Campbell River Team On Attainable/Affordable Housing

A new team of people in Campbell River have come together to speak in favour of attainable and affordable housing at public hearings.

A new team of people in Campbell River have come together to speak in favour of attainable and affordable housing at public hearings. The idea is called “YIMBYism,” and it’s a counter to the more well-known phenomenon of NIMBYism (not in my back yard). It started in the San Francisco area in the mid-2010s as a way for people to say “yes” and advocate for more plentiful and diverse housing to confront the area’s growing housing crisis.

Right now the group is a work in progress. If enough people are interested in the idea, organizer Sue Moen said they will sit down and set up some terms of reference for exactly what kinds of developments they’ll support. Then when that kind of development is proposed, the group will help educate folks about how the developments can work, and advocate in their favour.

That can also mean showing up to public hearings and advocating for the projects.

According to recent census data, the majority of people in Campbell River live in single family dwellings. In addition to the predominant single family dwelling model, Moen said that things like co-housing, cooperatives, supportive and assisted housing are all ways to add diversity to a neighbourhood. While increasing the diversity and density of homes can be a daunting idea for people who are used to their lifestyles, Moen says that “every neighbourhood here has changed at some point.

Those interested in being part of the group can contact info@crhousing.net