April 8, 2025 • 20 mins
In this special episode of Let’s Talk Housing, Sara Goldvine passes the torch to the podcast’s new host, Mita Naidu. The two reflect on Sara’s time as host, discussing key moments, housing policies, and progress made in BC’s housing sector. Together, they explore what’s next for Sara, the future of the podcast, and what the housing sector needs most to thrive. It’s a heartfelt conversation about challenges, opportunities, and the path forward for creating inclusive communities.
Guest:
Co-Host: Mita Naidu, Director of Content Strategy, BC Housing
British Columbia is in the grips of a housing affordability crisis decades in the making. We need to find innovative solutions.
The Province has an ambitious plan to address the crisis through the largest investment in housing affordability in BC’s history.
Tasked with building tens of thousands of homes in hundreds of communities is BC Housing, the province’s agency responsible for developing, managing, and administering a wide range of subsidized housing and homelessness services across the province.
BC Housing doesn’t do this alone. To address the challenge, it’s working with hundreds of partners. In Let’s Talk Housing Season Three, you’ll get to hear from those delivering exciting affordable housing solutions.
Hosted by Sara Goldvine, episodes address deep-rooted societal issues:
- the right to affordable, accessible and culturally appropriate housing
- mental health challenges
- homelessness
- meeting the needs of women and children leaving violence
- fostering community acceptance
- role of the private sector
- Impacts of climate change on housing.
About BC Housing
BC Housing develops, manages and administers a wide range of subsidized housing options across the province. We also license residential builders, administer owner builder authorizations and carry out research and education that benefits the residential construction industry, consumers and the affordable housing sector.
We work in partnership with the private and non-profit sectors, provincial health authorities and ministries, other levels of government and community groups to develop a range of housing options.
Who we serve
- Individuals who are homeless
- Individuals with disabilities
- Indigenous individuals and families
- Women and children at risk of violence
- Low-income seniors and families
- Buyers of new homes
Learn more about BC Housing here: https://www.bchousing.org/
For more news on our latest projects and developments, visit: https://news.bchousing.org/
#podcast #home
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
A home.
It's something we all need.
But for too many, having a placeto call home is out of reach.
The challenges can seeminsurmountable.
And yet, each and every day peopleare coming together to provide safe,
quality, accessible and affordablehousing for those in need.
Welcome to Let's Talk Housing.
(00:22):
I'm your host, Sara Goldvine.
Join us as we listen to and learnfrom people in British Columbia
who are creating strong,inclusive communities
where everyone can thrive.
Hi and welcome to Let's TalkHousing.
I'm your host, Sara Goldvine.
(00:43):
To end off our season,we are joined by a special guest,
Mita Naidu, BC Housing'sDirector of Content Strategy.
You may already have seen herco-hosting this season.
I'm so excited to announcethat Mita will be
the new host of Let's Talk Housing,starting in season five.
As we begin, I'd like to acknowledgethat we're recording today from
the territories of the Musqueam,Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh
(01:06):
who've been the stewards of theselands since time immemorial.
I offer my respectto their people, past and present.
For transparency,
this episode is being recordedin December of 2024 and reflects
the issuesand priorities of the time.
Mita, welcome back to Let's TalkHousing.
Thank you, Sara. Nice to be here.
I actually have an idea.
(01:26):
I was thinking we could flipthe script a little bit.
And I know you normally askthe questions and host the podcast.
But for this episode,I thought I could ask you
a few questionsabout your journey at BC Housing.
What do you think?
Okay.
I think it's important to note
that you are headinginto a new journey in your career
(01:48):
and we wish you all the best, but
I think this isa wonderful opportunity
to just chat with youand hear some of your reflections
and thoughts about your careerand your trajectory
here at BC Housingand all the impact you've made.
Could you share a little bit
about your career path here?
Absolutely.
So I actually started my careerin research and policy.
(02:11):
And then at a certain point,I realized that
great ideas are really important,but it's even more important
that people understandand mobilize behind those ideas,
which is what brought meto communications.
And I was able to workin the communications
marketing engagement, public affairsand government relations
(02:32):
for a number of mission-driven organizations in
affordable housing and publiceducation and mental health.
