Celebrating Women Leaders Strengthening the Community Housing Sector Across B.C
Women are shaping the future of community housing across British Columbia. From non-profit housing providers to sector associations and the Rental Protection Fund itself, women are leading organizations that are protecting affordable homes, advancing equity, and strengthening communities.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognize that leadership and the impact it is having across the housing sector. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, highlights the value of partnership, collaboration, and investing in the people to create meaningful change.
When women’s leadership is supported and visible, the benefits extend far beyond housing organizations — helping ensure that more people across B.C. have stable, affordable homes.
Housing as a Foundation for Stability
Housing is more than shelter — it is the foundation on which people build their lives, and communities grow and thrive.
Anat Gogo, Executive Director of Tikva Housing Society, emphasizes the central role housing plays in shaping community:
“Housing is one of the most significant drivers of equity. Without stability of a home, economic opportunity and community participation become fragile. Protecting affordable housing is essential to building inclusive, resilient communities.”
She also highlights the power of collective leadership:
“Seeing women-led non-profits come together to protect affordable housing is both inspiring and essential. Leadership rooted in equity and lived experience drives lasting change. Together, we are building more secure and inclusive communities.”
The work of organizations like Tikva demonstrates how community housing providers can create lasting stability for the people and communities they serve.
Removing Barriers, Advancing Equity
For many women and equity-deserving groups, systemic barriers continue to make access to safe and stable housing more difficult.
Lilian Chau, Chief Executive Officer of Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society, speaks to the importance of advancing gender equity in housing:
“Advancing gender equity in housing means removing the barriers that too often leave women and equity-deserving groups behind and ensuring they have the stability to build a future. The women-led legacy of ENFHS guides us every day as we create homes rooted in safety and belonging. I'm proud to work alongside a team that brings care and courage to this work."
Addressing these barriers requires practical solutions that create housing stability. Non-profit housing providers like ENFHS, which work closely with women and equity-deserving groups, recognize that challenges such as income instability and caregiving responsibilities can make securing housing even more difficult. By protecting existing rental homes and securing long-term affordability, community housing organizations help create lasting stability for the people and communities they serve.
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A Dual Commitment to Housing Affordability
For many women in housing, their work extends beyond a career and into their communities.
Lindsay Lord, Chief Real Estate Development Officer at Connective, reflects on this dual commitment:
“Contributing to affordable housing is both a professional and personal commitment. Safe, stable homes are essential to gender equity, independence, and community belonging. Today, we recognize the women leaders transforming housing while remaining mindful of the women who need housing now, and the younger generations for whom access to affordable housing is no longer assumed, but increasingly uncertain, reinforcing why this work matters more than ever.”
Her words remind us that while we celebrate progress, the need for affordable housing for women remains urgent. In communities across B.C., high costs are putting stable housing further out of reach for many residents. Expanding access to affordable homes is an investment that supports stability today and strengthens communities for future generations.
The Impact of Women’s Leadership in Community Housing
Across British Columbia, women are leading organizations that are protecting affordable homes, expanding housing opportunities, and advancing equity in communities.
The Rental Protection Fund is proud to be part of a sector shaped by that leadership. Many of the non-profit housing providers we partner with are led by women, and two of the Fund’s founding organizations — the Aboriginal Housing Management Association and the BC Non-Profit Housing Association — are also women-led.
This International Women’s Day, we recognize the women across the community housing sector whose leadership is helping ensure that more people have access to stable, affordable homes. Their work strengthens communities across B.C. and inspires the next generation of leaders.
