“And she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in strips of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
The phrase “There was no room at the inn” evokes images of Mary and Joseph, weary from their journey, facing closed doors as they search for a place to welcome their child into the world. It’s a story we hear every Advent, but its relevance reaches beyond the holiday season. In many ways, it should resonate more deeply today, as families across Vancouver Island and across Canada confront an astounding lack of affordable housing.
A Modern Crisis: The Lack of Affordable Housing
The affordability crisis is a struggle felt by all of us in some way—impacting our own lives, or those of our neighbours, friends, and loved ones. Seniors on fixed incomes and young families are so often forced to move from the communities they call home, separated from the support networks that sustain them. This reality challenges us to ask: How can we, as a Catholic community, help?
Thinking Beyond Conventional Solutions
Like the innkeeper who offered the stable, we must start looking outside conventional solutions and reimagine what might be possible in the spaces around us.
This approach inspired a new vision in Port Alberni, where the Diocese of Victoria partnered with the Alberni Low Energy Housing Society to transform a piece of land across from John Paul II School into a vibrant, affordable family housing community. With a focus on fulfilling the Church’s mission—providing shelter, creating community, and caring for the environment—this project brought 46 affordable housing units to families in need, in the form of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes.
The Maitland Street Village is more than just an affordable housing project; it’s a sustainable community, complete with electric vehicle charging stations, community gardens, and a children’s play area. A solar farm on the site will soon generate $60,000 annually in clean energy for BC Hydro, reinforcing a commitment to environmental stewardship for generations to come. Building these kinds of projects doesn’t just provide shelter; they foster stability, support education, and offer a sense of belonging within the community.
(Photos of Maitland Street Village in Port Alberni. Source: Alberni Low Energy Housing Society.)
Reimagining Church Spaces for Community Support
For parishes, projects like this can become new centres of community life, rather than taking away from existing spaces. Through partnerships and support from local government, the Diocese can be a leader in addressing today’s housing needs, transforming underused properties, parking lots, and older buildings into spaces that offer dignity, connection, and security to all who need it.
A Call to Action During Advent
As we enter this first week of Advent and light the first candle, symbolizing hope, we are reminded of the promise that Christ’s love makes all things new. God calls us to act, bringing hope to those who feel forgotten as we imagine how we can create spaces of welcome.
So, let’s look with fresh eyes at our communities. How can we use our creativity to meet this critical need and support families like the Holy Family?
Stay tuned in the coming weeks of Advent as we explore new ways to bring purpose, shelter, and hope to those in need.
