Co:Here Housing

What you should know about Co:Here Housing

Co:Here Housing is a four‑storey, mixed‑income apartment building in East Vancouver (Grandview‑Woodlands), developed on the former Grandview Church parking lot. Initiated by Grandview Church and Salsbury Community Society and developed by Co:Here Foundation, the project opened its first affordable housing building in 2018. The building is explicitly designed to prioritize community, mutual care and social sustainability alongside affordability and environmental performance. The project contains 26 self‑contained units—18 studios, 4 one‑bedroom and 4 two‑bedroom apartments—arranged on the 2nd through 4th floors in two pod‑like groups to foster shared seating areas and access to natural light and urban porches. Each unit includes a kitchen and the essentials for independent living. Common facilities at the main level include a large community kitchen, dining room, living room and meditation space; smaller shared lounges, balconies and laundry areas are provided on resident floors. A courtyard, community garden and large patio support outdoor activity, food growing and neighbourly interaction. Operationally the building is managed and tenancies are overseen by Salsbury Community Society. Tenant selection emphasizes an income mix and resident commitment to community life; selected residents are expected to actively participate in shared decision‑making and communal rhythms such as community dinners and work days. The stated goals are to provide economically sustainable housing for people who are homeless or at risk, to cultivate mutual support across socio‑economic diversity, to reduce environmental impact, and to serve as a replicable prototype for faith groups and non‑profits. Financially, the project completed an $11.9 million capital campaign and the webpage indicates rental revenue is intended to sustain a balanced operating budget that covers maintenance, a building manager and replacement reserves. The building was designed with environmental considerations in mind and references adherence to LEED Gold standards to reduce ongoing negative environmental impact. Beyond the single building, Co:Here Foundation is scaling its capacity to act as a not‑for‑profit early‑stage development consultant for faith‑based organizations interested in creating affordable housing on church or faith property. Recent activity noted on the site includes participation in virtual events for church leadership, organizational development since 2020, and selection for CMHC Housing Supply Challenge implementation funding to support growth of these consulting services.