ABOUT
CHF BC
We are the go-to hub for all things related to co-op living. We unite, represent and serve housing co-ops and their members. Governing and managing co-op homes and communities can be challenging. Whatever our members need, they can count on us to be there for them.
Membership in CHF BC is open and voluntary. Members support their federation through annual membership dues and fees for a wide range of programs and services. We are proudly independent — none of our annual revenue comes from government.
Mission
Our mission is to unite, represent and serve our members in a thriving
Co-operatives are based on the values of mutual self-help, social responsibility, democratic control, equality and solidarity. In the tradition of our founders, co-op members support ethical values of honesty, openness, and caring for others.
CHF BC also acts as a voice for housing co-operatives in BC. We represent and advocate on behalf of co-op members.
Vision
CHF BC's vision statement is "growing an inclusive community of sustainable and permanently affordable co-operative housing."
We aim to:
- inspire housing co-ops to be communities that promote and embody equitable access, opportunity, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone
- model and promote the principles and best practices of social, economic and environmental sustainability in everything we do and encourage our members to do the same.
- champion the ongoing and significant development of co-op homes to expand our movement and increase the availability of co-operative housing in BC.
Strategic Priorities
Our board provides us with strategic direction. In 2021 our strategic priorities were updated to reflect a sense of belonging, sustainability practices, and the expansion of our movement.
- Belonging: We want our co-ops to be communities that promote and embody equitable access, opportunity, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. To this end, we are committed to involves listening, learning, and changing, as well as amplifying the voices of our members, friends, and partners so that inclusivity becomes the norm in our world.
- Sustainability: We want to model the best practices of social, economic and environmental sustainability in everything we do.
- Growth: We want to expand co-op housing in British Columbia and to effectively advocate for more co-operative housing across the country.
Brief History
Canadians have been building and living in housing co-ops since the 1930s. In 1982, responding to the need for a unified voice for housing co-ops in British Columbia, a handful of housing co-ops with an inspired vision of the future formed the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC.
CHF BC’s purpose was — and still is — to expand non-profit co-op housing, to promote better housing conditions in BC, to share skills and information within the co-op housing sector, to represent co-op housing to governments and the public, and to promote the co-op movement and co-op principles across BC.
Housing Central
Housing Central is a strategic alliance between CHF BC, BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA), and the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA).
Our mission is to strengthen and grow the community housing sector so all British Columbians have a safe, secure home they can afford.
AHMA is a grassroots organization made up of 55 members that represent over 95% of Indigenous Housing and Service providers in BC. AHMA members support almost 10,000 Indigenous families living in urban, rural, and northern regions of BC. Created for Indigenous Peoples by Indigenous Peoples, AHMA has 25 years of experience and expertise as the first Indigenous Housing Authority in Canada.
BCNPHA is the provincial umbrella organization for the non-profit housing sector. They serve their members and the entire sector across BC through education, events, and advocacy.
2022 in Review
This publication spotlights significant stories and exciting accomplishments of our team of exceptional directors and staff.
It also features some of the achievement of members who were engaged with their federation more than ever in 2022. We hope you enjoy reading about the work that we’ve done together and look forward to the work that is already underway for what promises to be an exciting and challenging year ahead.
Please let us know what you think, and share with your family, friends, and colleagues.
If you’re viewing the flipbook online, remember to make the image full-screen by pressing the icon that looks a bit like a checkerboard (
). You can also choose to see only a single page at a time to further enhance the online reading experience (click right-most icon and select “single page”).
You can also read our 2021 Year in Review.
Report to Members
CHF BC has been advancing the co-op housing option for more than 40 years. We support almost 15,000 co-op homes in thriving, successful communities.
Here is how we are doing it.
Vancouver Island
In 2002, the Vancouver Island Co-op Housing Association (VICHA) merged with CHF BC. The result—one Federation serving housing co-ops across the province—has been a resounding success.
Two of the 12 seats on the CHF BC board are reserved for Vancouver Island Directors. The Vancouver Island Council meets three times a year and facilitates communication with and among our Island members.
