About BCHC
This initiative aims to establishing the Black Communities Technical Housing Resource Centre (BCHC)
This community-led initiative aims at establishing the Black Canadian Housing Centre (BCHC). BCHC purpose is to dismantle barriers, empower Black-led organizations, and foster improved housing outcomes for Black communities across Canada.
This initiative is based on a community-driven approach to increase the organizational capacity of the existing and emergent Black community housing providers and Black community organizations concerned with and willing to act in favour of the development of housing services primarily led, staffed, and managed by Black people and their community organizations.
The BCTHRC’s medium-term goal is to significantly contribute to the capacity of Black communities in creating a sizable and diverse offer of quality and affordable Black community housing stock. This stock would be characterized by a governance structure ensuring its ability to develop, manage and maintain itself and is actively contributing to the general community housing sector across Canada.
Context and Leadership
The need for the BCHC stems from a number of recommendations gathered through a series of CMHC roundtables convened by NABC and other Black-led organizations, engaging Black leaders and the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion. As a response to community advocacy and government relations work, funding for the BCHC was secured from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Government of Nova Scotia, highlighting the importance of governmental support in addressing housing disparities.
The Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC) is leading the implementation of the initiative under the guidance of a national Black Community Advisory Committee (AdCom). AdCom provides ongoing support and play an advisory role crucial to guiding the implementation of this important initiative, ensuring that the BCHC reflects the diversity of housing needs and aspirations across the country. AdCom is currently composed of Black-led organizations such as Hogans Alley Society, Akoma Family Center, Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent, Upper Hammonds Plains Community Lands Trust, CP Planning, Black Planning Project, Green Municipal Fund, African Communities of Manitoba Inc., Maama Watali, and Atlantic Equity and Research Alliance.
The Community Housing Transformation Centre plays an essential role as an allay and acts as the funder for the initiative.