)
10 - 12 pages (flexible)

Project Description (Use this space to further elaborate on the project)
2 Phases:
1st Phase - Research and find best practices in housing management and governance, particularly as applied to building social capacity through organized tenant associations in housing sites.

2nd Phase - Write a formal report outlining organizations and models researched and recommendations on best practices to achieve measurable and meaningful tenant involvement in social housing governance.
How do you plan to use the results of this project?
Results will be shared with the Metro Vancouver Housing Corp. (MVHC) Board, Metro Vancouver Regional District senior staff and MVHC housing staff and implemented throughout the housing sites.
What larger goal is served by undertaking this project?
Providing opportunities for self governance in a tenant/landlord scenario will enhance the lives of those involved and offer opportunities for those on limited incomes to gain skills and become active citizens and to achieve the benefits of meaningful citizen engagement, which will benefit society as a whole.

The Organization
Organization Name
Metro Vancouver Housing Corp (MVHC) - a non profit housing provider wholly owned by the MVRD (Metro Vancouver Regional District). MVHC is responsible for fifty plus housing sites in 11 municipalities of the lower mainland. We are responsible for property management as per Operating Agreements with either federal or provincial levels of government for each housing site.
What community do you represent or work with?
MVHC is responsible for fifty plus housing sites in 11 municipalities of the lower mainland. We are responsible for property management as per Operating Agreements with either federal or provincial levels of government for each housing site.MVHC social housing sites: Vancouver (14), North Vancouver (4), Burnaby (3), Coquitlam (6), Port Coquitlam (1), Port Moody (2), Maple Ridge (1), New Westminster (3), Surrey (6), Richmond (9) and Delta (2).

What is your organization/group's goal or mandate?
Our mandate is to provide affordable housing for low to middle income families, seniors and people of all abilities. Our income is generated from rents; either Low End of Market or Subsidized (rent geared to income). The terms of the operating agreements stipulate the amount of subsidy dollars received each year.

Are you a registered not-for-profit?
No
Contact Information
Contact Person
Ulryke Weissgerber
  
Position
Tenant Programs & Services
Mailing Address
17th Floor, 4330 Kingsway Burnaby BC V5H 4G8
Telephone
604-451-6141
Fax
604-436-6900
Email
ulryke.weissgerber@metrovancouver.org
 
Alternate Telephone
Cell 604-315-2434
Alternate Fax
 
Alternate Email
 
Project Plan of Action
Duration of Project
Smaller (One semester)
If you know the duration more specifically, please indicate here
2 Phases – Phase 1 devoted to research; Phase 2 devoted to compiling information writing report along with recommended actions.
What are the specific deliverables that you expect of the student?
To write a report on the best practices in tenant involvement in social housing around the world and within that context to develop step by step plan on achieving meaningful involvement.

Estimated time commitment per week
4 hours
Liaison
Liaison Name
Ulryke Weissgerber
  
Liaison Position
Tenant Programs & Services
Liason Contact Info (If different from above)
 
How much time per week will the
liaison be available to the project?
2 hours
How will the liaison provide direction and support to the project?
By meeting at regular intervals; by being available by cell phone; by being available by email

Student Researcher
Student area of study/experience
Sustainable Community Development, Communications, Sociology/Anthropology, Human Geography, and Women Studies.
Student skills/attributes
- a progressive socially conscious approach to research
- thorough conduction of research
- concise recommendations
- understanding and/or experience with community development
Student related interests
- tenant rights
- housing issues
- inclusive participatory governance

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