In this episode of the Housing NOW: Shelter SGI Podcast, host Roberta sits down with Joyce Budnyk, a dedicated community leader on Pender Island and coordinator of the Housing NOW Program.

Joyce brings a wealth of experience from her work with the Pender Island Food Bank, where she has seen firsthand how closely housing and food security are connected. Together, they explore the growing housing challenges across the Southern Gulf Islands and the innovative, community-driven solutions emerging in response.

Joyce shares insights into the Housing NOW Program, including the Homeshare Registry—an initiative designed to connect homeowners with those in need of housing in a way that builds trust, stability, and community.

This conversation highlights both the urgency of the housing crisis and the power of local action to create meaningful change.

Learn More: Visit the Housing NOW website to explore the Housing Registry Program or connect with a team member in your community.

Get Involved: Have a question or guest suggestion for a future episode? Click the link in the show notes to send us an email!

In today’s episode, Adam sits down with Eric Booth to discuss the growing housing crisis on Salt Spring Island and the need for long-term solutions. With decades of local experience, Eric explains how rising prices, limited rentals, and an unaffordable market are impacting the island’s workforce. He reflects on past efforts and highlights models like Whistler’s Housing Authority as a path forward—emphasizing the need for workforce housing that builds stability and equity.

This conversation also explores:

• Why workforce housing is essential for sustaining island communities

• The long-term implications of rising housing costs

• The need to plan not just for today—but for 2050 and beyond

• Bold ideas around land use, density, and infrastructure

• Rethinking water capacity and growth assumptions

At its core, this episode is about confronting the scale of the challenge—and thinking differently about what solutions might actually work.

Learn More: Visit the Housing NOW website to explore the Housing Registry Program or connect with a team member in your community.

Get Involved: Have a question or guest suggestion for a future episode? Click the link in the show notes to send us an email!

How can reliable transportation help Southern Gulf Islands communities stay strong—so workers can afford to live here, families can thrive, and no one feels isolated?

In Episode 2, host Roberta talks with Michael Hoebel, a long-time Galiano resident, retired civil servant, and president of the Galiano Island Community Transportation Society. Mike shares his decades on the island, the evolving housing crunch for essential workers and families, and what inspired him to lead the launch of Galiano's first-ever transit service: two electric minibuses now providing scheduled rides.

Hear how the project came together with federal funding, why transit directly supports housing affordability by connecting people to jobs and services, and how it could help attract and retain younger residents. Mike offers practical advice for other small islands facing similar challenges. A hopeful, grounded conversation full of real ideas for more connected and sustainable island life.

Learn More: Visit the Housing NOW website to explore the Housing Registry Program or connect with a team member in your community.

Get Involved: Have a question or guest suggestion for a future episode? Click the link in the show notes to send us an email!