Spaces to Thrive: Vancouver Social Infrastructure Strategy

Social infrastructure is defined as physical spaces, services, or programs, and the networks across and within physical and social spaces where people come together.

Overview

Adopted by Council in December 2021, Spaces to Thrive is Vancouver’s first strategic 10-year policy and partnership framework for City-owned and City-supported social infrastructure.

The strategy includes:

Spaces to Thrive uses a human rights based approach, which focuses on those facing vulnerabilities, to ensure fundamental human rights are protected without discrimination to achieve its vision, principles, and directions. This approach strives for better outcomes for all Vancouver residents by helping meet the space and facility needs of social and community-serving non-profits.

What's happeningSpaces to Thrive implementation updates

We have conducted a Non-Profit Colocation Study to inform the design and operations of facilities that are shared and tenanted by multiple non-profits to increase partnerships and operational efficiency. As part of our research, we consulted with social and cultural non-profits.

This report will guide the design, development, and operation of future community hubs for social and cultural organizations and non-profits in Vancouver. This work will support non-profit sector's essential work by helping build a more equitable, accessible, and resilient city.

Review the Non-Profit Colocation Study (12.6 MB)

Strategy scope

How we support social infrastructure

We support social infrastructure by:

  • Building, operating, renewing, and renovating social facilities
  • Building and leasing social facilities to non-profit organizations
  • Providing capital to non-profit organizations to build, renovate, and renew their facilities
  • Support the operation of social facilities and the needed services they provide through grants

Our funding for social infrastructure comes from:

  • City contributions - Property tax, user fees, and other operating revenue fund a majority of capital projects.
  • Developer contributions - Contributions from development, including development cost levies (DCLs) and community amenity contributions (CACs), to partially fund new and expanded amenities and infrastructure needed for growth.
  • Partner contributions - We receive funding from provincial and federal governments as well as from non-profit agencies, foundations, and philanthropists to advance Council and community priorities.