History

Phase One Outcomes: Since the Quality of Life CHALLENGE was launched in 2003 it has had some remarkable achievements within BC’s Capital Region. From the outset, the Quality of Life CHALLENGE tracked change in three priority areas: sustainable incomes, housing, and community connections. In Phase One (2003-2006) the CHALLENGE made a significant contribution to the following outcomes.

Sustainable Incomes:

• More than 6,600 people can increase their earnings
• Almost 560 local employers used the information from the CHALLENGE to inform their human resource decisions
• Almost 900 low-wage workers have better workplace supports
• Nearly 800 workers now earn $1 to $2.50 more per hour
• >$1,000,000 of new earnings were brought into the local economy.

Housing:

More than 700 low income households now have safe, decent, affordable housing. Quality of Life CHALLENGE communications, strengthened by the collaborative efforts of the Housing Affordability Partnership and the CRD, influenced the decisions of local governments to:

• Create the Regional Housing Trust Fund. Since 2005, 9 of 13 local governments have contributed almost $1,400,000. Much of this money has leveraged 14 times more investment from other sources
• Approve the Regional Housing Affordability Strategy
• Approve secondary suite by-laws and other innovative housing affordability measures.

Community Connections:

• 2,255 individuals were engaged in Phase One of the CHALLENGE
• $1.8 million in cash and in-kind was invested in the CHALLENGE since the beginning: 43% from the private sector, 31% from community organizations, 25% from governments, and the rest from individuals
• 2087 individuals and organizations from every part of this region received CHALLENGE decals for making changes to improve the quality of life.

The first phase of the CHALLENGE created many successes to celebrate. CHALLENGE participants and the community learned a great deal about building effective and long lasting solutions that get at the root of complex problems.

Working together is not always easy. Sharing leadership challenges established ways of working. When groups share a commitment to a vision and respect each others’ needs and expectations, the achievements are far greater than was ever originally imagined. This is the extraordinary type of leadership that has marked the CHALLENGE.

The CHALLENGE included people living on low incomes in decision making and in other meaningful ways. Through their participation, hundreds of individuals and organizations learned about the realities of living on a low income in this region - attitudes and policies changed.

When people are informed, they act. People needed to hear about housing that is safe, decent and affordable. They needed to hear about sustainable incomes. They got involved.

Money from various sources was invested over several years to allow for a slow but durable shift in the way our society solves its problems.

It was important to recognize what was working well. Nobody is perfect; there are always improvements to be made. The way to make change happen is to take a first step. When that change isrecognized, people are inspired to take another step. And that is the way people are part of the solution.

The community documented and celebrated its achievements.

The CHALLENGE is proud of its role, turning a spotlight on important issues like community connections, sustainable incomes and housing that is safe, decent and affordable.

The fact that people, organizations, businesses and governments responded by working together to produce even greater and even more positive results should make the whole community proud.

Find out more about Phase One