Improving anti-racism accountability systems in housing

Enable data collection to measure and report progress in equity and diversity

Recommendation 67: The Ministry of Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing should ensure that the race-based data legislation incorporate sufficient measures to allow BC Housing and other housing providers to collect, use, and publish data on People of African Descent housing situations in BC that would enable a holistic understanding of the prevailing trends and dynamics as they relate to ownership, accountability, access to credit, share of distributed affordable housing units, homelessness and the general place of anti-Black racism on access to housing.

Deepening representation in housing

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 68: BC Housing should increase housing supply for People of African Descent by establishing and funding programs that reserve portions of new affordable housing units for members of the People of African Descent community. In doing this, it is critical to partner with nonprofit developers and developers with the necessary cultural competency and ties to minority communities to prevent the formation of ghetto-like complexes.

Deepening representation in housing

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 69: The Province should work with financial institutions, municipalities, and People of African Descent community groups and housing experts to support the establishment of land trusts, social enterprise housing corporations, and rent-to-own units that will provide credible alternative approaches to house and land ownership, beyond conventional mortgage financing.

Improving access to housing

Increase the recruitment of PADs

Recommendation 70: BC Housing should improve diversity in staffing and include People of African Descent on teams that interview applicants of affordable housing units to support the development of culturally-appropriate housing for the People of African Descent community across the province including having homes that can accommodate bigger families and support communal and co-op living.

Improving access to housing

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 71: The Province should increase funding for People of African Descent organisations and tenant support agencies to provide free advice on housing investments, and rent support programs targeted at People of African Descent in economic precarity.

Improving access to housing

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 72: The Province should commit to working with the Hogan’s Alley Working Group to deepen the long term involvement and investment of the Black Community in the future life of the historic 898 Main Street block in Vancouver through the exploration of land trusts, long term leases, or other arrangements as appropriate.

Improving anti-racism accountability systems in public engagement

Implements policy and legislative safeguards for PADs

Recommendation 73: There is the need for an Anti-racism legislation that provides sustainable redress mechanisms for candidates of African Descent, at all levels of politics in BC, facing racism in the form of sabotaged campaigns through inequitable party funding allocations, exploitative tokenism practices, and lack of contextualized supports, including mental health support. To improve equity of such mechanisms, In developing these mechanisms, inputs from current and former candidates of African Descent themselves should be sought to best address exploitative practices of PAD candidates in terms of the constitution of their support team, messaging, media appearances etc.

Deepening PAD representation in public engagement

Deepen equity in service delivery by and to PADs

Recommendation 77: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs should provide candidates of African Descent with the necessary resources, including dedicated mental health and counseling support, to allow them to navigate structural challenges and inequities they historically face during and post electoral campaigns.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Reform and promote accurate representation of PADs

Recommendation 79: The Province should make funding available to civil society organizations, including political parties, to highlight and celebrate People of African Descent leaders across all spheres of society. This should include funding of a People of African Descent leadership conference and youth leadership bootcamp to provide opportunities for various People of African Descent leaders across multiple sectors to interact, share experiences and build solidarities.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 80: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Elections BC should work with African Descent groups such as Operation Black Vote Canada to promote political education and strengthen democratic engagement acumen within People of African Descent communities; and to create leadership programs that draw on experienced politicians and leaders of African Descent to prioritize reflective mentorship, internship, volunteer and training opportunities for People of African Descent.