And then the opportunitycame to join BC Housing.
this is just a fantasticorganization doing exciting
work around the province,which is what brought me here.
And in my time at BC Housing,the organization has scaled in
(02:55):
response to the needs and communityand the investment from government,
which has meant that we've been ableto take on
more work, complex work,
and really move into new fields
and new areaswhere we weren't delivering services
even just a few years ago,which has brought the opportunity
(03:17):
for me to also takeon supporting additional teams
and leadingorganization-wide initiatives.
So that's sort of what brings mehere today.
You know, it's so interesting.
We both have comms backgrounds,but we come from different areas.
But one thing I find rareand exceptional in your work
and something I'm very drawn tois the layering or the combination
(03:41):
or the grounding of equityand communications work.
And I think that's somethingvery unique
that you bring specifically.
How has that developed foryou here at BC Housing?
What does that meant for you at BC Housing?
One of the reasons why I was drawn
to join BC Housing initially was the
(04:04):
value that the organizationright from the executive
on down places on equityas well as on reconciliation.
So that was a real draw for me.
And I think that it's partlybecause as an organization
when we're workingin the housing system
and the same could be said really
with mental healthand social services in general
is that every day we seethe impacts of oppression,
(04:29):
see the impacts of marginalization,
we see the impacts
of colonialism in our work every daybecause we're serving
the folks who are most impactednegatively by those systems.
And so it leads itselfto really important conversations
around how we build better systemsthat are going to support everyone.
And so I would say thatat first when I joined BC Housing,
(04:51):
was the draw for the ...
for me for the organizationwas the real recognition
of the importance of embedding an equity analysis
right across the entire organization.
And over time, I've also hadthe opportunity to work more closely
as well with the Office of Equity,Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging,
(05:12):
in particular for the past year,and support their work
as we advance the organization-wideequity action plan.
And that's a big mouthful.
What is that exactly?
Yeah, so our Equity Action Plan,which is something
that has been underwayfor some time, so I can't,
I certainly wouldn't want to suggestthat I'm taking credit for it,
(05:33):
but I've been able to layerin a bit of support
for the teamover the past few months.
The Equity Action
Plan is BC Housing's commitment
to our own employees,to our partners,
and to the people we serve aroundspecific and concrete actions
that we will take to advanceequity in the work that we do.
(05:53):
So ultimately, we recognize thatto be able to deliver
on our vision of a future whereeveryone has a place to call home,
we need to understand
what the barriers are for folksto accessing housing
and then address those
in our processes, in our policies,in the way that we work.
And also,of course, through communications so
(06:14):
that we can deliver the bestservices for the people in British Columbia.
And that's so critical.
Communities are so diverse with
such differentneeds across the province.
This couldn't have been an easyundertaking in a climate
in which people are questioningthe value of equity and diversity.
(06:35):
But yet BC Housinghas made that commitment.
And that's really important.
What are some of the challengesthat have come along with having
such a deep commitmentto equity at BC Housing?
I think that it'ssimilar challenges to any large
transformationinitiative, to be honest.
(06:56):
And I think that
the challengeis always with any transformative
change, getting the pace rightand the sequencing right.
Because to be sustainable,change needs to bring people along.
And the same is true for equity.
And that's in particular challengingbecause of the diversity
of peoplewho are being served and impacted.
(07:18):
There's differential...
the way that equity work impactspeople and populations is very,
very diverse because ofthe diversity of experiences.
And so getting that balance rightbetween delivering tangible change
and moving forwardin a way that really impacts people
while ensuring that the changeis sustainable and meaningful
(07:39):
and not just performativeis in my experience, that's the most
challenging part of the work.
And there are different waysto approach the work, right?
So we have policy, we have programs,and we have communications.
And I'm a big fan of storytelling.
(07:59):
It is something
that has been embeddeddeeply in my community and my family
as a way to communicate,as a way to share, as a way
to learn, as way to listento things that matter to us all.
So how does communicationsspecifically play into
moving the needle when it comesto equity?
(08:21):
Well, we know that humans are wiredfor story.