Co-operative Principles
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
Many types of businesses are set up as co-operatives. There are farm co-ops, food co-ops, co-op daycares, housing co-ops, credit unions, worker co-ops, and so on.
Co-operatives around the world follow a set of principles based on principles drafted by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers in England in 1844. The modern co-operative movement is founded on the Rochdale Pioneers’ co-op model. Adherence to the principles is usually voluntary, but some principles inform the legislation on which co-operatives operate. For example, democratic member control is a mandatory defining trait of co-operatives required by the Co-operative Association Act in BC.
On September 23, 1995, the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the body representing co-operatives around the world, adopted the following guiding principles (pdf) for co-ops of all kinds. In 1995, the International Co-operative Alliance accepted these principles for all co-operatives. The seven principles are guidelines for co-ops to put their values into practice.
You can download a copy of these principles to share with your co-op, colleagues, and friends. They have been reworded for housing co-ops.
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Membership in a housing co‑operative is open to all who can use the co‑op’s services and accept the responsibilities of being a member, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
Housing co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members. Together members actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions on the principle of one member one vote. Board members serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. Housing co-ops give members the information they need to make good decisions and take part in the life of the co-op.
Members financially contribute to—and democratically control—the capital of their co-operative and share in the benefits of membership. The co‑op does not pay a return on the members’ shares or deposits. It charges the members only what it needs to operate soundly, including setting aside reserves for the future, or directed to other activities approved by the membership.
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure continued democratic control by their members.
Housing co-operatives provide education and training for their members, directors, and staff so everybody can contribute effectively to the development of their co-op. They also strive to inform the general public—particularly young people and opinion leaders—about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
Co-operatives serve their members and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together with other co-ops and local, national, regional, and international co-operative organizations. By organizing together in federations, housing co‑ops grow stronger and help to build a healthy co op movement. Where they can, housing co‑ops use the services of co‑op businesses to meet their needs.
Housing co‑operatives work to build strong communities inside and outside the co‑op. They help to improve the quality of life for others and they take care to protect the environment.
Board of Directors
CHF BC’s Board of Directors comprises 12 members, ten of whom are elected by the membership at our AGM. The remaining two directors are Vancouver Island Directors elected annually by delegates to the Vancouver Island Council.
The board is responsible for the overall governance and long-term success of the CHF BC group of social enterprises. It hires our chief executive officer to guide and support staff in CHF BC, COHO, and CLT’s day-to-day operations.
Committees
CHF BC offers directors and members a variety of opportunities to become actively engaged in the broader co-op housing movement through the Federation's committee structure.
CHF BC committees give members the opportunity to get involved with the Federation, helping to shape CHF BC’s future and to play a role in the ongoing success of the co-op housing movement in BC.
To get involved, please contact members@chf.bc.ca or 1-866-879-5111.
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There are two Education committees: one for Vancouver Island, and one for the rest of the province. These committees provide feedback and guidance to CHF BC’s education program to ensure that it serves the needs of the Federation and its members.
Inspired by CHF Canada’s Aging in Place Committee, CHF BC has created its own committee to focus on how co-ops can adapt to serve the changing needs of aging members.
See Seniors Resources for more information.
The Climate Emergency Task Force was set up in response to a resolution adopted by members at CHF BC’s 2019 Annual General Meeting. The committee features a mix of CHF BC directors, CHF BC staff and directors from member organizations.
Staff
Working for CHF BC is a rewarding career choice for people who want to make a difference.
Federation staff are the focal point for the delivery of our services to members. Their diverse range of talents and skills are united around a shared commitment to CHF BC’s mission. They put the co-operative principles into action every day.
Scholarship Details
Young members are the future of the co-op housing movement. We are proud to invest in our young members (and others who may be returning to school) through the CHF BC Scholarship Fund.
CHF BC created the fund in 2012 — the International Year of Co-operatives. Since then, it has supported the educational goals of co-op members, particularly young members who are actively engaged in making a positive contribution to their communities.
Privacy Statement
CHF BC respects the privacy of our members. In order to improve our services, we may need to collect personal information from our members.
Members have the right to refuse to provide information, or to withdraw consent to use data that’s been collected about them. To review how the information we collect is used, managed and stored…