The Mayne Island Housing Society: Background and a Housing Initiative
October 3, 2019
Mayne Island
Mayne Island is part of the Southern Gulf Islands, halfway between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island. The community has a full-time resident population of 955 people with approximately 510 full time households (2016 Census). Of these, 40 households are rental homes. An estimated 1,000 more are part-time residents of Mayne Island.
The average age of residents on Mayne Island is 65 years. A growing population of younger residents, singles, couples and families has increased the number of students in the elementary school and provided sufficient numbers of children under 5 years of age to create a daycare centre that opened in September 2018, and expanded in September 2019.
Many community services are provided by volunteers, most of whom are retired seniors. There is an ongoing need for skilled and unskilled labour to provide hospitality services, work in the building trades, professional services, personal services, emergency services and home support services. This need is met by individuals of all ages, volunteering, working independently or commercially.
Most of the people being gainfully employed are younger individuals, couples or families whose incomes limit their ability to buy homes. On the BC spectrum, the Southern Gulf Islands reflects one of the highest per capita wealth rates and lowest per capita working income rates.
Many seniors have expressed a desire to downsize, reduce their home-maintenance obligations and access the equity in their homes, in order to afford personal services and enter into a more communityoriented lifestyle while remaining on Mayne Island, their chosen community.
MIHS recognizes that the community also includes seniors who are renting, and younger folks who own their own homes.
It is notable that Mayne Island is one of the few Southern Gulf islands that does not have a dedicated seniors housing development or purpose-built rental housing. Many other Gulf Islands communities are experiencing similar housing issues and also looking to build community housing.
The average age of residents on Mayne Island is 65 years. A growing population of younger residents, singles, couples and families has increased the number of students in the elementary school and provided sufficient numbers of children under 5 years of age to create a daycare centre that opened in September 2018, and expanded in September 2019.
Many community services are provided by volunteers, most of whom are retired seniors. There is an ongoing need for skilled and unskilled labour to provide hospitality services, work in the building trades, professional services, personal services, emergency services and home support services. This need is met by individuals of all ages, volunteering, working independently or commercially.
Most of the people being gainfully employed are younger individuals, couples or families whose incomes limit their ability to buy homes. On the BC spectrum, the Southern Gulf Islands reflects one of the highest per capita wealth rates and lowest per capita working income rates.
Many seniors have expressed a desire to downsize, reduce their home-maintenance obligations and access the equity in their homes, in order to afford personal services and enter into a more communityoriented lifestyle while remaining on Mayne Island, their chosen community.
MIHS recognizes that the community also includes seniors who are renting, and younger folks who own their own homes.
It is notable that Mayne Island is one of the few Southern Gulf islands that does not have a dedicated seniors housing development or purpose-built rental housing. Many other Gulf Islands communities are experiencing similar housing issues and also looking to build community housing.
Mayne Island Housing Society
The precursor group to the Mayne Island Housing Society was the Mayne Island Housing Forum (the Housing Forum). Beginning in early 2017, the Housing Forum met regularly and discussed community housing issues, needs and solutions, and maintained a website.
The Mayne Island Housing Society (MIHS) (The Housing Society) incorporated under the Societies Act on April18, 2018, as a non-profit organization. Its purpose is “to relieve poverty by providing affordable housing for low or modest income residents of Mayne Island.”
MIHS has recently achieved charitable status through the Canada Revenue Agency.
MIHS is the only organization in this community that promotes the development of affordable and accessible housing to meet the needs of residents of the Mayne Island community. In addition to developing community housing, the MIHS provides advocacy and support to individuals and other agencies that would like housing information, and will support those who may be interested in pursuing a separate housing project of their own design, or on a more modest scale, a rental cottage or secondary suite.
MIHS currently has 7 directors, 71 members and 110 recipients of monthly newsletters and other information. We are actively recruiting directors, society members and consulting members. We have three members consulting with the board.
Additionally, MIHS has valuable skills represented on the board and consulting with the board: project management, procurement and contract management, business consultation, social work, community development, public health, engineering and architecture, former Islands Trustee and consultant, building contractor. In addition, we have developed direct access to specialist consultants as needed including: water systems operator, realtors, lawyer, accountants, housing consultant, and others when required.
The Mayne Island Housing Society is a not-for-profit agency run by volunteers. Board members are entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred while conducting Society business. Expenses are preapproved for payment or reimbursement. MIHS has been funding operating expenses through contributions from the sale of memberships, as well as a $10,000 Grant in Aid received from the Capital Regional District.
The Mayne Island Housing Society (MIHS) (The Housing Society) incorporated under the Societies Act on April18, 2018, as a non-profit organization. Its purpose is “to relieve poverty by providing affordable housing for low or modest income residents of Mayne Island.”
MIHS has recently achieved charitable status through the Canada Revenue Agency.
MIHS is the only organization in this community that promotes the development of affordable and accessible housing to meet the needs of residents of the Mayne Island community. In addition to developing community housing, the MIHS provides advocacy and support to individuals and other agencies that would like housing information, and will support those who may be interested in pursuing a separate housing project of their own design, or on a more modest scale, a rental cottage or secondary suite.
MIHS currently has 7 directors, 71 members and 110 recipients of monthly newsletters and other information. We are actively recruiting directors, society members and consulting members. We have three members consulting with the board.
