Bowen’s problems with affordable housing are chronic and well-documented and, despite the efforts of many over many years, a solution has not been found. A new advocacy group hopes to change that.
This weekend a new group is being introduced to islanders, Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing, one that has tasked itself with helping to create more affordable housing on island. BIRCH will host its meeting at March 17, 2 p.m., at the Belterra Common House.
A communication release on their website (birchousing.org) notes that BIRCH’s purpose is “to develop and manage affordable housing on Bowen.”
Architect Robyn Fenton is the acting executive director of the registered non-profit organization. From Richmond, B.C., Fenton has been living on Bowen for more than three years.
She told the Undercurrent this week that she cared about affordable housing before coming here and her desire to be a part of creating an entity here like BIRCH is an extension of that. She added that affordable housing became an issue for her, too, when she first moved over.
“I rented when I first arrived on Bowen,” she said. “And soon found out myself how difficult it was to find a rental, never mind an affordable/reasonably priced rental.”
She investigated housing on island and met Tim Wake, who has been involved with efforts to increase affordable housing here. Fenton heard from Wake and others, and did her own research, and learned about the work that has been done before and how badly affordable housing was needed here.
She has her own architect company, ReForma Architecture, and has done what she called “minor renovation” work on homeless shelters for the Salvation Army, and has other experience, and felt she could contribute. That lead to her doing groundwork and forming BIRCH.
Members of the volunteer board for BIRCH listed on the website include Wake along with the general manager of the Whistler Housing Authority, Marla Zucht, John Sorensen of Victoria Fine Homes in Victoria and Tom Matzen, an entrepreneur and speaker.
The group doesn’t simply want to tell Bowen about who they are, Fenton says they hope also to hear from locals at the gathering. They plan on the event being an interactive one with islanders sharing what they feel a non-profit housing society should work to accomplish on Bowen Island.
To that end, on March 17 at 2 p.m. Fenton and BIRCH will facilitate brain storming on potential projects, funding avenues and on what the role of BIRCH should be in the community, and on other issues.
Fenton said the meeting is open to everyone with an interest in affordable housing.