Sharing information through a story
leads to better informationretention.
People will retain six
to 20 times more informationif it's delivered through a story.
And storytellingis also very effective at building
empathy through narrativetransportation and neural coupling.
(08:41):
I won't get into the brain science,but in essence,
we've got brain sciencenow that proves what societies
have known since timeimmemorial, is story.
Story is away to bring people together.
So for me, story is
particularly important in movingany significant change forward
and it's even more importantfor moving forward equity work.
(09:04):
So there's this Thomas King quote,
he's my favourite author,I adore Thomas King.
And he has this quote,stories are wondrous things
and they are dangerous.
And that's so truebecause stories are so powerful,
we need to understandthe power dynamics at play
so that we can usestorytelling for good.
(09:27):
And that is integral for advancing
any change that's going to havea positive impact
on community, including equitywork.
And that's part of bringing peoplealong is considering
the importance of storyand how we share all the work.
What are some of the lessons
(09:48):
that have comefrom all of these realizations
that you've made at BC Housing?
Yeah, so when I first joined BC Housing,I came in with my 90-day plan
and I had a, you know,had it mapped out and actually
mostly hitall my goals in the 90-day plan.
And then right as I was movinginto the next phase,
we got hit by a little somethingcalled the COVID-19 global pandemic.
(10:12):
And so I think thatone of my big lessons in my time
here has been just the importancethat it's really important
to mobilize people around a vision.And you can only plan so much.
If people are
mobilized around the end goal,though we can
absolutely get therebecause the rest sorts itself out.
(10:35):
So what we've discovered,for example, in that first
period of time,in that first year at BC Housing was
we actually deliveredon some of our goals way ahead
of planand others needed to be bumped out.
But ultimatelywe were able as a team
to mobilize towards our end goalof where we wanted to be
despite the buffeting changesthat were coming.
(10:55):
And that's somethingthat has really continued to impact
how I approach my work.
What have been some of the keythings that you're really proud of
that your branchdelivered?
Honestly, what I'm most proud ofis the team.
We've got a teamthat is just full of really,
really wonderful people,people like you, Mita,
and people like the teamthat puts this podcast together.
(11:17):
And we have a collection of really,really great folks who
support each other,who push each other,
who hold each other accountablefor doing the work well,
and who have each other's backswhen we're trying new things
and really stretching ourselvesand trying to move into new spaces.
I feel like projects come and goand they're so important,
(11:37):
but if you can get the team right,if you can support each other,
that's to methe most important part and
something that I thinkwe have been able
to really foster here at BCHousing.
I completely agree.
I'm a year in andI think I should make it transparent
for listeners that you are my leaderin the branch.
(11:59):
And I've really been
so moved by the
way that you have emphasized culture
and the importance of kindnessand compassion and equity
and team buildingand community building.
And I think those values, oncethey're fostered
(12:19):
internally,naturally flow externally.
I can definitely say
that's something that I've seen overthe last year of my tenure here.
And that's something that you leadbeautifully.
And I'm very excitedfor your next role
and for all the thingsyou're going to achieve.
What's next for you?
I've got the housing bug
(12:40):
and I'm also exceptionallypassionate about mental health
and really building a future
where peoplewith mental illness are supported
so that they can thrive.
And so I'm really pleasedthat I'm going to be moving on
to Coast Mental Healththat delivers services for folks
with mental illness and addictionsincluding through
housing and employment servicesand other programs.
(13:02):
And so I'm going to be joiningthat team in the new year as
Chief Operating Officer.
It's amazing. And we're so excited for you.
And we will absolutely stay incontact and in community with you.
Sad for us, you know, to be
honest, it's sad for us,but we will carry forth your legacy.
And I agree, we have an amazing teamin place that really values
(13:28):
the same values that you do.
I'm curiousas to who your mentors are,
and who are the peoplethat have really kind of influenced
your perspectives and values?
Yeah, that's a great question.
So I started askingwhy in kindergarten, and then I
never stopped, much to the chagrinof some of my teachers.
And I think because of that,
(13:50):
I take inspirationfrom some really unusual places.
