Enabling Housing Choice North

The Enabling Housing Choice North (EHC North) project, part of RDN’s Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI), will work with rural communities in northern Alberta to better understand the housing landscape in that area of the province. The EHC North project is a continuation of the original Enabling Housing Choice (EHC) Project, which was launched in November 2021 and finalized in October 2024.

About the Project

What is Enabling Housing Choice North? 

The initial EHC project sought to understand the local housing landscape in rural communities across Alberta. It examined rural housing barriers, challenges and opportunities, then developed solutions with the community to address them. The methodology, findings and solutions for this original research are summarized in the Guidebook to Diversifying Housing in Rural Communities, available on the Rural Development Network (RDN) website. 

Since the most northerly community in the original EHC project was only about a hundred kilometers northwest of Edmonton, the EHC team wanted to examine and better understand the rural housing landscape in a more northerly context. This time, therefore, the focus is on Northern Alberta Rural Communities – EHC North

Using a similar research process, the EHC team is building on the original EHC findings by expanding the research around housing barriers, challenges and opportunities into northern rural communities. Again, the findings will be used to develop solutions with the partner communities that will address their unique local housing needs, essentially through enabling more housing choice and diversity in the community. Then, the EHC North findings and solutions will be used to augment the Guidebook to Diversifying Housing in Rural Communities.

Benefits and Outcomes of the EHC North Project:

The EHC North project is being generously funded by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF). The Project was made official in August 2024, launched in September 2024, and will be completed by the end of March 2026. 

Relevant Resources

June 18, 2024

Guidebook to Enabling Housing Choice in Rural Alberta Communities

Enabling Housing Choice, Housing

Diversifying Housing in Rural Communities is meant to assist rural areas both in Alberta and across Canada in examining their local housing landscape and then using that information to update local policies, bylaws and processes, so that diverse housing development may be enabled in their community.

View

November 1, 2022

Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing 

Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice

The purpose of the Step-By-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing is to be a resource for individuals and groups who want to develop, build, and operate affordable rental housing. The 2nd Edition of the Guide was developed with support from the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), […]

View

April 1, 2022

Enabling Housing Choice Reports 

Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice, Housing

Research for driving transformational, long-term policy change that encourages housing choice and diversity in communities. Click the buttons below to view more.

View

Related Services

Our team of housing experts are here to boost your capacity and make housing projects a reality. 

The Affordable Housing Course

This Affordable Housing Course brings together tools and resources from across Canada that apply to anyone interested in the affordable housing development process. Each module is filled with interactive learning tools and can be completed at your own pace. The Affordable Housing Course will guide you through the following development phases: Length: Asynchronous and Self-Paced. […]

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Affordable Housing Pre-Development Services

We help communities, municipalities and organizations overcome barriers to make affordable housing a reality. 

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Get Support

Our dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to help them thrive. Connect with us to explore how we can work with you.

About the Project

Working directly with communities in Alberta, EHC drives transformational, long-term policy change to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development. EHC starts by analyzing existing housing in rural municipalities, documents local stakeholders’ insights, gathers information about housing challenges, barriers, and opportunities, and reviews relevant policies and bylaws. We then work with the partner municipality to develop strategies and to facilitate housing diversity that meets the needs of the community. 

Enabling Housing Choice is made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. 

Our Impact

Many rural municipalities lack the capacity and resources to understand their local housing. Our team assists these communities by addressing policy, bylaw, and process barriers to ultimately improve Alberta’s housing industry.  

This approach was piloted in six municipalities across Alberta: 

  • City of Airdrie
  • Town of Bow Island 
  • Town of Mayerthorpe 
  • Town of Claresholm 
  • Town of Pincher Creek 
  • Town of Trochu 

We acknowledge that this work is embedded in a colonial worldview of land management, and we work to address reconciliation and respect the Indigenous peoples who occupied this land for generations before land use frameworks were in place. 

As a previous participant in the Enabling Housing Choice project with RDN, we are excited to be making progress on key recommendations outlined in RDN’s report – Attracting Diverse Housing Development in Mayerthorpe. This report has been critical to understanding our community’s diverse housing needs, and has equipped us with  community-informed insights on how to address these needs.

Karen St. Martin – Town of Mayerthorpe

Relevant Resources

September 11, 2024

Growing Culturally Inclusive Communities Report

Inclusive Communities, Rural Immigration, Test

A resource highlighting how rural communities can transform spaces to support diverse populations

View

June 18, 2024

Guidebook to Enabling Housing Choice in Rural Alberta Communities

Enabling Housing Choice, Housing

Diversifying Housing in Rural Communities is meant to assist rural areas both in Alberta and across Canada in examining their local housing landscape and then using that information to update local policies, bylaws and processes, so that diverse housing development may be enabled in their community.

View

November 1, 2022

Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing 

Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice

The purpose of the Step-By-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing is to be a resource for individuals and groups who want to develop, build, and operate affordable rental housing. The 2nd Edition of the Guide was developed with support from the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), […]

View

April 1, 2022

Enabling Housing Choice Reports 

Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice, Housing

Research for driving transformational, long-term policy change that encourages housing choice and diversity in communities. Click the buttons below to view more.

View

Related Services

Our team of housing experts are here to boost your capacity and make housing projects a reality. 

The Affordable Housing Course

This Affordable Housing Course brings together tools and resources from across Canada that apply to anyone interested in the affordable housing development process. Each module is filled with interactive learning tools and can be completed at your own pace. The Affordable Housing Course will guide you through the following development phases: Length: Asynchronous and Self-Paced. […]

Learn More

Affordable Housing Pre-Development Services

We help communities, municipalities and organizations overcome barriers to make affordable housing a reality. 

Learn More

Get Support

Our dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to help them thrive. Connect with us to explore how we can work with you.

