- Community Builders Group
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Community Builders Group (CBG) is a non profit organization based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It is known for community-based development in neighborhoods of extreme poverty. CBG currently supports indigenous community development initiatives in Canada, Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania and Haiti.[1]
Contents
History
CBG was registered as a charity in 1992 and incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia in 1999.[1]
Since 2002, CBG has been supported by two British Columbia-based social entrepreneurs, Hart Molthagen and David Ash. Philanthropic investments by the two entrepreneurs enabled the purchase of two of the four supportive housing centers operated by CBG (Jubilee Rooms on Main and Dodson Rooms on Hastings).[2][3][4] In 2006 and 2010 respectively, CBG developed the Powell Rooms on Powell and the Vogue Hotel on Granville. In total, CBG provides tenant supports for 250 persons in Vancouver's core area. In 2005, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Anhart Holdings Ltd. and CBG sponsored a research project to determine the effects of best practices in privately owned rooming houses on persons at risk to homelessness.[5]
In 2009 and 2010, CBG efforts led to the incorporation of the Society for Compassionate Adoption (SCA)[6] and the Pay it Forward Micro Credit Society.)[7]
CBG became a member of the Canadian International Development Agency in 2009 and has received funding from the Homelessness Partnership Initiative since 2008.[8]
Operational activities
Supportive Housing
In Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, CBG operates four privately owned rooming houses that provide safe and supportive housing for 250 persons. The endeavor is coordinated by tenant support workers and utilizes a bottom-up approach to building management. A tenant-based “elders" team offers peer support and regulates tenant affairs. The single room occupancy housing centers are self-organizing and self-sustaining communities that promote best practices. The initiative is supported by benevolent investors, community volunteers and innovative social services providers. Outcomes of CBG's supportive housing efforts include a reduction in the risk factors that lead to homelessness (untreated mental illness and substance abuse) and a recidivism rate (return to homelessness) of less than 5%.[5]
Compassionate Adoption
In 2006, CBG developed an initiative that provides a private adoption alternative for new born children who are about to be, or have been, apprehended by government child welfare agencies. The endeavor also provides support for parents who have had their children apprehended. The compassionate adoption program provides life-long relational supports for families that are committed to the adoption of children that are born with exposure to drugs, alcohol and other substances.[9]
International Relief and Development
CBG is involved in community-based development activities in Burundi, DR Congo, Haiti, Kenya and Tanzania. International efforts are focused on self-sustaining development with indigenous controls in regions of extreme poverty. CBG and local partners in each region focus on the reduction of under-five mortality, maternal heath issues, clean water and a pay-it-forward approach to micro credit.[1]
Network
CBG serves as a network hub for seven organizations which have emerged from the Society's efforts since 1999. Related organizations are: Afya Community Services Group, Blessed are the Poor Society, O'Connor Developments Ltd., Smart Ant Solutions,[10] Dodson Neighbourhood House Foundation,[11] Simpson Community Services Society[12] & Take the Green Challenge.[13]
Sociological modeling of emergence
CBG has pioneered research in a sociological modeling of emergence and has observed the effects of self organization on groups of marginalized persons.
A 2005, the Community Builders' research initiative entitled "A Sociological Modeling of Emergence" performed a longitudinal survey of 140 persons at risk to homelessness in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The study established a Gold Standard of best practices for privately owned rooming houses and found that tenants experienced a 40-60% reduction in addiction and mental illness rates following a six month stay in rooming houses which utilized best practices.[14]
Another research paper entitled "Emergent models of wellness: a case study of management practices in single occupant hotels of Vancouver CA" (Alexiuk, M.D., Wiebe, G.K. And Pizzi, N.J.) was submitted to the Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2005.[15]
Alexiuk, Wiebe and Pizzi utilized results of the aforementioned longitudinal study and argued that "The theory of emergence has become a useful framework for exploring salient features of dynamical systems. This framework provides insight into hitherto intractable problems in sociology and economics. One such problem is the definition of a mathematical model of homelessness that enables policy evaluation with respect to the holistic wellness of the impacted individuals. Swarm simulations provide numerical and visual results to the researcher allowing both quantitative and intuitive hypothesis testing. This paper defines a basic swarm model of homelessness, details some initial experiments and provides justification for a dynamical systems model."[15]
Suggested reading on the CBG website includes the anti-institutional philosopher, Ivan Illich (The Rivers North of the Future) and the descriptions of self-organizing societies by Jane Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities) and Deborah Gordon (Ants at Work)..[16]
References
- ^ a b c About Us, Community Builders, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ Stueck, Wendy (2009-02-16) A First Rate Take on Housing of Last Resort The Globe and Mail
- ^ Good, Marcie (December 2004), The Power of Many, Vancouver Magazine, pg 76-87, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ Bohn, Glenn (2005-01-22), From Slum to Safe Haven, The Vancouver Sun
- ^ a b Supportive Housing Community Builders, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ Compassionate Adoption Community Builders, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ Pay it Forward About Us Pay it Forward Micro Credit Society, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ http://disclosure.servicecanada.gc.ca/dtlcdn-eng.jsp?section=3&id=7803&employeepositionid=null&site=3&startdate=2009-04-01&enddate=2009-06-30&quarterid=32
- ^ Compassionate Adoption Community Builders, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ Home Page Community Builders, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ About Us Dodson Neighbourhood House Foundation, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ About Us Simpson Community Services Society, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ About Us Take the Green Challenge, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- ^ http://www.chemoton.org/ref29.html
- ^ a b Alexiuk, M.D., Wiebe, G.K., Pizzi, N.J. (May 2005) Emergent models of wellness: a case study of management practices in single resident occupant hotels of Vancouver CA, Electrical and Computer Engineering, pg 1586 - 1589, ISSN: 0840-7789
- ^ Suggested Reading Community Builders, Retrieved June 1, 2011
External links
- Community Builders Group (CBG) website
- Carrigg, David, Hotel Owner has a Social Conscience The Vancouver Courier, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- Ladner, Peter (August 2004), Benevolent entrepreneur transforms New Dodson Hotel, Business in Vancouver, Retrieved June 1, 2011
- Dodson Neighbourhood House Foundation website
- Canadian International Development Agency website
- City of Vancouver Social Development Department website
- Hungry Thumbs website
Categories:- Organizations based in Vancouver
- Non-profit organizations based in Canada
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