The founding purpose of the Society is to encourage, promote, provide and/or operate housing for those who cannot currently purchase or rent affordable housing on Saturna Island.

Our definition of “affordable” is that used by both Federal and Provincial Government agencies: Housing is affordable only if no more than 30% of household income is being used for housing purposes, or where options exist locally to bring housing costs down to 30% or less.

Our great concern is that the Diversity of our Community is being eroded by the lack of housing for young families and working people, with the potential end result of a retirement enclave lacking both local services and vitality.

The Saturna Community Housing Society is looking for ways to promote or achieve “community housing” that will be affordable to the first occupants, and stay affordable for future occupants. Housing as a community resource. This can be done by creating opportunities to reduce the land cost per unit through land leases or deed restrictions that limit rents or resale prices. The Society could hold land (donated or part-donated), and/or manage covenants placed in favour of a government entity (perhaps the LTC or CRD or BC Housing).

While every effort would be made to contain building costs by design, truly affordable dwelling units can probably only be achieved with the addition of donations of materials, services or money.

The Saturna Community Housing Society recognizes that its ability to serve the community of Saturna depends on the community’s will to participate in creating solutions.

With thanks to the administrators of the Saturnacan Webpage for posting this introduction, and some of our current and future articles and notices.

April 29th 2008 Public Meeting Notes
So What do you mean by "affordable housing"?
What is a Land Trust?

Charles Reif, President
Anthony Green, Vice-President
Ellen McGinn, Secretary
Frank Godwin, Treasurer October 6, 2008
Annie Simmonds, Director at Large

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