We support non-profit and Indigenous housing societies in preparing for and sustaining successful housing operations by providing hands-on full lifecycle engagement, from initial readiness assessment to ongoing operational support and mentorship.
Providing end-to-end operational support
-
Review of existing operational capacity, including governance, staffing, policies, and administrative systems
Review of existing documentation, including operating agreements, budgets, policies, and job descriptions, to identify gaps against program requirements
Interviews and working sessions with leadership and operations staff to confirm capacity, roles, and internal resourcing
Gap analysis with prioritized recommendations
Development of a customized operational readiness work plan and schedule
-
Review of operating budgets, including analysis of staffing and operations impacts
Review of BC Housing operating agreements and agreement schedules
Governance structure review, including documentation of key roles and responsibilities for both pre/post project occupancy
Start-up budget planning and staff hiring
-
Housing society policy manuals
Property management handbooks covering Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) requirements, move-in/move-out procedures, rent collection, and maintenance requests
Resident/tenant welcome booklets covering roles, supports, policies, emergency information, community resources, and cultural programming
Critical incident frameworks and reporting
Wellness plan processes to support tenants with higher needs
BC Housing operating agreement and financial policy compliance handbooks; covering budgeting, financial reviews, operational reviews, and other key compliance requirements
RTA and tenancy management handbooks covering landlord/tenant rights, eviction procedures, privacy rights, and maintenance obligations
Emergency response and business continuity handbooks, including identification of critical business functions and backup procedures
Preventative maintenance programs, including annual maintenance schedules, inspection checklists, and pest control programs
Records management and confidentiality policies aligned with privacy legislation (PIPA)
Health and safety program development
Procurement and contractor management guidelines
-
Recruitment support for housing-specific positions
Position-specific job description development, onboarding materials, and training packages
Mentorship and job-shadowing arrangements with experienced housing providers
-
Application processing, outreach, and applicant support
Resident selection policy frameworks and tenant selection tools
Community outreach and partnership coordination with service tables, school districts, health authorities, and social service partners
Tenant selection process and waitlist development
Selection panel review and tentative applicant selection
Applicant interviews and needs assessments criteria development
Tenant notifications and lease preparation
Income verification and rent calculation training materials
Coordination of move-ins
-
Pre-opening communications campaigns and building opening event coordination
IT assessment and setup
Operations & maintenance (O&M) manual review and building-specific review and servicing schedules
-
Standby support for day-to-day operational questions
On-site mentorship arrangements with experienced housing societies
Building upon strengths
We take a strengths-based approach to capacity support. This approach recognizes that not for profits are experts on their community and the needs of their organization. We listen deeply, seek to understand the project goals, the unique strengths and challenges of each particular context, and partner with our clients help them build upon their strengths.