PlanH Webinar: Creating attainable housing through innovative land use planning 

ByPatrick Dunne
Penticton housing with a rainbow effect on top

BC Healthy Communities invites local governments, planners, and community partners to join an upcoming PlanH webinar exploring how innovative land use planning can unlock more attainable housing options across B.C.

This 60-minute session at 10:30 am (PT) on October 1 will feature expert insights, a community case study and an interactive Q&A. Participants will learn how linking housing with social infrastructure, building strong partnerships and adopting policy initiatives can support healthy, inclusive communities.

Speakers include:

  • Steven Collyer, Housing and Policy Initiatives Manager, City of Penticton
  • Erika Sagert, Director of Sector Capacity Services and Acting Director of Policy and Education, BC Non-Profit Housing Association

The webinar will highlight the City of Penticton’s groundbreaking Social Housing and Infrastructure Plan (SHIP), developed in partnership with local housing and service organizations and supported by a PlanH Healthy Public Policy grant. SHIP is aimed at tackling the city’s growing need for non-market housing, identifying 15 opportunity sites, and aligning infrastructure and services to better support diverse community needs.

In 2023, Penticton launched a Housing Task Force that made 18 recommendations to City Council, including the development of a social housing plan to directly address affordability challenges. With support from the PlanH grant, the City went beyond outlining needs — it convened housing and service sector partners, produced a Social Housing Needs Report with current data and identified actionable steps to advance housing projects.

This approach represents a new way forward for local governments: integrating housing with social infrastructure such as childcare, gathering spaces and community supports, ensuring new housing developments also strengthen social well-being.

Register today to learn how local governments can re-think land use to build stronger communities and more attainable housing solutions.

Register Now!