Great news everyone!

Happipad has been awarded a $250,000 grant from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the National Housing Strategy Demonstrations Initiative to expand its web-based companion housing platform.   The funding will support Happipad’s partnership with 18 community organizations located across BC and Alberta. Through these partnerships, Happipad will be launching several companion housing pilot programs and educational workshops that can benefit vulnerable population segments,including seniors, students, recent immigrants, and newcomers.

“Happipad is excited to take the next steps towards building a Canadian ecosystem around companion housing,” says Happipad CEO Cailan Libby.

“Companion housing not only provides a form of housing that is affordable, but it also promotes social connectedness and environmental sustainability. Our mission is to make companion housing safe, convenient, and accessible to all Canadians, and receiving the support of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will greatly accelerate our pace to realize this goal.”

What is Companion Housing?

Companion housing is a form of affordable shared housing that offers mutual benefits for both the host and guest. The most common arrangement is when a homeowner or tenant rents a spare bedroom to a renter. Housing companions are different from roommates because there is a greater emphasis on compatibility and sharing of the home. There is also the added benefit of companionship and security.

What Role Does Happipad Play?

Happipad has created Canada’s first dedicated web platform to enable peer-to-peer creation and self-management of companion housing arrangements. This includes procedures for safety deposits and rent payments, legal documents to protect the rights of both parties, and support to resolve conflicts and maintain household etiquette. These are features that people who want to establish a companion housing arrangement in the open market generally can’t access.

What Role Do the Partners Play?

Through strategic partnership with community organizations, Happipad aims to deploy its companion housing platform to provide companion housing opportunities that can specifically benefit vulnerable population segments, including seniors, students, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants.   Happipad’s partner network includes organizations in Kelowna, Penticton, Oliver, Vancouver, Surrey, McBride, Hornby Island, Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Red Deer.

Partner organizations:

• Kelowna Seniors Outreach Centre
• West End Seniors Network
• Affordable Housing: Vancouver Island Society
• Home Together
• Chilliwack Community Services
• Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society
• OneSky Community Resources
• Robson Valley Community Services
• Seniors Come Share Society
• DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
• Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society
• South Vancouver Neighbourhood House
• Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre
• ASSIST Community Resource Centre
• Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House
• Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization
• South Granville Seniors Centre
• Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre
• Calgary Catholic Immigration Society