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!

For the first episode of the year, host Roberta sits down with Mayne Island Trustee Jeanine Dodds to talk rural housing realities, tiny homes, local solutions, and what gives hope for affordable housing in the Southern Gulf Islands.

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 do we create island communities where seniors can age in place, young people can afford to stay, and everyone feels they belong? In this episode, Roberta sits down with Michael Cowan, Managing Director of the SGI Neighbourhood House and Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre.

Michael shares his journey to the islands, the vital role Neighbourhood House plays as a hub of connection and support, and why housing is at the heart of building resilient, caring communities.

Learn about the unique affordable-housing challenges facing the Southern Gulf Islands, explore creative solutions like co-ops, tiny homes, and homesharing, and understand how inclusion, reconciliation, and regional collaboration can help ensure no one gets left behind.

Whether you’re a longtime islander or just curious about rural housing innovation, this conversation offers hope and practical ideas for a more sustainable future.

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 this episode, host Roberta sits down with Sarah Herring, BC SPCA’s Government Relations Officer, to explore the intersection of affordable housing and pet ownership on the Southern Gulf Islands. Sarah shares insights into the BC SPCA’s mission to protect and care for animals through sheltering, adoption, advocacy, and education. From the challenges pet owners face in finding rentals to innovative solutions like pet deposit programs and landlord education, this episode highlights the importance of creating pet-inclusive communities. Tune in to learn how we can build a more inclusive housing future where no one has to choose between their home and their beloved pets.

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 this episode of the Housing NOW SHELTER SGI Podcast, host Roberta welcomes Lori Seay-Potter, a nonprofit leader with over 25 years of experience and a passionate advocate for community-driven housing solutions. Based on Galiano Island, Lori shares her journey to the island, insights into Galiano’s unique housing needs, and her experiences living in a mainland housing cooperative. She explains what a housing cooperative is, diving into its advantages and challenges. Lori also discusses her work with the Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) and its role in advocating for housing solutions in island communities. Tune in to hear about her ongoing projects and her vision for a sustainable housing future on the Southern Gulf Islands.

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!

Join us this week for a talk with Ben Kadel from the SGI Community Justice Program and LifeBoat Academy. Ben discusses restorative justice, the Kitchen Table Conversations guidebook for homesharers, and the Circle Process for shared living. He also shares housing solutions for Pender Island and insights into the LifeBoat Academy’s work on community resilience.

Learn more and get involved! Visit our website or send us an email through the link in the show notes.