City of Leduc, AB, Fights Back Against NIMBYism

Social housing has a bad rap in most communities. Stereotyped by many as socially repressive environments that 'create' and 'promote' poverty, many homeowners are worried that their property values and communities will be negatively impacted if social housing is built nearby. Just earlier this month, two communities in Alberta launched fights against proposed social housing developments in their neighbourhoods, one in Airdrie just north of Calgary and the other in Edmonton's McCauly district. To fight back against these negative (and untrue) stereotypes, the City of Leduc, just south of Edmonton, Alberta, has launched an educational campaign that hopes to create a more positive attitude towards social housing.

The campaign is based around two bold, eye-catching posters that introduce and dispel the myths surrounding affordable housing. The pictures feature housing that looks identical to other suburban tract housing prevalent across Leduc to show local residents that social and affordable housing can fit right in with the architecture of any neighbourhood. It does not necessarily have to take the form of high-rise towers, nor concentrate a large number of social housing tenants in one community. Social housing, and its tenants, can easily become a part of any community without being immediately noticeable, or changing the social composition of the neighbourhood. Moreover, by suggesting that social housing can match the existing architectural form of a community, the posters dispel the myth that it can lower property values - a frequently cited reason against locating social housing in a community.

The posters have been published in the local 'Leduc Representative' newspaper, and displayed in other areas of the community where local residents have a chance to absorb them. In addition, the City of Leduc is running a short survey on its website to assess the impact of the posters on local residents' opinions on social housing. The initiative is certainly a step in the right direction to dispel damaging myths surrounding social housing, and encourage local discussion about its potential benefits to the community as a whole. Other cities across Alberta, and Canada, should take note and consider similar campaigns to help create a more positive attitude towards social housing in their own communities. The City of Leduc has previously been noted for its progressive attitude towards social housing, winning an award last year from the Alberta Association of the Canadian Institute of Planners for its 2008 Attainable Housing Strategy.

For more information on the City of Leduc's poster campaign, its Attainable Housing Strategy, and to take the short survey, please visit its website by clicking here.