About the Project

This project was completed in 2023.

Placemaking for Inclusion was a project within RDN’s Sustainable Housing Initiative which aimed to enhance social inclusion in affordable housing communities and combat negative stereotypes. Supported by funding from the Community Housing Transformation Centre’s Community-Based Tenant Initiative, the project explored how tenant-based initiatives can challenge negative stereotypes and foster social cohesion among affordable housing residents and their neighbourhoods. 
 
This guide, stemming from a tenant-based initiative in Edmonton, Alberta, shares essential insights to empower tenants in leading initiatives that can reshape their communities and foster connections. It seeks to inspire others by showcasing the transformative potential of such initiatives in promoting social cohesion and breaking down barriers. 

Funders and Partners

Our Impact

The Placemaking for Inclusion project helped bring a wave of positive change to the vibrant community of La Société des Manoir – St. Joachim. Through a tenant-based approach, senior tenants were empowered to craft a beautiful community mural, fostering a sense of belonging and pride within their shared space. This initiative not only beautified the environment but also facilitated meaningful connections among residents and local community members. Gatherings over delicious food and drinks further strengthened bonds, creating an inviting atmosphere of camaraderie and inclusion that resonated throughout the community. 

As a testament to its success, the project also produced a guide for tenant-based initiatives, offering a roadmap to help other affordable housing providers and tenants follow suit. This resource encapsulates the learnings and best practices garnered from the project, equipping communities with the tools to create their own tenant-based initiatives. By sharing insights and strategies, the guide paves the way for diverse initiatives that prioritize meaningful community engagement with affordable housing tenants.  

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We brainstormed and some said nature and multiculturalism because we are a multicultural building, with people from many different countries and ethnicities here. So we wanted something to represent that, and the mural will make us a landmark in the community as there i s alot of foot-traffic in the community.


St. Joachim Tenant on the Community Mural

Placemaking for Inclusion

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There were people there who don’t normally show up to different functions. Everybody was doing something somewhere and were happy to participate and help others


St. Joachim Tenant on the Mural-Painting Event

Placemaking for Inclusion

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The atmosphere was quite welcoming for everyone. One person said they had been here for 20 years and this was the best event they had seen. The busyness of the room encouraged cliques to break up and this increase mingling


St. Joachim Tenant on the Mural-Painting Event

Placemaking for Inclusion

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It really brought the community together. Overall it was a great success. We also really enjoyed the painting, it was a great opportunity for those who had never painted before.


Senior Tenant, La Société des Manoirs Saint-Joachim

Placemaking for Inclusion

Relevant Resources

February 1, 2024

Placemaking for Inclusion: A Guide to Tenant-Based Initiatives

Affordable Housing, Inclusive Communities, Placemaking for Inclusion

A resource for affordable housing providers and tenants seeking to foster greater social inclusion in their community. Click the button to view the resource as a PDF file.

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Related Services

Our team of housing experts are here to boost your capacity & make projects a reality. 

Get Support

Our dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to help them thrive. Connect with us to explore how we can work with you.

About the Project 

This project was completed in 2024.

This project aimed to improve Ukrainian newcomers’ ability to secure and retain long-term housing in rural Alberta. We developed a guidebook that provided resources on various aspects of tenancy and ownership, support for general settlement, and information on topics including healthcare, schooling, and education. 

This project included the development of a secondary guide intended to increase landlord and housing providers’ understanding of the needs of Ukrainian newcomers. It was also designed to enhance their ability to foster positive relationships with diverse tenants to enable stable, long-term tenancies. In addition, it supported collaboration and communication between landlords and other providers of housing. 

Funders and partners

Our Impact

The Housing Education to Support Ukrainian Evacuees in Alberta project increased access to information on finding and providing suitable, safe, and culturally appropriate housing in rural and urban communities. The project engaged diverse groups and individuals focused on supporting Ukrainian evacuees and identified the significant needs and challenges they may experience.   

Relevant Resources

June 20, 2024

Guidebook for Housing Providers Supporting Ukrainian Evacuees in Alberta 

Housing, Housing Education to Support Ukrainian Evacuees in Alberta, Rural Immigration

With growing populations of Ukrainian evacuees across the province, it is also the reality that many more organizations, businesses, communities, groups, and individuals who may not specifically aim to support Ukrainian evacuees are and will be increasingly coming into contact with them throughout the course of their day-to-day activities. This is especially true for smaller, […]

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June 20, 2024

Handbook for Ukrainian Newcomers in Alberta 

Housing Education to Support Ukrainian Evacuees in Alberta, Rural Immigration

This guidebook will discuss resources to assist Ukrainian newcomers with finding housing, employment, healthcare, education, and the next steps in settling successfully in their new home.

View

April 1, 2024

Housing for Ukrainian Evacuees Guidebook

Affordable Housing, Housing, Housing Education to Support Ukrainian Evacuees in Alberta, Rural Immigration

Click the buttons below to download/view the following resources in PDF format.

View

Related Services

We help identify knowledge gaps and challenges in welcoming newcomers and create individualized training, policies and practices, and resources. 

Building Rural Capacity to Support Newcomers

Our customizable training is tailored for service providers and municipalities. It focuses on teaching strategies to effectively meet newcomers needs and foster welcoming communities. 

Learn More

Rural Employers’ Awareness on Diversity and Inclusion (READI) Training

Elevate your business’s sustainability and tackle labour shortages head-on with our customizable training.

Learn More

Affordable Housing Pre-Development Services

We help communities, municipalities and organizations overcome barriers to make affordable housing a reality. 

Learn More

Get Support

Our dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to help them thrive. Connect with us to explore how we can work with you.

What We Do

Check out our current projects and initiatives that support Canada’s rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Need help in your community? We also offer a variety of services to kick-start your own projects.

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