Taking action on affordable housing

Study circle used to study affordable housing issue

by Matthew Hoekstra

April 17, 2009 | Richmond Review | Richmond, British Columbia

Housing advocates say there’s been three incidents in three years. Tenants were evicted from Richmond Gardens apartments, Turning Point failed in its bid to build supportive housing and a shortage of shelter beds left homeless on the street in last December’s cold.

Now 200 people are needed to talk about it.

The Richmond Civic Engagement Network has launched a study circles project around the issue of affordable housing.

In a study circle, up to 10 participants, led by an impartial facilitator, use dialogue to drum up ideas and ultimately strengthen democracy. The idea came from Richmond Civic Engagement Network’s Michael Yue, who discovered the practice was widely used elsewhere in the world, but relatively rare in Canada.

Yue found it a great way to start discussions around issues affecting the community—and a way for citizens to take action.

With some funding and support from the community, volunteer facilitators have received a weekend of training, and the first issue for the pilot project—affordable housing—has been selected.

Now the Richmond Civic Engagement Network is looking for anyone with an interest in the topic—regardless of age and ethnicity—to participate and express their opinions in a safe environment.

“We want really a wide range of participants,” said co-ordinator Judy Peterson. “It’s for that person who does not feel comfortable in a large venue, and many people don’t.”

Ideas generated will be funnelled to a larger action forum, whose findings will be made available to those with an interest, such as the city.

“We are under no illusion that this is going to solve the problem. Study circles will be used in this case just to bring people together,” said Peterson.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/richmond_southdelta/richmondreview/community/43135767.html

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