Social Planning involves thorough research, analysis, and strategic development to tackle pressing social problems and elevate community results. By identifying trends, performing needs assessments, and developing effective policies, social planning aims to foster a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient community through evidence-based strategies and cooperative efforts with essential community partners and key stakeholders.
Social, Cultural, and Economic Development Framework
The City’s social plan will be integrated to focus on social, cultural and economic aspects, emphasizing sustainability and fostering relationships with the Indigenous community.
This process was facilitated by a thorough community engagement process involving diverse groups and with those, who may not always be actively engaged in civic processes, identifying top priorities to be implemented.
This framework will look at the City’s challenges to drive impactful solutions across various sectors and levels of government. It will also tie into the City’s Key Performance Indicator dashboard to monitor change, target strategic action and investment, and support shared outcomes that are accountable and generate the greatest community impact.
What has been done:
- Created a Community Infrastructure Environmental Scan Report to identify key areas to meet housing, health, community service, and support needs
- Launched the Restorative Community Dialogue process, inviting a diverse cross-section of the community to identify key needs, strengths, opportunities, and actions to support a healthy, resilient, and sustainable community.
- Endorsed the creation of its first Social, Cultural, and Economic Development Committee (SCEDC)
- City Council has endorsed the development of a shared outcome approach to support vulnerable individuals to access housing, health services, and support through promoting strong collaboration and partnerships with all levels of government, Indigenous community partners, service providers and the community.
- A Community Asset Inventory was created to work together with the community to connect individuals in various City-sponsored endeavours and projects
- Hosted the Village Cafe Resource and Referral Fair to foster support and community by connecting residents, organizations, and essential services. Each fair explored themes such as housing, community health, wellness & safety, family resilience, transportation, employment & training, community integration, and diversity celebrations.
- Tested the concept of the Citizen's Assembly, a group of individuals who explore and discuss community issues and propose solutions through solution labs to include citizens in the decision-making processes. The Citizen's Assembly will move forward to Council in Fall 2024 with targeted implementation in early 2025.
- A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Dashboard is in development to support the City's alignment of its strategic areas, key functions, and work in the community. The dashboard will allow the City to monitor in real-time that resources are being used most beneficially.
What is next?
A diverse and collaborative co-design team will shape the framework to create a model and strategic implementation plan, will inform City initiatives, align with Key Performance Indicators, and drive cooperative efforts with businesses, service providers, education institutions, networks, organizations, and community members to enhance Langley City residents’ quality of life and foster impactful community change. For more information about participation in this process, please email dkbeno@langleycity.ca or call 604.514.2800.
Timeline
| Fall 2024 | Co-Design Team and Focus Group sessions |
| Fall 2024 | the Community Forum to present a draft strategic implementation plan to the community to determine priority actions |
| Fall 2024 | Present to Council for consideration |
| Winter 2025 | Implement the plan under the guidance of the City’s Social, Cultural and Economic Development Committee |
Do you have a key challenge, focus area, or perspective that you would like the City to consider as part of its community social development, strategic initiatives, and social planning or other key issues about the community? Let us know. The City facilitates its community restorative dialogue process throughout the community in several venues and ways.
Resources:
Local governments play an important role in helping communities develop in a balanced way. Even though they are not responsible for housing, health, income support, or justice, they can bring together different groups to work towards positive results. By working with governments, businesses, organizations, and residents, local government can bring about change, combine resources, speak up for city issues, and build infrastructure for long-lasting positive impacts in Langley City, both now and in the future.
The municipality also plays a big part in helping plan, develop, and carry out community social development projects with its partners and contributors, while evaluating their impact. This helps ensure that Langley City achieves fair, inclusive, and sustainable outcomes through teamwork and strong partnership strategies.
Langley City’s Community Infrastructure Environmental Scan Report serves as the blueprint for its existing homelessness strategy, set for upcoming revisions. Numerous recommendations from this scan have already been integrated into the Langley Housing and Homelessness Table’s Strategic Plan, aligning efforts and guiding initiatives to address homelessness effectively and holistically within Langley City.
Affordable living is crucial for families and residents. Langley City demonstrates its support by actively engaging in the Langley Poverty Reduction Table and spearheading a Union of British Columbia (UBCM) funded initiative. Through a collaborative co-design process involving students, community members and agencies, Langley City is developing and testing a Station Café at Langley City Hall/Timms Centre to provide a safe space for community connection, accessibility to fresh, affordable, diverse food options, and education on fostering a healthy and sustainable food system within Langley.
For more information about how to participate in this initiative, please email dkbeno@langleycity.ca or call 604.514.2800.
Ensuring accessibility, inclusion and equity in transportation, food systems, housing, health care, public safety, and social services is crucial for Langley City’s strategic initiatives, community social development and social planning outcomes. By prioritizing these factors, the City fosters a sense of connection, belonging, support, and thriving among its culturally and socially diverse population, offering numerous avenues for participation, contribution, and enjoyment within Langley City, ultimately building a more cohesive and vibrant community for all residents to thrive.
To meet the housing needs of low-income seniors, it's important to have plenty of affordable rental options available. This includes working with the government to secure affordable rental housing and considering measures like SAFER rent supplements through BC Housing. These supplements help seniors afford market rental units by covering some of the rent cost based on their fixed income. It's important for the government to balance housing supply and demand measures to ensure both are adequately addressed.
The Development Services Department is looking into creating affordable rental units in the city as part of new apartment developments. They are researching best practices used in other Metro Vancouver municipalities to provide a wider range of rents that meet community needs. A Land Economist will also analyze the numbers to see how many affordable rental units could be included in the city through new development. A proposal for affordable housing is expected to be presented to the Council in Fall 2024 and will be considered as part of future Zoning Bylaw Update.