Enabling Housing Choice North

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.

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. 

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

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. 

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. 

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

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. 

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.  

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

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. 

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.   

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