I really like askingpeople questions, which is why
love this podcast, and reallyunderstanding what drives people.
And so for example, here at BCHousing, had one of
our frontline folks,
a janitor, reach out to me
(14:10):
directly and wanted to talkabout communications.
We hopped on a call,we had a digital meeting
because she was on the site,and was able to get some really good
guidance aroundwhat desk-listen and frontline
workers were looking for.
was a long-service employee.
I think that for me, I really...
like to look for any opportunityfor folks to be able to
(14:35):
tell me more about what
they need and perhaps shinea light on where some gaps are
so that I can really helpdrive impact in a way
that makes the most changefor folks.
I would love to knowthe genesis of this podcast.
How did this come into being?
Yeah, so this is season four.
(14:56):
And of course, lots of organizationsare doing podcasts these days.
So I don't want to pretendthat BC Housing
had this idea that no one else did.
What we really wanted to do though,and what the pitch was initially,
was finding an opportunity for BCHousing as a provincial agency,
as an organizationthat works with hundreds
of nonprofits across the province,to be able to create
(15:17):
a space for voicesthat would not
otherwise be heardas part of the housing conversation.
And part of the reason why we didthat was really recognizing
that one of the biggest barriersto delivering
housing and homelessness servicesin community is
a lack of informationor sometimes blatant misinformation.
So our goal was to create a spacewhere we could help address
(15:42):
that lack of information andmisinformation by creating the space
for folks to share their storiesand their perspectives.
and creating that contentthat we could share with communities
ultimately so that we can helpcreate more housing and homelessness
services right across BritishColumbia.
And content comes in so many forms.
(16:04):
You are at the helmof all of the ways that BC
Housing engages with the public.
The podcast is one way,websites, social media,
industry engagement,and community engagement.
There are so many waysthat we reach out and try to ensure
that the people impactedthe most by housing issues
(16:28):
are heard.
And I really think this podcastis an amazing opportunity
to get deeper into those stories
when we can't do that elsewhere.
Absolutely. The interesting thing about housingis even though for BC Housing,
our services are,
we directly serve a relatively smallportion of the population compared
(16:49):
to, for example, BC Hydro, right,or some other Crown agencies.
However,everyone has an experience of home.
And certainlywhen the housing system is not
working well, that impactsalmost everybody.
There's a small portion of folkswho aren't impacted, but the vast
majority of people are impacted
when the housing systemis not working well.
So part ofwhat's interesting about this space
(17:13):
is that we do need to prioritizethose folks that we serve directly.
And we also need to ensure thatwe're demonstrating to everyone how
we're helping the housing systemwork well, because that's ultimately
what helps us ensure that we havea thriving community.
where everyone wants to live andeveryone can be part of a community
(17:34):
where they feel like they belongand they can have a healthy
and thriving life.
And communitiescome in all shapes and sizes
and they're internaland they're external.
BC Housing is a community.
are, you know,
1300 people strong and growing and
those stories need to be told too,I think.
(17:55):
You know, we are all experiencing
the housing concern and crisisin different ways.
Whether we're working towardssolving the problem,
whether we're livingand experiencing the problem,
there are many voices internallyhere too,
that would be really niceto highlight and bring forward.
(18:15):
Well, Mita, maybe I can ask you a question.
Absolutely.
What are the plans for season five?
Are you moving forwardwith the podcast?
We are absolutely moving forward.
We have some amazing surprisesahead.
I think what's fascinatingabout this particular podcast
is that there are so many storieswithin housing
(18:36):
and so many wonderful projectsbeing done in the sector,
that we can highlight and share.
And, you know,I'm not going to have your voice
and your particular take, but I'mgoing to do it my way a little bit.
And, just really lead with a curiosity
and an interest in all the things
(18:58):
that the housing sector does.
There's a lot of change and there'sa lot of momentum forward
and there's a lot of drive to dothe right thing and support people.
And I would love to just diveinto that and dig into that.
I'm so looking forward to it.
I'm going to tune in.
Absolutely.
Number one fan over here.
Thanks, Sara. Talk soon.
(19:19):
As we wrap season four,I'd like to extend a special
thanks to everyonewho has made this podcast happen.
