Who we are
Our History
Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Co-operative (QNCH) grew out of the work of a group of dedicated volunteer members of Queens Care Society.
Queens Care Society (QCS), a registered non-profit organization in Queens County, has been established since 2015. QCS mandate is to improve the lives of the elder population living in our diverse communities. As a group of volunteers, QCS assesses the priority needs of older adults, identifies solutions and advocates for those who are marginalized. The priority of QCS’s action plan in 2021-2022, was to seek sustainable opportunities for affordable, safe, accessible, and green housing for seniors in our communities.
Although the focus is on the elderly population, QCS has proven that success with the senior population translates into success for the entire community. For example, QCS ability to create a transportation service (Queens County Transit) for seniors, also serves persons with accessibility challenges, providing those without the economic means to travel to appointments or complete necessary errands in the community. This is a great benefit to the entire community.
With the support of a community housing consultant, QCS’s housing committee has evolved into a not-for-profit organization Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Ltd. to define the appropriate governance, operating structure, and partnerships for success. QNCH has incorporated into a separate non-profit co-operative housing model that will provide for a mixed income, mixed tenure approach. It is the intention to work with all levels of government (municipal, provincial, and federal) to leverage any programs and in-kind services that may be available.
Key Milestones:
QNCH receives development/site plan approvals and building permit approvals from the Region of Queens Municipality. Revised costing is completed, and capital submissions are made to CMHC Co-operative Housing Development Program and NS Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Upon announcement of the new CMHC Co-operative Housing Development Program (CHDP) , QNCH learned through discussions with CMHC and Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, that the Lawrence Street Project’s design at 26 units, would not meet the small to medium centre CHDP eligibility of a minimum of 30 units.
QNCH with the full project design team quickly pivots to design and add an additional fourplex, all one-bedroom units, to the existing site.
By mid July 2024 new permit set drawings and development application re-submitted to the Region of Queens Municipality.
Full project design complete completed on 26 units, submissions to Region of Queens Municipality for development permit and building permit. QNCH begins submissions NS Department Municipal Affairs and Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) -Affordable Housing Fund.
QNCH nears completion on the design phase with contract documents being produced and prepares for submissions for capital funding and permit submissions.
QNCH building committee continues to meet weekly with the design team. Design development phase begins, with MCW Maricor Electrical Engineering, Andrea Doncaster Structural Engineering and Gordon Ratcliffe Landscaping joining the design process.
White Point Resort hosts QNCH at their annual fundraising event On the Rocks raising over $4200.00.
QNCH building committee meets weekly with Passive Design Solutions and Able Engineering on developing base civil plan and full schematic design. Energy modelling and energy sensitivity analysis for achieving net zero is completed.
Initial site clearing begins at Lawrence Street so Geotech and civil can begin their work. Passive Design Solutions begins starts their work with the QNCH building committee on the projects schematic design.
QNCH completed the purchase of sale with RQM on the Lawrence Street site and was successful in rezoning process for this site for multi-unit residential zoning.
RQM Council approves $203,000 funding fiscal 2023/24 to support planning and pre-development activities for the Lawrence Street site.
QNCH also received a generous contribution from the Region of Queens Municipality in the amount t of $203.200 towards pre-development activities.
QNCH successful in securing NS Community Growth Housing Funding through the Community Housing Transformation Centre for both Planning and Pre-Development and Capacity Building.
Queens Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Ltd becomes incorporated.
QNCH receives confirmation of funding in the amount of $175,000,00, for a Feasibility Study-New Construction of Sustainable Affordable Housing, from Federation Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund. The feasibility study supports the integration of leading-edge deep energy efficiency measures and onsite renewable energy generation in existing affordable housing retrofit and new build projects.
“This project was made possible thanks to the contributions of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund, a program funded through an endowment by the Government of Canada.”
RQM public hearings and Council approval QNCH acquisition of 4 adjoining parcels of land in Town of Liverpool.
RQM Council approved in principle QNCH acquisition of 4 parcels and set date in November 2022 for Public Hearings.
Housing committee members with housing consultant complete extensive search for land (private, municipal, and provincial) as potential for first phase of affordable housing development.
QCS Housing Committee guided by housing consultant meet with RQM Council, local MLA, and provincial and federal funders to gain support on housing model and vision.
QCS Housing Committee was approved for initial Capacity Building Funding, through the NS Community Housing Growth Fund, and community housing consultant (Earl Mielke, Inclusive Homes Consulting) was engaged by the committee to lead and guide the committee’s work.
The Queens Care Society-Housing Committee was formed and began recruiting community members to begin its’ work. The initial committee was a core group of 4 members with rich diverse experience in government, healthcare, public administration, and community services.
Our Mission
- We believe that every resident of Queens County has the right to good quality, safe, and affordable housing – a place to call home.
- We are working to bring mixed-income, affordable, accessible housing to Queens County with a spotlight on seniors.
- We will strive to transform communities and improve the lives of residents, providing homes where they can live as independently as possible.
Our Vision
- QNHC envisions a unified multi-neighbourhood co-operative housing model approach, which would see the development of multiple housing developments through different neighbourhoods in Queens County.
- The vision is to scale to 100 + units over a three-to-five-year
- The governance model for the unified housing co-operative is a hybrid model of 4 members from the community targeting needed governance expertise, and 3 members of the tenant/co-operative community.
- The multi-neighbourhood phased approach to building new affordable co-operative housing units will be grounded in the QNHC’s vision to of mixed incomes, diversity, inclusion, as well as intergenerational neighbourhoods/communities that are sustainable, and supportive.
Our Values
Quality Neighbourhoods – we will commit to recruiting members who value diversity and inclusion and will go the extra mile for their neighbours. The residents will value differences that are brought by each individual and ensure the co-operative is a safe, sustainable environment for everyone – members, visitors, service providers and animals.
Member Satisfaction – we are committed to ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of our members by providing residents with accessible, quality, and affordable accommodations.
Strong Partnerships – we will build and maintain strong transparent relationships. Members will be supported to age in place and participate in activities.
Sustainability – we will ensure that all co-operative housing developments are financially and environmentally sustainable through critical financial and asset management oversight.
Partners
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Funders
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