Enabling Housing Choice

The Enabling Housing Choice (EHC) project is part of RDN’s Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI). Through EHC, we provide guidance for rural municipalities to support the development of diverse, sustainable, and relevant housing in their communities.

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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

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.

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November 1, 2022

Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing 

Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice

The second edition of our award-winning guide for those looking to develop, build, and operate affordable rental housing. Click the button below to learn more.

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April 1, 2022

Enabling Housing Choice Reports 

Affordable Housing, Enabling Housing Choice

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

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Related Services

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

Developing Affordable Housing Course- Releasing This Fall!

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

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

June 18, 2024

Placemaking for Inclusion: A Guide to Tenant-Based Initiatives 

Inclusive Communities, Placemaking for Inclusion

Please click the button below to download a PDF of the guide.

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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

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.

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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. 

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

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

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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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