Helping non-profits offer climate-ready affordable housing.
Non-profit housing organizations serve as a critical lifeline in BC, providing safe and affordable housing for the region’s residents. Yet, the sector itself is grappling with significant challenges. The province’s non-profit housing stock is aging and needs a considerable investment in maintenance and repairs.
Floods and extreme temperatures brought by climate change are also making it increasingly difficult for housing providers to ensure their residents have a safe and comfortable place to call home. And while access to capital for projects is thought to be the main obstacle to performing climate-friendly retrofits and home upgrades, Vancity’s research revealed other significant barriers.
“Many non-profits have limited organizational capacity to support the often-complex process of planning and implementing retrofits," explains Michelle Bonner, Manager, Community Investment – Climate at Vancity. "There can be a lack of knowledge when it comes to effectively executing deep energy retrofits, which can make it difficult for organizations to use existing funding incentives effectively."
To help solve these barriers, Vancity created a Non-Profit Housing Retrofit Program set out to provide $5 million dollars to support the foundational work in advance of retrofits as well as the retrofit projects themselves.
“Many non-profit retrofit projects get stalled after the retrofit project identification phase because of onerous grant and financing application processes, as well as funding delays," says Michaela Neuberger, Executive Director of Affine Climate Solutions (Affine) - a non-profit focused on building decarbonization and climate resilience strategies.
"The fact that Vancity grants can be used for upfront planning and project management support makes a huge difference. Plus, if the planning stage is covered, organizations can secure additional funding from the federal government, or other sources, for their projects.”
Vancity and Affine formed a partnership to assist program participants that were focused not only on implementing retrofits but also on creating a net-zero strategy for their organization.
One of the organizations that benefited from this partnership was Brightside Community Homes Foundation (Brightside) – a non-profit that provides homes for independent-living seniors, families, and people with disabilities.
“At Brightside we knew we wanted to radically reduce our GHG emissions, but we weren’t sure where to start. We’ve learned so much about what it takes to make a net-zero impact,” shares William Azaroff, Brightside’s CEO.
As part of its net-zero strategy, Brightside will be implementing retrofits at one or two buildings at a time (one is pictured above), while simultaneously scoping and planning for the next ones.
The projected emissions reduction for Brightside’s first two retrofit projects are significant, shares Michaela. Both buildings will see an estimated 97% emissions reduction, equal to 68.8 tonnes and 90.6 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year respectively.
But that’s not all. They’re also making the buildings more comfortable and livable for residents, many of whom are seniors and vulnerable people. Heat pumps, for example, will provide both heating and cooling for a changing climate. Upgrades to windows and patio doors will mean fewer drafts and less noise from outside.
“Brightside’s work has been really inspirational for a lot of other non-profits,” says Michaela. “We have many organizations asking us, ‘Can we do the same?’”
Since 2022, Vancity’s Non-Profit Housing Retrofit Program has supported 20 organizations to plan or implement retrofits benefiting more than 1,659 affordable homes – and was recently recognized with a Canada's Clean50 Top Project Award.
“We really do need the support of partners like Vancity, so non-profits can continue this work without putting the financial burden on tenants,” says William.
When your money is changing the world, you are changing the world.
Join Vancity