When we launched Let's Talk Housing,it was the first
for a large public sectororganization in BC.
We knew we wanted to create a spacefor discussions with the many folks
in BC
who are coming together to providesafe,
quality, accessible and affordablehousing for those in need.
(19:41):
We weren't surehow it would turn out
and my it's turned outto be a great success.
This only happened because ofthe support of our colleagues here
at BC Housing,
the trust of the province,and most of all, the goodwill
of the many guests
who have brought their wisdomand insights to the space.
I'm excited to listen into what comes next on the podcast
(20:02):
in season five, under the guidanceof incoming host Mita Naidu.
Let's talk again soon.
To learn more about BC Housing,including how to apply
for subsidized housing in BritishColumbia, visit bchousing.org.
You can also find us on Facebook,Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
(20:22):
If you enjoyed this episode,give us a rating.
This will help others
find Let's TalkHousing and join the conversation.
You can subscribe to Let's TalkHousing on Apple, Spotify,
or whereveryou listen to your podcasts.
A home.
It's something we all need.
But for too many, having a placeto call home is out of reach.
The challenges can seeminsurmountable.
And yet, each and every day peopleare coming together to provide safe,
quality, accessible and affordablehousing for those in need.
Welcome to Let's Talk Housing.
(00:22):
I'm your host, Sara Goldvine.
Join us as we listen to and learnfrom people in British Columbia
who are creating strong,inclusive communities
where everyone can thrive.
Hi and welcome to Let's TalkHousing.
I'm your host, Sara Goldvine.
(00:43):
To end off our season,we are joined by a special guest,
Mita Naidu, BC Housing'sDirector of Content Strategy.
You may already have seen herco-hosting this season.
I'm so excited to announcethat Mita will be
the new host of Let's Talk Housing,starting in season five.
As we begin, I'd like to acknowledgethat we're recording today from
the territories of the Musqueam,Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh
(01:06):
who've been the stewards of theselands since time immemorial.
I offer my respectto their people, past and present.
For transparency,
this episode is being recordedin December of 2024 and reflects
the issuesand priorities of the time.
Mita, welcome back to Let's TalkHousing.
Thank you, Sara. Nice to be here.
I actually have an idea.
(01:26):
I was thinking we could flipthe script a little bit.
And I know you normally askthe questions and host the podcast.
But for this episode,I thought I could ask you
a few questionsabout your journey at BC Housing.
What do you think?
Okay.
I think it's important to note
that you are headinginto a new journey in your career
(01:48):
and we wish you all the best, but
I think this isa wonderful opportunity
to just chat with youand hear some of your reflections
and thoughts about your careerand your trajectory
here at BC Housingand all the impact you've made.
Could you share a little bit
about your career path here?
Absolutely.
So I actually started my careerin research and policy.
(02:11):
And then at a certain point,I realized that
great ideas are really important,but it's even more important
that people understandand mobilize behind those ideas,
which is what brought meto communications.
And I was able to workin the communications
marketing engagement, public affairsand government relations
(02:32):
for a number of mission-driven organizations in
affordable housing and publiceducation and mental health.
And then the opportunitycame to join BC Housing.
this is just a fantasticorganization doing exciting
work around the province,which is what brought me here.
And in my time at BC Housing,the organization has scaled in
(02:55):
response to the needs and communityand the investment from government,
which has meant that we've been ableto take on
more work, complex work,
and really move into new fields
and new areaswhere we weren't delivering services
even just a few years ago,which has brought the opportunity
(03:17):
for me to also takeon supporting additional teams
and leadingorganization-wide initiatives.
So that's sort of what brings mehere today.
You know, it's so interesting.
We both have comms backgrounds,but we come from different areas.
But one thing I find rareand exceptional in your work
and something I'm very drawn tois the layering or the combination
(03:41):
or the grounding of equityand communications work.
And I think that's somethingvery unique
that you bring specifically.
How has that developed foryou here at BC Housing?
What does that meant for you at BC Housing?
One of the reasons why I was drawn
to join BC Housing initially was the
(04:04):
value that the organizationright from the executive
on down places on equityas well as on reconciliation.
