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"Roofs and Roots is an opportunity to create real housing solutions in our own communities"
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The Roofs and Roots Housing Co-operative is committed to developing co-operatively owned housing that is affordable, ecologically sustainable and healthy for the members who live in our buildings.
Look around our site to find out more about our unique co-op, how it got started and how it works.
How to Become a Member
The first step in becoming a member of Roofs and Roots Co-operative is to attend a membership orientation session. These are informal sessions that provide you with an opportunity to get to know the co-operative - how it operates and who's involved. We have four orientation sessions each year. Upcoming sessions are: September 15, 2009; November 24, 2009; UPCOMING DATES TBD. If you would like to become a member, contact us at roofsandrootscoop@yahoo.com to attend the next orientation session.
October 13, 2009: 1-bedroom suite in a housing co-op avail. December 1. Apply now!!
We're happy to announce that a vacancy has opened up at our Bank St. building...here are the details:
APARTMENT DETAILS:
- $715/mo
- Ground level (w/ one step)
- Recent paint job
- South facing w/ small patio area
- Private entrance
- Suitable for one person and possibly a couple (long-term partnerships; sorry, no roommates)
OTHER FEATURES:
- Heating included
- Hydro, cable & phone separate
- Shared coin laundry
- Garden space available
- Parking available
- Pets - ok upon approval (ie, must be well-behaved and not try to eat cats)
- Rent/subsidizing: our co-op does not receive government subsidies and as such the rent is at "non-market rate" (the lowest reasonable we can afford to offer)
LOCATION:
- quiet walkable neighbourhood (South Jubilee)
- close to hospital, grocery store and other services, elementary school with playground and bus routes to downtown and university
- 10 min bike ride to downtown
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
- a long term interest and commitment to our co-operative
- share values in alignment with our co-op. For example, you have an interest in being a positive contributor to a community and have a ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude. Please visit http://innovativecommunities.org/Roots/02.php
- skills & abilities that may be put to good use in the building, in the co-op, and in its mission
- a good volunteer ethic
- relatively financially stable (will be able to pay the rent on time!)
- we welcome applications from people who have and no previous involvement in the co-op
HOW TO APPLY: Request & submit an application ASAP to roofsandrootscoop@yahoo.com; or mail or drop it off to: "Manager" Box, 1511 Bank St., Victoria, BC V8R 4V5.
2. We will be short-listing the most suitable applicants for the apartment, at which time we'll ask you, if selected, to come for a short interview/meeting and to take a look at the place. TIMELINE: ~October 20-25 (we'll let you know specifics if you're chosen.)
3. In Late October, we'll let you know whether you're the one to move in! We'll let you know by October 31 so that you can give your 30 days' notice at your current place.
July 26, 2009: REPORT on Last Week's Info Session
Last week saw the Membership Outreach Committee (Nicole & Dan) host its first orientation evening. Along with fruits and veggie snacks from local farms (via the ICC Market in Bastion Square), we saw five potential members come and enjoy the evening learning about co-ops and Roofs & Roots. Thanks to everyone who attended and what a great start!
July 10, 2009: DATE CHANGE for Upcoming Information Session
The upcoming info session will now take place on Thursday, July 23. See previous news (below) for more details.
June 8, 2009: Upcoming Information Session
Good news! If you are interested in becoming a community or future resident member of the Roofs & Roots Housing Co-operative, we are now offering information sessions for would-be members. The upcoming one will be held on July 14, and thereafter once every few months.
Want to attend? Visit Check out Get Involved for more details.
May 11, 2009: Seeking new co-op members!
A year-and-a-half ago Roofs and Roots bought its first building. Tenants new and old are becoming established in the "co-op" way of life. And while there's still lots to learn and do (!), it's time to take another step forward.
And that means more members who want to help move things forward!
Check out Get Involved for more details.
October 2007: Roofs and Roots Purchases its First Building!!!
We are still celebrating the purchase of our first building. After plenty of fundraising, negotiating and simply figuring out how to "make the numbers work", we have succeeded in establishing the first new housing co-op in the CRD in over 15 years!
We have plenty of people to thank for this, in particular our board of directors and members (too many to name here) who have made contributions in multiple ways ever since our co-op first began. We also owe a special thanks to a few people who have gone out of their way to provide us with the support we needed in developing our co-op: Derek Gent of Vancity Capital, who has supported our co-op since the very beginning with his creative financing expertise, Danella Parks of Vancity who helped guide us down the right paths, Dean Fortin who's sincere support as a City of Victoria councillor for affordable housing helped lead the way in local government, Jason Found and Lindsay Cole of the Sustainable Solutions Group Workers Co-op who share our dream of green buildings and resident control and Ian MacPherson who has always made room at the BC Institute for Co-operative Studies for us to research and gain a deeper understanding of the housing co-op model.
Of course none of this would have been possible at all were it not for our funders and favourable financing.
CRD Regional Housing Trust Fund
BC Housing
City of Victoria
Vancity Foundation
Vancity Capital
Vancity
Coast Capital Savings
United Way
Real Estate Foundation of BC
We hope to draw on this support once again as we continue building our dream of co-operative ownership over one our of most basic needs: safe, affordable, secure and healthy housing!
Find out more about our Bank Street Building.
Roofs and Roots Housing Co-operative presents
"At Home: The Children's Art Mural Project"
The 'At Home' Children's Art Mural Project emerged when Paulina Eguiguren, a local artist, was approached to help out with an art exhibit to help raise funds for our co-operative. The art exhibit was transformed by Paulina into a children's art project, allowing our children to communicate their notion of the meaning of 'Home'.
WANTED
Roofs and Roots is on the search for a building. We are looking for an older building to convert to five or more 1, 2 & 3 bedroom units. Our ideal building is located in Victoria on a property with yard space for gardening. Contact us if you have or know of a building that might fit this description.
Avi Friedman Visits Victoria
 Roofs and Roots was pleased to host a presentation and visit from Avi Friedman here in Victoria. This event was a tremendous success, bringing together architects, planners, politicians, builders, students and the general community to think about how we CAN really make affordable housing happen in our municipalities. Avi's enthusiasm and positive outlook provided inspiration for many who attended his presentation or had the opportunity to meet with him in person. We are looking forward to his next visit to Victoria and to seeing the changes that are to come as architects, planners, politicians and other locals take on his challenge to "change the world".
We would like to extend a very warm thank-you to all of the sponsors and volunteers who made this event such a success!
Online Interview with Avi Friedman
Listen to Avi Friedman from your home by following this link to ekosRadio's podcast "Thinking Outside the Box". In this program, ekosRadio co-hosts Starr Munro and Rick Searle, chat with world-renowned architect and designer Avi Friedman Ph.D. (Director of Affordable Housing Program, McGill University) about the impacts of the North American obsession with monster homes. Also participating in the conversation is Joe Van Belleghem (Partner, Windmill Development) who is the force behind an innovative community development in Victoria B.C. known as Dockside Green, and Sol Kinnis (Director, Roofs & Roots Housing Cooperative). |
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