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Social Needs Assessment & Strategy

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Consultation has concluded

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is developing a regional Social Needs Assessment & Strategy in partnership with the City of Nanaimo, District of Lantzville, Gabriola Island Trust Committee, and the Town of Qualicum Beach.

It is supported by community partners including the Oceanside Health and Wellness Network, Nanaimo Area Health Network and the Gabriola Health and Wellness Collaborative. The resulting strategy will also be developed by engaging with the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-Naw-As and Qualicum First Nation communities.

This project builds upon previous studies such as the 2020 Regional Housing Needs Assessment and 2020 Mid-Island Region Child Care Action Plan and is intended to work towards the regional vision and goals set out in the Regional Growth Strategy.

The purpose of this project is to assess social needs and services within the region to guide future planning and programming to improve access to social supports for all citizens. The approach aligns with the key priority areas established in the the provincial TogetherBC, British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, which are:

  • Programs for families, youth and children
  • Social supports and services
  • Access to housing and homelessness
  • Access to healthy and affordable food
  • Safe, affordable transportation
  • Discrimination and stigma

How Can I Get Involved & Learn More?

  • Subscript to this project page to receive periodic updates.
  • Visit the document library to learn more about related projects and initiatives

This project has been funded by the Province of British Columbia, administered through the Union of BC Municipalities.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is developing a regional Social Needs Assessment & Strategy in partnership with the City of Nanaimo, District of Lantzville, Gabriola Island Trust Committee, and the Town of Qualicum Beach.

It is supported by community partners including the Oceanside Health and Wellness Network, Nanaimo Area Health Network and the Gabriola Health and Wellness Collaborative. The resulting strategy will also be developed by engaging with the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-Naw-As and Qualicum First Nation communities.

This project builds upon previous studies such as the 2020 Regional Housing Needs Assessment and 2020 Mid-Island Region Child Care Action Plan and is intended to work towards the regional vision and goals set out in the Regional Growth Strategy.

The purpose of this project is to assess social needs and services within the region to guide future planning and programming to improve access to social supports for all citizens. The approach aligns with the key priority areas established in the the provincial TogetherBC, British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, which are:

  • Programs for families, youth and children
  • Social supports and services
  • Access to housing and homelessness
  • Access to healthy and affordable food
  • Safe, affordable transportation
  • Discrimination and stigma

How Can I Get Involved & Learn More?

  • Subscript to this project page to receive periodic updates.
  • Visit the document library to learn more about related projects and initiatives

This project has been funded by the Province of British Columbia, administered through the Union of BC Municipalities.

Consultation has concluded

  • Regional District's Board Endorses Social Needs Assessment and Strategy

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    On November 23, 2021, the Regional District of Nanaimo's Board endorsed the Social Needs Assessment and Strategy.

    This work brings together existing research, real-time engagement with community-based organizations, local government and individuals to better understand social needs and services in the region. The resulting Strategy builds from this work to create recommended pathways to improve wellbeing and to drive systems change.

    This comprehensive document contains recommended core practices, game changer actions, regional goals and targets to help inform organizational priorities, community plans and policies and future funding opportunities.

    To learn more, the full publication is available in the Document Library on this webpage.

  • Public Engagement

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    A broad collection of voices have contributed to helping us better understand the types of social supports and services needed within our region. This information will now be used to collectively develop a Strategy to help improve access to services for all residents. Over the past year, engagement activities have included:

    Stakeholder Meetings & Interviews

    Working with Local Area Health Networks (Nanaimo Community Health Network, Gabriola Health and Wellness Collaborative and Oceanside Health and Wellness Network) in planning and engagement delivery.

    Community Survey

    A community survey was launched in March to help provide an understanding of the challenges and opportunities you may experience in accessing housing, child care and education, social supports, recreational opportunities, securing healthy food, community belonging, transportation and more.

    Sharing Circles

    Working with local service providers small group sharing circles/ focus groups were organizing to connect with individuals with lived and living experience (those who have direct experience of accessing or needing to access social supports).

    Game Changer Workshop

    A Game Changer Workshop was held in June. Game Changer refers to the Tamarack Institute’s Vibrant Communities Game Changer Approach to Poverty Reduction. Over thirty participants from a broad range of community-based organization, provincial and local government and First Nations took part in the work shop to collectively map out strategic and specific “game change” initiatives and actions to address social needs gaps in reducing poverty across the region.

    Director's Workshop

    Members of the RDN's Board of Directors were invited to hear insights into the day-to-day experiences of community members who are experiencing poverty and to identify actions that can be advanced within their jurisdictions to reduce poverty and promote equitable community development.

  • Project Objectives

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    This will be the first Social Needs Assessment & Strategy for the region. It will build on related projects such as the Regional Housing Needs Report and the RDN Strategic Plan 2019-2022.

    Through an assessment of regional poverty and community conversations, this project will develop an action plan that will:

    • Provide recommendations for local government to improve access to services for those living in poverty or at risk of poverty
    • Provide recommendations for new or expanded local government initiatives to help reduce or prevent poverty
    • Identify where other levels of government or non-governmental organizations may play a leadership or partnership role in filling identified service gaps