Not-for-profit organizations, foundations, businesses and government will gather in Vancouver November 8 and 9 to come up with sustainable solutions for non-profits that want to access affordable work space.
The conference is named Our Spaces, Our Places: Buying, leasing and sharing spaces for mission-driven organizations.
It will focus on social purpose real estate (SPRE) as a tool for strengthening communities. The conference will examine SPRE approaches that have been successful locally and elsewhere and discuss the feasibility of further advancing these models.
Metro Vancouver’s affordability index makes it difficult for many organizations to own or lease suitable space. Those at the conference have a goal to create a future where not-for-profit organizations have appropriate administrative space at a reasonable price that allow them to deliver programs and services effectively.
“With the high real estate costs in this area, and limited public funding for many non-profits, it’s great to see this collection of partners come together to look for solutions which put communities first” said David Berge, senior vice-president of community investment at Vancity. “This is what Vancity is about; convening the right parties together to help address real community needs.”