SERC 1 Research
BALTA’s Social Economy Research Cluster (SERC) 1 focuses on research regarding the role of the social economy and social enterprises in human services and affordable housing. Research projects began in 2007 and will continue through to 2011. SERC 1 has prioritized research on the following themes:
- Affordable housing
- Co-operative housing
- Co-operative models of social care, including elder care and employment training
- Co-operative development
- Social purpose capital markets
- The role of faith based organizations in the social economy
The broad context and mandate for SERC 1's research program is derived from the BALTA proposal to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to establish a five year research network and program.
SERC 1’s annual research program, including a summary of specific projects, is laid out in annual workplans:
No general workplan was produced for 2009-2010, though several individual new projects (see below) were launched during that period.
To date, SERC 1 has implemented (completed or nearing completion) nine research projects. Two other projects have begun implementation in 2010 and a twelfth project is under development.
SERC 1 Housing Research Review – 2008
This presentation to BALTA’s 2008 symposium reviews the results of BALTA's housing related research in 2007-2008. It focuses specifically on two research projects: Project A1 - Innovative Use of Housing Co-operative Assets; and Project A5 - Affordable Housing Assessment and Strategic Planning, Kootenay Region.
Project A1 – Innovative Uses of Co-operative Housing Assets
Project Lead: Carol Murray, B.C. Co-operative Association
Student Research Assistant: Rebecca Pearson, University of British Columbia
Between 1969 and 1993, approximately 82,000 affordable housing units were created across Canada through federal and provincial support of housing co-operatives. That generation of housing co-ops is beginning to pay off their mortgages, meaning that each co-op will own its valuable property outright. The original objective of this study was to investigate the potential for leveraging these assets to provide capital for the creation of new co-operative housing. Upon investigation, it was found that the sector faces challenges which will make such an approach unlikely. The resulting research explores these challenges and some options for innovation with respect to use of co-op assets.
Project A2 – Co-operative Models of Social Care
Project Lead: John Restakis, B.C. Co-operative Association
Student Research Assistants: Ondrej Filip, Simon Fraser University; Alison Dunnet-Holzer, Simon Fraser University
This project examined the role that co-operatives are playing in the provision of health and social services in Canada and internationally, and the impact of government policy, legislation, and operating procedure on the ability of co-operative models to provide these services. Two aspects of the project have specifically explored co-op elder care in Canada and enabling policy for health and social co-ops in British Columbia, Canada. The overall thrust of the research is to explore the potential for the social economy as a consumer controlled and community level alternative to the prevailing models of health and social services supplied either by government or the private sector. A book based on the research will be published in Fall 2010.
Report - Enabling Policy for Health and Social Co-ops in BC
Report - Co-op Elder Care in Canada
Power point presentation on Project A2 research - presentation to 2009 BALTA symposium
*Note: Ignore the first slide, which covers a related project.
Project A3 – The Social Purpose Capital Market in B.C. and Alberta
Project Leads: Martin Garber-Conrad, Edmonton Community Foundation; Jenny Kain, City of Edmonton; and Rebecca Pearson (Phase 2), VanCity Capital Corporation
Student Research Assistants: Rebecca Pearson (Phase 1), University of British Columbia; Jonathan Lawrence (Phase 2), University of British Columbia
The social economy has grown significantly as a result of decreased government funding and an emphasis on diversification of revenue. There has been an increase in the number of social economy organizations including social enterprises, non-profit corporations and innovative hybrid organizations. Social economy organizations require different types of capital at various stages of development and the resources available and potentially available to the non-profit sector form a distinct capital market. E.g. there are an increasing number of donors and investors interested in ‘venture philanthropy’ and in seeking a social return on their investment. This study examined the non-profit sector capital market in British Columbia and Alberta and opportunities to use these resources in innovative ways to support the growth and transformation of the social economy sector.
Power point presentation on Project A3 - presentation to 2009 BALTA symposium
Project A4 – Role of Faith Based Organizations in the Social Economy
Project Lead: Bob McKeon, St. Joseph’s Theological College, University of Alberta
Research Assistants: Catherine Madsen; James Rodrigo, Newman Theological College
The history of the social economy movement in Canada shows significant faith community engagement and this continues to the present day. This project investigated the role that faith-based organizations play in the social economy in Alberta and British Columbia, and explored ways in which this role can be strengthened and expanded in the future. This included identifying and analyzing innovative approaches and best practices presently being used in Alberta/BC, other jurisdictions in Canada and beyond.
Revised project proposal - 2008-2009
Power point presentation on Project A4 - presentation to 2009 BALTA symposium
 |
Grandview Heights – New co-operative senior citizens housing |
Project A5 – Affordable Housing Assessment and Strategic Planning, Kootenay Region
Project Lead: George Penfold, Selkirk College
Student Research Assistant: Andy Dhillon, Simon Fraser University
The Regional Innovation Chair (RIC) in Rural Economic Development at Selkirk College was established in 2006 to conduct a program of research in rural economic development. The work of the Chair is based on community needs and on partnerships with local and regional organizations and businesses. George Penfold, the RIC, is a member of BALTA’s SERC 1 and led a project looking at affordable housing in the Kootenay Region. The project included both an affordable housing assessment phase and support to strategic planning on future affordable housing development. In addition to BALTA, the project was supported by the Columbia Basin Trust and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
Project methodology and results – Extensive information about the research methodology and results, as well as community presentations resulting from the research, is available on the website of the Selkirk College Regional Innovation Chair.
