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.
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 examine 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
Support accountable shared outcomes
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 supporting vulnerable individuals in accessing 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 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.
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?
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
Fall 2024/Winter 2025
Subject to Council’s endorsement following a presentation to Council anticipated for Fall 2024, working groups (Solution Lab innovation pods) will be activated for 3-4 co-design/action sessions.
Spring 2025
The community will be invited to participate in the Community Resiliency Forum, where priorities for the Sustainable Resiliency Framework will be set. This framework will guide the city's approach to sustainable development, resiliency, and community health.
June 2025
The first version of the KPI Dashboard is projected to roll out in June 2025, which will include KPI's identified for the Citizen Assembly and focus topics. The KPI Dashboard will launch, incorporating data from the Citizen Assembly and broader community engagement, tracking progress on key performance indicators tied to community safety, health, and well-being.
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.
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 achieve 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. Through teamwork and strong partnership strategies, this helps ensure that Langley City achieves fair, inclusive, and sustainable outcomes.
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.
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.
It's important to have plenty of affordable rental options available to meet the housing needs of low-income seniors. 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 part of a future Zoning Bylaw Update.
