Building Connected, Resilient Communities Through Multi-Unit Housing

In partnership with SFU’s Hey Neighbour Collective, Happy Cities, and the Cities of Burnaby and New Westminster — and with funding from BC Healthy Communities’ PlanH Program — we’re advancing a project to implement and test policies that promote social well-being through multi-unit housing design. 

This project builds on Hey Neighbour Collective and Happy Cities’ Building Social Connections work, which influenced Metro 2050’s requirement for municipalities to foster social connectedness in multi-unit housing. The goals of this work include improving mental health by fostering neighbourly interaction and belonging, strengthening climate resilience and preparedness for disruptions, and supporting family-and child-friendly design for a best start in life.

Through policy analysis, implementation (including post-occupancy evaluations and design guideline updates), and knowledge sharing, we’ll create a roadmap for local government across B.C. to scale inclusive, age-friendly, and climate-resilient communities.