Yesterday, St. Alban’s was privileged to host the Building Hope – Senior’s Housing Forum, organized by the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition. The forum brought together community members, advocates, and leaders with one shared purpose: to ensure that seniors in our city are not left without a place to call home.

As rector of St. Alban’s, I was honored to welcome our guests and speakers into our sacred space. It was especially meaningful to hear from BC’s Seniors Advocate, Dan Levitt, who set the stage with a clear call to action on the urgent need to address the growing risk of senior homelessness.

We were then enriched by a thoughtful panel discussion featuring:

• Zabeen Rahiman from Seniors Services Society, who spoke to the realities faced by seniors navigating housing insecurity and the importance of coordinated supports.
• Bar Mikulec from the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC (COSCO), who emphasized the role of advocacy and collective voice in shaping policy and protecting seniors’ rights.
• Pat Steiner from Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, who shared community-based perspectives on how local networks and grassroots initiatives can make a tangible difference in keeping seniors housed.

The forum reminded us that housing is more than shelter—it is dignity, security, and belonging. Yet more and more seniors are facing homelessness, becoming and being homeless. Increasingly, they must compete with younger renters for market-value housing, even as rents climb higher and higher.

At the same time, many seniors cannot afford to retire. They are forced to work past their retirement age, but because of physical conditions, they often cannot compete with younger workers. Many businesses are reluctant to hire seniors, leaving them caught between unaffordable housing and inaccessible employment. This double burden makes the risk of homelessness even greater.

As I reflect, I am reminded that forums like this are not just events; they are seeds of change. They call us to advocacy, to solidarity, and to deeper commitment with those most vulnerable. We need more affordable housing for seniors, not tomorrow, but today. May we continue to build hope, not only in words but in tangible commitments that ensure every senior has a safe place to live.