Mission Statement.
We believe every family deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. By eliminating developer profit and prioritizing community input, we're creating sustainable housing solutions that last.
The Crisis.
The province of BC needs 450,000+ more homes by 2030 (BCREA/CMHC 2025), with high demand for family-sized (3+ bedroom) units amid population growth and affordability pressures.
Working families are caught in the "missing middle" gap - earning too much for subsidized housing, too little for market rates, leaving them forced out of stable, rooted homes.
Private builders struggle to access public land and funding tied to non-profit ownership, while non-profits risk losing
$500K–$1M
in pre-development costs if rezoning fails or projects stall.
Our Solution.
Government/ Land Partner.
Provides ownership via long-term lease
Zero-Profit Development (Sheltr).
Financing, planning, approvals, open-book transparency
Construction.
Trusted, shovel-ready partners at below-market rates
Public Ownership.
Homes rooted in community benefit
Community Reinvestment.
Surplus funds rent stability, childcare, amenities
Sheltr solves barriers with zero-profit partnerships, open-book transparency, and full reinvestment in families.
Board of Directors.
Victoria Beaton
Director,
Sheltr Community Works
James Lota
General Manager
City of Burnaby
Alex Watson
Chief Financial Officer
Hearthstone Investments
Christina Wong
Executive Director,
Employ to Empower
About Us.
Sheltr Community Works is a BC non-profit society that builds affordable family housing and community spaces. No developer profit, no flipping for quick gains... just homes and places that stay affordable forever.
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We’re here because young families and working households are getting priced out of the neighbourhoods they belong in. We think that’s wrong, and we’re doing something about it.
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Our approach is straightforward:
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Build for families, not investors. We create 3-bedroom+ homes and mixed-use spaces that keep rent reasonable and stay in community hands.
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Work hand-in-hand with cities and landowners. We use public land through long-term leases so the value stays public... no private ownership transfer.
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Design for real life. We put childcare, healthcare, and everyday amenities right in the area so parents aren’t stretched thin and neighbourhoods actually feel like home.
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Sheltr isn’t just another housing developer. We’re a group that believes housing should hold people together instead of pushing them apart. We build homes and spaces that serve families first, not the market.
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What if we designed housing to keep communities strong instead of tearing them apart?
We’re answering that question... one project at a time.
Let's Chat.
Whether you’re a city partner, landowner, funder, future collaborator or someone who just wants to learn more, we’re always open to conversations about building something better for families and communities.
Reach out using the form below or email us directly at: victoria@sheltrcommunityworks.com.