Project A6 – The Fraser Valley Social Economy with Reference to Affordable Housing Provision and Related Support Services
Project Leads: Ron van Wyk, Mennonite Central Committee, BC; Anita van Wyk, University of the Fraser Valley
Student Research Assistants: Tanya Jonker, University of the Fraser Valley; Kate McBride, University of Victoria
This project, nearing completion, will provide a portrait of the nature, dynamics and extent of the social economy in the Upper Fraser Valley, specifically with regard to the provision of affordable housing and related support services. The project is analyzing the supply of affordable housing and related support services relative to demand, identifying support services that are necessary to make affordable housing successful, and identifying the policy and program changes necessary to enhance the provision of affordable housing.
Power point presentation on Project A6 - presentation to 2009 BALTA symposium
Project A7 – Co-op Housing Futures: A Spatial Design Research Approach
Project Lead: Noel Keough, University of Calgary
Student Research Assistants: Brad Braun, University of Calgary; Maha AbuHafeetha, Kira Adams, Matt Knapik, Krista Robertson, Deeter Schurig, University of Calgary
This project involved a team of Environmental Design students at the University of Calgary working with the Sunnyhill Housing Cooperative in Calgary to explore options for its future using a design approach. Elements to be considered in the design were post-carbon urban living, socio-cultural, economic and ecological sustainability and resilience, as well as intensification and diversity of land uses.
The co-op undertook this project as part of the Southern Alberta Housing Co-operative Association’s Vision 2020 process. This action research design initiative was intended to support the Vision 2020 exercise while offering the Sunnyhill Co-operative thoughtful and creative options for their future. The process was subsequently evaluated as a model for possible use by other housing co-ops.
Report on Project A7 - presentation to 2009 BALTA symposium
Power point presentation on the evaluation of the design approach
Project A8 – Creating a Database of Social Enterprise Capital Providers in BC and Alberta
Project Leads: Rebecca Pearson & Emily Beam, VanCity Capital Corporation
Student Research Assistant: Amanda Polak, University of British Columbia
This project involved surveying the range of capital providers for social enterprise financing in the two provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. The resulting data was made available in an online database hosted by Enterprising Non-Profits.
Project A9 – Affordable Housing: Sustainable Management of Housing by Not-for-Profits and Co-ops
Project Leads: Joanna Buczkowska, University of British Columbia, George Penfold, Selkirk College
Student Research Assistant: Jana Svedova, University of British Columbia
This project examined a range of successful cases of affordable housing provision through social economy organizations (non-profits and co-ops) in the face of decreased government financial support. The intent was to document models of innovation in increasing financial sustainability and management of housing provision and to identify approaches that could be of benefit to others seeking to implement similar initiatives.
Project final report and case studies
Power point presentation on Project A9 - presentation to 2009 BALTA symposium
Project A10 – Role of Faith Based Organizations in the Social Economy – Phase 2 - The Role of Catholic Religious Orders and the Mennonite Community
Project Lead: Bob McKeon, St. Joseph’s Theological College, University of Alberta
Research Assistants: To be determined
This is a second phase of research, following up on Project A4 completed in 2009. It continues the examination of the history of the role of faith based organizations in the social economy, focusing particularly on the role of the Mennonites and Catholic religious orders.
Project A11 – Success Factors for Recently Incorporated BC and Alberta Co-operatives
Project Leads: John Restakis and Carol Murray, BC Co-operative Association; Michele Aasgard and Richard Stringham, Alberta Community and Co-operative Association
Student Research Assistants: Maryanne Mathias, University of British Columbia; Celia Lee, University of Calgary
This project is exploring factors impacting on the survival of recently incorporated co-operatives in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. The research aims to identify the ways in which a co-op's early development and incorporation might be assisted as well as ways by which a co-op's demise might have been averted.
Project A12 – Rural Seniors Housing Needs in the West Kootenay Boundary Region
Project Lead: George Penfold, Selkirk College
Student Research Assistant: To be determined
This project, still being developed, would look at the perceptions of rural based seniors regarding their housing needs. It would focus on seniors in the West Kootenay Boundary region of British Columbia, Canada.
Project D1 – Literature Review for SERC 1 - Social Enterprise in Human Services and Affordable Housing
Project Lead: Mark Roseland, Simon Fraser University
Student Research Assistant: Rob O’Brien, Simon Fraser University
One of the first steps in any research process is to undertake a thorough review of the existing literature in a particular area in order to understand the field of knowledge that is being drawn from and built upon. It is also important from an academic point of view to “map” the existing literature in order to situate the contributions of BALTA within the broader social economy field. This is one of three parallel literature reviews conducted in early 2007 for each of the three BALTA Social Economy Research Clusters (SERCs).
