About
The False Creek South Community Housing Trust is a community-based organization that sustains existing and develops new affordable homes to protect and amplify the livability of False Creek South’s mixed-income community.
We see exciting potential in the Housing Trust as a vehicle for addressing many of the key concerns and needs of our community, as well as the wider Vancouver community facing an unprecedented housing crisis.
History
In 2018 the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association received funding from the Real Estate Foundation of BC and BC Housing, and in-kind support from the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC, to explore if there was community and sector support for a) working with an existing community land trust, or b) developing a new trust that would manage development to help implement land use and housing policies City Council approves for False Creek South. This work grew out of considerable work done by the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association on governance and resident engagement in the development of an emerging community plan.
In 2019 a Housing Trust Advisory Group was formed, and the CHT was formally incorporated in 2021.
In March 2024, a Motion entitled “The Future of Co-op Housing – A Path to Delivering More Co-op Homes in Vancouver” was brought forward to Vancouver City Council by Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung which directed staff to pursue the development of new co-op homes and redevelopment of existing co-op homes through a community land trust model.
About Community Land Trusts
Community land/housing trusts are community-based non-profit developers and housing operators with a mission to create permanently affordable housing, including co-op, non-market rental, affordable home ownership. They often have the following characteristics:
- Permanent land stewardship: CLTs never sell their land, protecting it from the speculative real estate market;
- Perpetual affordability: Housing and other properties owned by CLTs are affordable forever;
- Expansionist: CLTs assemble community-owned real estate portfolios, with active acquisition and development pipelines;
- Place-based: CLTs serve a certain geography, from neighbourhoods to entire regions;
- Community-led: A membership and elected board includes both CLT residents and community members;
- Community benefit: CLT directly benefit communities by enabling access to housing and other identified needs, while also playing important advocacy and community-building roles.
The FCS CHT is part of a much broader Community Land Trust movement that is gaining strength and momentum across Canada. If you are interested in learning more about how a Trust model relates to housing we encourage you to visit the website of the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts at https://www.communityland.ca.
Board
The False Creek South Community Housing Trust has individual, organizational, and co-op members. The Board is made up of individuals, organizations, and co-op housing organizations based in False Creek South. Those who live or work outside False Creek South and who support the mission of the Trust are eligible to join as Supporter Members and to serve on the Board as Technical Experts.
Keith Jones – President
Keith Jones has lived in False Creek South since 2006. Currently retired, he has degrees in Urban Studies, social counselling, and Education. He last taught in an Inner City school where he was able to follow his passion for education, social justice, and indigenous reconciliation. He currently lives in Alder Bay Housing Co-op with his husband and daughter.
Ariella Barmash – Vice-President
Ariella Barmash (she/her) is a community planner with a background in social planning and housing policy. She completed her MSc in Planning at the University of Toronto and currently works at CitySpaces Consulting where she contributes to a variety of projects including housing affordability strategies, needs assessments, and policy development. Ariella is deeply passionate about expanding and preserving affordable housing and community ownership.
Matthew Laing – Treasurer
Matthew Laing and his family have lived in co-op housing in Vancouver since 2011. He is a social worker by training and an inner city family doctor, working alongside passionate social justice advocates in the Downtown Eastside community. Matthew has a particular interest in the concept of housing as a primary determinant of health for individuals, their families, and the broader community at large.
Abdul Zahir – Secretary
Abdul Zahir is a Project Manager at Simon Fraser University, with experience in the non-profit and academic sectors and graduate degrees in business and English. He and his wife live in False Creek South along with their two young sons, and are proud co-operative members.
Vivien Anayien
As a new member of the Community Housing Trust Board, Vivien brings strategic and critical thinking shaped by her design and UX expertise, using research-driven, human-centred approaches to help ensure housing initiatives are inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in the diverse needs of community residents.
Sandy Dworkin
Richard Evans
Richard is a recently retired Architect, who has lived in False Creek since 1986. Richard chaired RePlan, a committee of the False Creek South Neighborhood Association from its’ inception and is an active member of the False Creek Housing Co-operative.
Yael Stav
Yael Stav, PhD, is a biotech entrepreneur and sustainability consultant with a background in project management and executive leadership. She is deeply engaged in local environmental initiatives and serves as Chair of the Sustainability and Resilience Committee of the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association. She lives in False Creek South with her family and is committed to supporting a thriving, sustainable community.
Jim Woodward
Jim worked in the non-market housing field for thirty-five years, including as a development consultant undertaking project approvals and construction of affordable non-market housing. He managed the BC Provincial Commission on Housing Options, was a director at BC Housing, and consulted on independent housing policy and research.
Staff
Robyn Chan – Managing Director
Robyn is a civic and community engagement specialist, with experience working with communities and neighbourhoods across Vancouver. She holds a Masters in Urban Studies from SFU where she wrote her thesis on the unique, place-based community activism in False Creek South. Robyn lives in False Creek South with her family.
Sarah Brown – Community Development Manager
Sarah is a broadly-trained social science and community engagement enthusiast. Her background in human geography stems from a lifelong curiosity in how people, places, and stories co-create. Having recently spent many years working, studying, and living at UBC, she and her family are now grateful to call False Creek South home.