National SPRE Accelerator 2025
Location: Guysborough County, NS
Website: https://community-first.ca
Contact: Nancy O’Regan, Chairperson: info@community-first.ca
Mission
The vision of the Guysborough County Affordable Housing Association is communities where there are options for accessible, affordable, culturally appropriate, supported and environmentally sustainable homes available for those in core housing need.
Goals/Purpose:
To consult, research, prioritize, develop, and implement housing projects that meet the needs of citizens so that no one is left behind.
To coordinate and collaborate with partners to address housing issues as they relate to the determinants of health with the aim of ensuring wrap-around services for those in core housing need.
Values:
1. Housing is a human right
2. Listening and learning from communities will provide the passion, insight and direction needed to be successful
3. Striving to treat communities and partners with open-mindedness, respect, and honesty
4. Be non-judgmental, anti-racist, transparent, action-focused, and flexible
5. Commit to value what every person or partner brings to the work
6. Commit to providing clear communication with the communities and partners
Projects
A mixed rental housing development (seniors, individuals and families) with wrap-around services and on-site supports.
In the Accelerator, they will
Develop strategies for organizational governance, policy development, volunteer recruitment; identify aligned partnerships for wrap-around services in developments; and learn how to stack funding, capital investment and fill equity gaps in financing projects. They will also deepen their understanding of affordable home ownership (shared equity or rent-to-own models) and land trusts as part of the long term solution for their community.