So that was a real draw for me.
And I think that it's partlybecause as an organization
when we're workingin the housing system
and the same could be said really
with mental healthand social services in general
is that every day we seethe impacts of oppression,
(04:29):
see the impacts of marginalization,
we see the impacts
of colonialism in our work every daybecause we're serving
the folks who are most impactednegatively by those systems.
And so it leads itselfto really important conversations
around how we build better systemsthat are going to support everyone.
And so I would say thatat first when I joined BC Housing,
(04:51):
was the draw for the ...
for me for the organizationwas the real recognition
of the importance of embedding an equity analysis
right across the entire organization.
And over time, I've also hadthe opportunity to work more closely
as well with the Office of Equity,Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging,
(05:12):
in particular for the past year,and support their work
as we advance the organization-wideequity action plan.
And that's a big mouthful.
What is that exactly?
Yeah, so our Equity Action Plan,which is something
that has been underwayfor some time, so I can't,
I certainly wouldn't want to suggestthat I'm taking credit for it,
(05:33):
but I've been able to layerin a bit of support
for the teamover the past few months.
The Equity Action
Plan is BC Housing's commitment
to our own employees,to our partners,
and to the people we serve aroundspecific and concrete actions
that we will take to advanceequity in the work that we do.
(05:53):
So ultimately, we recognize thatto be able to deliver
on our vision of a future whereeveryone has a place to call home,
we need to understand
what the barriers are for folksto accessing housing
and then address those
in our processes, in our policies,in the way that we work.
And also,of course, through communications so
(06:14):
that we can deliver the bestservices for the people in British Columbia.
And that's so critical.
Communities are so diverse with
such differentneeds across the province.
This couldn't have been an easyundertaking in a climate
in which people are questioningthe value of equity and diversity.
(06:35):
But yet BC Housinghas made that commitment.
And that's really important.
What are some of the challengesthat have come along with having
such a deep commitmentto equity at BC Housing?
I think that it'ssimilar challenges to any large
transformationinitiative, to be honest.
(06:56):
And I think that
the challengeis always with any transformative
change, getting the pace rightand the sequencing right.
Because to be sustainable,change needs to bring people along.
And the same is true for equity.
And that's in particular challengingbecause of the diversity
of peoplewho are being served and impacted.
(07:18):
There's differential...
the way that equity work impactspeople and populations is very,
very diverse because ofthe diversity of experiences.
And so getting that balance rightbetween delivering tangible change
and moving forwardin a way that really impacts people
while ensuring that the changeis sustainable and meaningful
(07:39):
and not just performativeis in my experience, that's the most
challenging part of the work.
And there are different waysto approach the work, right?
So we have policy, we have programs,and we have communications.
And I'm a big fan of storytelling.
(07:59):
It is something
that has been embeddeddeeply in my community and my family
as a way to communicate,as a way to share, as a way
to learn, as way to listento things that matter to us all.
So how does communicationsspecifically play into
moving the needle when it comesto equity?
(08:21):
Well, we know that humans are wiredfor story.
Sharing information through a story
leads to better informationretention.
People will retain six
to 20 times more informationif it's delivered through a story.
And storytellingis also very effective at building
empathy through narrativetransportation and neural coupling.
(08:41):
I won't get into the brain science,but in essence,
we've got brain sciencenow that proves what societies
have known since timeimmemorial, is story.
Story is away to bring people together.
So for me, story is
particularly important in movingany significant change forward
and it's even more importantfor moving forward equity work.
(09:04):
So there's this Thomas King quote,
he's my favourite author,I adore Thomas King.
And he has this quote,stories are wondrous things
and they are dangerous.
And that's so truebecause stories are so powerful,
we need to understandthe power dynamics at play
so that we can usestorytelling for good.
(09:27):
And that is integral for advancing
any change that's going to havea positive impact
on community, including equitywork.
And that's part of bringing peoplealong is considering
the importance of storyand how we share all the work.
What are some of the lessons
(09:48):
that have comefrom all of these realizations
that you've made at BC Housing?
