Affordable Housing and Food Security – Election Show

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Affordable Housing and Food Security: Insights from Thom Armstrong and Theo Lamb

At Each For All: The Co-operative Connection, we delve into the pressing issues that shape our communities. In our latest episode, host Robin Puga sits down with longtime friend of the show, Thom Armstrong, CEO of the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC. Thom brings over 30 years of experience in the co-operative housing movement and shares invaluable insights on how electors can make a difference in the upcoming provincial election.

In the latter half, producer Sandy Goldman engages with Theo Lamb, Executive Director of Quest Non-profit Grocery Markets, to discuss the escalating concerns around food security in British Columbia.

“If the numbers aren’t making people uncomfortable, they’re not high enough. We have a housing crisis in BC, and it deserves a crisis-level response.” — Thom Armstrong

Tackling the Housing Crisis with Thom Armstrong

Thom and Robin covered the following topics: 

• The Upcoming Provincial Election

  • The significance of affordable housing as the key issue for 90% of voters.
  • How electors can influence housing policies with their vote.

• Affordable Housing Crisis

  • The stark reality of 11,000 homeless individuals in BC at any given time.
  • Overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in homelessness statistics.

• Housing Central’s New Affordable Housing Plan

  • The need for 125,000 new affordable rental homes over the next decade.
  • A call for government investment to build and protect affordable housing.

• Political Party Positions

  • Analysis of what different parties are offering concerning affordable housing.
  • Thom’s critical view: “When did it become acceptable to plan to solve just part of the problem?”

• Community Land Trust Initiatives

  • Updates on projects under construction and newly opened since their last discussion.
  • The role of co-operative models in providing sustainable housing solutions.

“We need to start thinking about how we’re actually disrupting these cycles of poverty. Participating economically is a powerful step towards that.” — Theo Lamb

Addressing Food Security with Theo Lamb

Sandy Goldman interviews Theodora (Theo) Lamb, Executive Director of Quest Non-profit Grocery Markets. Topics discussed include: 

1. The Growing Concern of Food Insecurity

   • The impact of inflation, supply chain issues, and poverty on access to healthy food.
   • The increasing reliance on food banks and non-profit grocery markets.

2. Quest’s Mission and Model

   • How Quest operates five non-profit grocery markets serving over 10,000 people.
   • The focus on providing dignity through affordable, healthy food choices.

3. Client Engagement and Feedback

   • Insights from Quest’s Cost of Groceries Report 2024.
   • The challenges clients face, such as the high cost of living and structural inequities.

4. Provincial Government’s Role

   • What can be done at the policy level to improve food security.
   • Theo’s advocacy for a collaborative approach between ministries.

5. Community Solutions

   • The importance of local initiatives and neighbor-to-neighbor support.
   • Encouraging listeners to engage with electoral candidates on food security issues.

As we approach election day on October 19th, it’s crucial to inform ourselves about these pressing issues. Housing and food security are not just policy points—they impact the daily lives of thousands in our community.

What You Can Do:

• Educate Yourself: Listen to the full episode here or read the transcript here to gain a deeper understanding.
• Engage Candidates: Ask your local representatives how they plan to address affordable housing and food security.
• Vote: Your vote can make a difference in shaping policies that promote equity and support the social economy.