Our History

BCNPHA started with 150 members, the infoLINK magazine, and our first conference.

We created the Member Services department to enhance programs and services for our members.

The new Education department was created to deliver industry-leading professional development opportunities that continue to strengthen our sector.

Our new full-time research department distributed 5,100 Tenant Starter Kits, partnered with the BC Society of Transition Houses on a multi-year investigation into housing barriers for women leaving violence, and an asset analysis project that collected data on 60,000+ units and connected hundreds of housing providers with capital project funding.

Using data provided by non-profit housing providers through our asset analysis project, we built the case for new investments into energy conservation in the non-profit housing sector and created the Asset Management department to help the sector implement energy-efficiency retrofit projects that reduce energy use and lower costs.

We added to our webinar series with the launch of HousingU, BCNPHA’s suite of modular learning opportunities, to support the sector with learning that fits your busy schedules. And we re-invented and expanded our Regional Education, Networking & Tradeshow (RENT) events to bring regional-focused learning and networking to all corners of the province with accessible, one-day events.

The Canadian Rental Housing Index provided detailed data on housing affordability in over 100 jurisdictions across the country, informing housing policy, funding strategies, community planning and more. With the release of the Affordable Housing Plan for BC in 2017 we used RHI data to create a 10-year roadmap to help end the affordable housing and homelessness crisis, and directly influence provincial government policy.

We celebrated the 25th annual conference and welcomed more than 1,300 delegates to our largest Housing Central Conference to date, where we celebrated a renewed sense of energy and purpose in creating a future in which everyone has access to an affordable home.

Taking a new affordable housing development from inspiration to open doors is a complex process. We expanded our sector support with Build Homes Not Barriers – tools and resources for non-profit housing societies to engage effectively with their neighbours for successful rezoning decisions and welcoming communities.

Our growing Asset Management department delivered unprecedented energy-saving projects, including 95 building condition assessments, 243 energy audits, and 32 capital plans. We connected non-profit housing providers with more than $1.6 million in rebates and incentives to help them save money on retrofit projects. And we created the Property Manager Forum, a chance for asset management staff to connect, share challenges, and trade knowledge and ideas to build more effective solutions.

The onset of a global pandemic resulted in new ways of working and expanded services to support the sector. We created Regional Roundtable meetings to help members stay connected, advocated on the sector’s behalf for help in meeting a wide range of new challenges, reinvented our RENTs and Housing Central Conference to successful virtual events, and provided current resources to help the sector stay up-to-date on COVID-19 regulations and government support programs.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic we are set for growth in our learning, research, advocacy, and member support. The Asset Analysis survey is in full swing, and we launched our streamlined Housing Job Match site dedicated to careers in the non-profit housing sector. We’re delivering more online learning opportunities than ever, with new topic areas that meet the sector’s emerging challenges. Our lineup of Member Programs and asset management services is growing to help you save money and operate efficiently in more areas.