Yeah, so when I first joined BC Housing,I came in with my 90-day plan
and I had a, you know,had it mapped out and actually
mostly hitall my goals in the 90-day plan.
And then right as I was movinginto the next phase,
we got hit by a little somethingcalled the COVID-19 global pandemic.
(10:12):
And so I think thatone of my big lessons in my time
here has been just the importancethat it's really important
to mobilize people around a vision.And you can only plan so much.
If people are
mobilized around the end goal,though we can
absolutely get therebecause the rest sorts itself out.
(10:35):
So what we've discovered,for example, in that first
period of time,in that first year at BC Housing was
we actually deliveredon some of our goals way ahead
of planand others needed to be bumped out.
But ultimatelywe were able as a team
to mobilize towards our end goalof where we wanted to be
despite the buffeting changesthat were coming.
(10:55):
And that's somethingthat has really continued to impact
how I approach my work.
What have been some of the keythings that you're really proud of
that your branchdelivered?
Honestly, what I'm most proud ofis the team.
We've got a teamthat is just full of really,
really wonderful people,people like you, Mita,
and people like the teamthat puts this podcast together.
(11:17):
And we have a collection of really,really great folks who
support each other,who push each other,
who hold each other accountablefor doing the work well,
and who have each other's backswhen we're trying new things
and really stretching ourselvesand trying to move into new spaces.
I feel like projects come and goand they're so important,
(11:37):
but if you can get the team right,if you can support each other,
that's to methe most important part and
something that I thinkwe have been able
to really foster here at BCHousing.
I completely agree.
I'm a year in andI think I should make it transparent
for listeners that you are my leaderin the branch.
(11:59):
And I've really been
so moved by the
way that you have emphasized culture
and the importance of kindnessand compassion and equity
and team buildingand community building.
And I think those values, oncethey're fostered
(12:19):
internally,naturally flow externally.
I can definitely say
that's something that I've seen overthe last year of my tenure here.
And that's something that you leadbeautifully.
And I'm very excitedfor your next role
and for all the thingsyou're going to achieve.
What's next for you?
I've got the housing bug
(12:40):
and I'm also exceptionallypassionate about mental health
and really building a future
where peoplewith mental illness are supported
so that they can thrive.
And so I'm really pleasedthat I'm going to be moving on
to Coast Mental Healththat delivers services for folks
with mental illness and addictionsincluding through
housing and employment servicesand other programs.
(13:02):
And so I'm going to be joiningthat team in the new year as
Chief Operating Officer.
It's amazing. And we're so excited for you.
And we will absolutely stay incontact and in community with you.
Sad for us, you know, to be
honest, it's sad for us,but we will carry forth your legacy.
And I agree, we have an amazing teamin place that really values
(13:28):
the same values that you do.
I'm curiousas to who your mentors are,
and who are the peoplethat have really kind of influenced
your perspectives and values?
Yeah, that's a great question.
So I started askingwhy in kindergarten, and then I
never stopped, much to the chagrinof some of my teachers.
And I think because of that,
(13:50):
I take inspirationfrom some really unusual places.
I really like askingpeople questions, which is why
love this podcast, and reallyunderstanding what drives people.
And so for example, here at BCHousing, had one of
our frontline folks,
a janitor, reach out to me
(14:10):
directly and wanted to talkabout communications.
We hopped on a call,we had a digital meeting
because she was on the site,and was able to get some really good
guidance aroundwhat desk-listen and frontline
workers were looking for.
was a long-service employee.
I think that for me, I really...
like to look for any opportunityfor folks to be able to
(14:35):
tell me more about what
they need and perhaps shinea light on where some gaps are
so that I can really helpdrive impact in a way
that makes the most changefor folks.
I would love to knowthe genesis of this podcast.
How did this come into being?
Yeah, so this is season four.
(14:56):
And of course, lots of organizationsare doing podcasts these days.
So I don't want to pretendthat BC Housing
had this idea that no one else did.
What we really wanted to do though,and what the pitch was initially,
was finding an opportunity for BCHousing as a provincial agency,
as an organizationthat works with hundreds
of nonprofits across the province,to be able to create
(15:17):
a space for voicesthat would not
otherwise be heardas part of the housing conversation.
