Community-based organizations delivered Building Resilient Neighbourhood’s Connect & Prepare program to groups of resident-neighbours in ten market and non-market multi-unit rental buildings in Vancouver, New Westminster, and North Vancouver in 2022-23. The workshop series brings residents together to forge social connections and collaborate on shared emergency preparedness priorities. The housing operators that participated reported seeing beneficial impacts—not only for their residents, but also for themselves as landlords and building managers.

100% of housing operators said they saw strengthened social connections, tenant leadership and greater mutual support.

“The most valuable aspect of Connect & Prepare [has been] getting people thinking of their neighbours as resources in an emergency,” commented one housing operator. Surveys were completed by housing operators at seven of the ten participating sites, and 100% said they saw strengthened social connections and tenant leadership and greater mutual aid among their building’s residents. Many saw not only improved emergency preparedness but positive impacts on building safety and maintenance.

Improving preparedness, safety, and building maintenance

Julie, a resident manager of a market-rental building in North Vancouver, said that residents participating in the workshops had such a wide variety of safety and preparedness concerns that they decided to collectively write their own building-specific mini-guide, instructing neighbours on safety measures for excessive heat, fires, water leaks, appliance maintenance, and more.

“It included everything and anything that you can think of that people need to be concerned about while living in a multi-family building,” said Julie. “The general message was, ‘If you’re safer, we’re all safer.’”

“The most valuable aspect of Connect & Prepare [has been] getting people thinking of their neighbours as resources in an emergency.”

Participating Housing Operator

Using a small grant from the City of North Vancouver, her building’s neighbour-group also purchased starter emergency kits and put the guide inside each kit, along with a flashlight, whistle, mask, and batteries. At a lobby party, all of the tenants picked up the free kits, ate snacks, chatted, and learned. “People were enjoying each other’s company, there was a lot of laughter,” said Julie. “And there were many comments about how we should do this more often.”

The open discussions during the workshops also made Julie imagine that any building manager could find Connect & Prepare useful for broaching sensitive topics such as cleanliness, tidiness, or aging at home. “There are some things that I, as the building manager, would like to bring up to individuals that sometimes it’s not that easy to do,” said Julie. “But when you’re bringing that information to a group, then you’re not singling out anyone.”

Housing operators can play vital roles

Some housing operators helped by facilitating access to buildings and common spaces, sending out promotional materials, and giving prompt feedback on the feasibility of proposed resilience projects that might require access to common rooms or building grounds. Other housing operators, like Julie, became actively involved in the Connect & Prepare workshops.

Both approaches proved to be effective. Housing operators benefited from residents who became more mutually supportive, better prepared for emergencies, and more attuned to building safety and maintenance.

“The program very much accomplishes its mission of connecting people, and helping them prepare,” said Suzanne Klassen, community engagement coordinator for Brightside Homes, who assisted with resident outreach and workshop logistics. “At Brightside, we’d love to have Connect & Prepare in every building.”

“The program very much accomplishes its mission of connecting people, and helping them prepare. At Brightside, we’d love to have Connect & Prepare in every building.”

Suzanne Klassen, Brightside Homes

All of the participating housing operators said they would recommend Connect & Prepare to other housing operators.

100% of housing operators would recommend the program to other housing operators.

“From a building manager’s perspective, Connect & Prepare was very positive for me,” said Julie. “And it’s all to the building owner’s advantage as well, if the tenants who live in this building are thinking about safety, prevention and preparedness.”

Building Resilient Neighbourhoods’ Executive Director Stacy Barter said collaboration is key to determining whether it’s most helpful for a housing operator to actively participate or simply encourage residents to participate. “Ideally, housing operators will liaise with the program delivery team,” said Barter. “And then, together, they can identify the best ways to maximize the potential positive impacts of the Connect & Prepare program.”

Data shared in this story was based on surveys completed by housing operators from 7/10 sites.