Additionally, MIHS has valuable skills represented on the board and consulting with the board: project management, procurement and contract management, business consultation, social work, community development, public health, engineering and architecture, former Islands Trustee and consultant, building contractor. In addition, we have developed direct access to specialist consultants as needed including: water systems operator, realtors, lawyer, accountants, housing consultant, and others when required.
The Mayne Island Housing Society is a not-for-profit agency run by volunteers. Board members are entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred while conducting Society business. Expenses are preapproved for payment or reimbursement. MIHS has been funding operating expenses through contributions from the sale of memberships, as well as a $10,000 Grant in Aid received from the Capital Regional District.
The Housing Initiative
As reported in the Southern Gulf Islands (SGI) Housing Needs Assessment, February 2018, Mayne Island needs more affordable and stable rental units, as well as affordable owner-occupied housing units. The Island has suffered a 30% reduction in rental accommodation over the past 10 years, from 60 homes to 40 homes.
In addition to the SGI Housing Needs Assessment, MIHS administered a Renters Survey (June 2018), the goal of which was to get a current, point-in-time picture of the rental situation on Mayne Island. The Renters Survey generated a response rate of 75%. The results of the survey indicated that more than 70% of renters were paying more than 30% of their income for rent (the definition of affordable housing charge), and 25% were paying more than 50% of their income in rent (this rate is the indicator for risk of homelessness). Approximately 25% of the rental accommodation is reported as needing major repair. The SGI Housing Needs Assessment described the situation as a “crisis” and “dire”.
MIHS Society is moving forward quickly to develop a plan to meet the rental housing needs on Mayne Island. MIHS considers the priority for housing to be purpose-built rental accommodation, and proposes to build a project of up to10 homes for singles, couples, and families, including seniors. The project intends to offer units at mixed rental rates (shelter, affordable rates and market rate) to meet the affordability issues of residents as well as the ongoing operational issues of the housing development.
Board members have visited existing housing projects on other Gulf Islands as well as Vancouver Island, and are exploring different housing models. And, MIHS has discussed options with the Islands Trust. In addition, MIHS has retained a professional housing consultant to prepare the business plan/funding proposals for CMHC seed-funding opportunities, as well as capital funding opportunities. We are in the process of looking for funding opportunities and exploring fundraising possibilities.
MIHS is exploring land acquisition options and currently pursuing promising options. We anticipate acquiring a suitable building site(s) through donation or agreement, through transfer of title to the Mayne Island Housing Society.
The operational budget for the year ahead will cover promotion and publicity, administrative costs, community consultations and collaboration with community agencies and stakeholders; land surveys, water and septic assessments and other requirements preparatory for submissions for funding, rezoning applications, site planning, project design and building permits as time allows.
The current focus of the Mayne Island Housing Society is to acquire suitable land, proceed to funding and continue ongoing community engagement and collaboration with other community agencies. To that end, and as described above, MIHS board members are actively engaged in all those areas and the Society has received much support from the community, agreement of the need for the housing initiative, and all agencies approached to date have provided letters of support for MIHS and the housing initiative underway.
The MIHS board encourages you and your organization to support this initiative and to make Mayne Island a more supportive community for all residents.
In addition to the SGI Housing Needs Assessment, MIHS administered a Renters Survey (June 2018), the goal of which was to get a current, point-in-time picture of the rental situation on Mayne Island. The Renters Survey generated a response rate of 75%. The results of the survey indicated that more than 70% of renters were paying more than 30% of their income for rent (the definition of affordable housing charge), and 25% were paying more than 50% of their income in rent (this rate is the indicator for risk of homelessness). Approximately 25% of the rental accommodation is reported as needing major repair. The SGI Housing Needs Assessment described the situation as a “crisis” and “dire”.
MIHS Society is moving forward quickly to develop a plan to meet the rental housing needs on Mayne Island. MIHS considers the priority for housing to be purpose-built rental accommodation, and proposes to build a project of up to10 homes for singles, couples, and families, including seniors. The project intends to offer units at mixed rental rates (shelter, affordable rates and market rate) to meet the affordability issues of residents as well as the ongoing operational issues of the housing development.
Board members have visited existing housing projects on other Gulf Islands as well as Vancouver Island, and are exploring different housing models. And, MIHS has discussed options with the Islands Trust. In addition, MIHS has retained a professional housing consultant to prepare the business plan/funding proposals for CMHC seed-funding opportunities, as well as capital funding opportunities. We are in the process of looking for funding opportunities and exploring fundraising possibilities.
MIHS is exploring land acquisition options and currently pursuing promising options. We anticipate acquiring a suitable building site(s) through donation or agreement, through transfer of title to the Mayne Island Housing Society.
The operational budget for the year ahead will cover promotion and publicity, administrative costs, community consultations and collaboration with community agencies and stakeholders; land surveys, water and septic assessments and other requirements preparatory for submissions for funding, rezoning applications, site planning, project design and building permits as time allows.
The current focus of the Mayne Island Housing Society is to acquire suitable land, proceed to funding and continue ongoing community engagement and collaboration with other community agencies. To that end, and as described above, MIHS board members are actively engaged in all those areas and the Society has received much support from the community, agreement of the need for the housing initiative, and all agencies approached to date have provided letters of support for MIHS and the housing initiative underway.
The MIHS board encourages you and your organization to support this initiative and to make Mayne Island a more supportive community for all residents.