And part of the reason why we didthat was really recognizing
that one of the biggest barriersto delivering
housing and homelessness servicesin community is
a lack of informationor sometimes blatant misinformation.
So our goal was to create a spacewhere we could help address
(15:42):
that lack of information andmisinformation by creating the space
for folks to share their storiesand their perspectives.
and creating that contentthat we could share with communities
ultimately so that we can helpcreate more housing and homelessness
services right across BritishColumbia.
And content comes in so many forms.
(16:04):
You are at the helmof all of the ways that BC
Housing engages with the public.
The podcast is one way,websites, social media,
industry engagement,and community engagement.
There are so many waysthat we reach out and try to ensure
that the people impactedthe most by housing issues
(16:28):
are heard.
And I really think this podcastis an amazing opportunity
to get deeper into those stories
when we can't do that elsewhere.
Absolutely. The interesting thing about housingis even though for BC Housing,
our services are,
we directly serve a relatively smallportion of the population compared
(16:49):
to, for example, BC Hydro, right,or some other Crown agencies.
However,everyone has an experience of home.
And certainlywhen the housing system is not
working well, that impactsalmost everybody.
There's a small portion of folkswho aren't impacted, but the vast
majority of people are impacted
when the housing systemis not working well.
So part ofwhat's interesting about this space
(17:13):
is that we do need to prioritizethose folks that we serve directly.
And we also need to ensure thatwe're demonstrating to everyone how
we're helping the housing systemwork well, because that's ultimately
what helps us ensure that we havea thriving community.
where everyone wants to live andeveryone can be part of a community
(17:34):
where they feel like they belongand they can have a healthy
and thriving life.
And communitiescome in all shapes and sizes
and they're internaland they're external.
BC Housing is a community.
are, you know,
1300 people strong and growing and
those stories need to be told too,I think.
(17:55):
You know, we are all experiencing
the housing concern and crisisin different ways.
Whether we're working towardssolving the problem,
whether we're livingand experiencing the problem,
there are many voices internallyhere too,
that would be really niceto highlight and bring forward.
(18:15):
Well, Mita, maybe I can ask you a question.
Absolutely.
What are the plans for season five?
Are you moving forwardwith the podcast?
We are absolutely moving forward.
We have some amazing surprisesahead.
I think what's fascinatingabout this particular podcast
is that there are so many storieswithin housing
(18:36):
and so many wonderful projectsbeing done in the sector,
that we can highlight and share.
And, you know,I'm not going to have your voice
and your particular take, but I'mgoing to do it my way a little bit.
And, just really lead with a curiosity
and an interest in all the things
(18:58):
that the housing sector does.
There's a lot of change and there'sa lot of momentum forward
and there's a lot of drive to dothe right thing and support people.
And I would love to just diveinto that and dig into that.
I'm so looking forward to it.
I'm going to tune in.
Absolutely.
Number one fan over here.
Thanks, Sara. Talk soon.
(19:19):
As we wrap season four,I'd like to extend a special
thanks to everyonewho has made this podcast happen.
When we launched Let's Talk Housing,it was the first
for a large public sectororganization in BC.
We knew we wanted to create a spacefor discussions with the many folks
in BC
who are coming together to providesafe,
quality, accessible and affordablehousing for those in need.
(19:41):
We weren't surehow it would turn out
and my it's turned outto be a great success.
This only happened because ofthe support of our colleagues here
at BC Housing,
the trust of the province,and most of all, the goodwill
of the many guests
who have brought their wisdomand insights to the space.
I'm excited to listen into what comes next on the podcast
(20:02):
in season five, under the guidanceof incoming host Mita Naidu.
Let's talk again soon.
To learn more about BC Housing,including how to apply
for subsidized housing in BritishColumbia, visit bchousing.org.
You can also find us on Facebook,Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
(20:22):
If you enjoyed this episode,give us a rating.
This will help others
find Let's TalkHousing and join the conversation.
You can subscribe to Let's TalkHousing on Apple, Spotify,
or whereveryou listen to your podcasts.
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