Together, ApartIdeas for staying connected in times of physical distancing

Engagement tools for housing operators of multi-unit buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of human life in communities around the world. From the tragic loss of life to the toll on people’s physical and mental health, and from the impact on healthcare systems to the weakened overall international economy, the pandemic presents complex challenges.

Loneliness and social isolation are two key challenges.

Members from the Hey Neighbor Collective (HNC) have been hard at work finding ways for people living in multi-unit buildings to connect and build social resilience. While social connectedness practices have been successfully implemented by developers such as Catalyst Community Developments Society, Brightside Community Homes Foundation, Concert Properties, Connect & Prepare (Building Resilient Neighbourhoods) and Close To Home (West End Seniors Network), COVID-19 has also posed challenges.

People living in multi-unit buildings are more likely to live alone and their dwellings generally contain less private indoor and outdoor space than people in single family homes. With this acknowledgement, the Happy City team facilitated a workshop involving members of the HNC. Workshop results are captured in this brief guidebook with engagement ideas that follow residents’ needs and priorities that can help people stay connected and feel supported during physical distancing.

Deliberate programming and mindful use of multi-unit housing spaces can provide opportunities for residents to socialize, access resources and learn new skills! This guidebook offers housing operators and residents a wide array of ideas to explore and simple steps to begin brainstorming.

In the following pages, you will find evidence on the importance of staying connected. We will provide a 4-step guide on “how to explore and plan activities”. Aspects to consider include: needs & priorities, available resources, inclusion, and health and safety.

Afterwards, you will find 27 different engagement ideas that can be explored and implemented. They are divided into the five priority areas identified during the workshop. For each priority area, we have selected a ‘featured activity’ which is explored in detail.

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Why is staying connected important?In this time of uncertainty and constant change we need to find the tools that will keep us healthy, motivated and happy.

Throughout human history, we have stuck together through hard times. Social networks are people’s most powerful assets. Research shows that when we feel connected to others, we are more likely to be healthy, develop a sense of belonging and self-worth, and we are more likely to participate and help our community. All these factors contribute to social capital and allow us to be more resilient while navigating difficult situations.

Physical distancing measures are having an unfortunate negative effect on people’s wellbeing. According to Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC), the rates of depression increased by 50% during the first wave of COVID-19, while anxiety rates soared from 4% to 20% of Canadians.

People are affected differently by the pandemic. For example, people who struggle both financially and mentally are more at risk of experiencing deteriorated social relationships. Women report feeling more anxious. While some people have been able to resume some portion of their regular social interactions, others remain more isolated due to age, compromised immune systems and other vulnerabilities.

Living in multi-unit buildings can help us to remain connected, ask for help, and grow even during times of physical distancing.

So how do we stay connected when we need to stay physically apart?

Through this guide, we are proposing several activities that might support people’s needs and help them stay safely connected. These ideas are meant to be a starting point for residents and organizations to continue brainstorming and developing activities suited to their unique building. The following pages offer the steps and criteria that can help select and create activities for your building.

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1Identify residents’ needs & priorities

How to explore and plan activities

2Consider human,

financial & technical resources

3Enable

connections through ‘social

equity’

Follow these four steps to select activities:

4Look out for

residents’ health & safety

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1. Identify residents’ needs & priorities

Through the workshop and ongoing learnings, the Hey Neighbour Collective partners and researchers identified 5 priority areas for consideration. These areas are linked to challenges or issues that have emerged or been exacerbated due to COVID-19. Your building’s priorities might be different, we encourage you to talk to residents.

Job security & income Food security Sociability

Health Use of shared spaces5

2. Consider human, financial & technical resources

Explore what kind of activities will allow people to feel comfortable and safe. Also, before preparing an activity consider how many resources you are ready to invest. Consider the level of effort (including time, money and technological requirements) involved.

DigitalDigital activities can happen online or by phone. Video calls, chats, audio calls, forums and social media groups are all examples of digital engagement.

PassivePassive activities feature engagement that can happen asynchronously. For example, posting a question on a whiteboard for residents to answer on their own time.

OutdoorOutdoor activities take place in open-air areas with ample natural ventilation. This can include courtyards, rooftops, balconies, building thresholds and public parks.

IndoorAn indoor activity takes place in an enclosed space in the interior of a building such as: an amenity room, a lobby or a wide hallway. Most participants in the workshop didnot feel safe with this type of activity, as it would require more significant procedures to ensure safety.

*Inclusion and health & safety and are further explored in the next pages

Factors to consider: Assess these to start planning your activities

Activity types

Cost: low to high

Effort: low to high

Technology: required or not.

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3. Enable connections through ‘social equity’

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Let’s start with a story.

Aishah Anwar is a first-generation Indonesian immigrant who lives in a building of 150 residents, some of whom are seniors. Aishah moved to Burnaby with her children years ago and learned how to speak English. Now, she is 77 years-old and living alone, but she is generally healthy and her children visit every week.

When Covid-19 hit, Aishah was stuck at home. As a senior, she faces a high risk of contracting COVID-19, so her children had to stop visiting. Her building manager has been helpful sharing information about the virus. However, the information is only presented in English, and not Bahasa, the language she can read. Embarrassed, she reached out to her neighbour, Sujatha, for help to translate information into Bahasa using a computer.

After this happened a few times, Sujatha approached the building management and requested support for Aishah. She needed to access information about COVID-19 in Bahasa. Since then, the building manager has left translated pamphlets outside Aishah’s door, and shared translated information about socially-distanced activities with her.

Aishah has been to 7 socially-distanced events so far and has learned how to use her cellphone to call her kids with help from a neighbour. Now, she no longer needs to ask Sujatha for translation support. Instead, they have become friends, sharing activities and laughs regularly.

Explore how to ensure all people have equal opportunities to participate in different activities. Consider the unique identities, abilities and challenges of the residents.

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Supporting social equity is about recognizing that not everyone has equal access to social connectedness. Indigenous people, Black people, and other people of colour of varying economic statuses, ages, genders and abilities, often face structural barriers to accessing communities that can support them to feel safe, supported, and seen.

Many of us might live near a neighbour experiencing something like Aishah, and we likely don’t know. As a result of social inequities, residents like Aishah do not always feel safe or included with their neighbours in their buildings.

A great way to start to grapple with social inequities while planning activities is by asking questions like: “What barriers might a specific person or group face in accessing this activity?” and “How might they feel safe and supported to join in?”

Supporting social equity means helping to remove these systemic barriers to participation. In Aishah’s case, language was a big barrier. Her neighbour and the building manager easily removed this barrier for Aishah.

Some other ways to support social equity in activities are:

● Respect language diversity: Translate your communication materials into different languages.

● Support cultural diversity: When using “Passive Activities” such as a whiteboard, think of interesting ways to connect with residents’ cultural experiences. Simple questions like “How do you say hello in your first language?” can help residents to feel a sense of belonging.

● Support local diversity: Hold a socially-distanced dinner event and support local businesses owned by Indigenous, Black and People-of-colour. Vancouver Foundation’s On The Table initiative provides small grants to fund one.

3. Enable connections through ‘social equity’ (continued)

4. Look out for residents’ health & safety

Social programming in multi-unit buildings during the pandemic is dependent on the real and perceived risks faced by the residents. BC Centre for Disease Control’s updates and guidelines can help housing providers understand which activities can be conducted in buildings and how this can happen safely. This section provides a (non-exhaustive) list of questions that can get you started on thinking about health and safety.

Health and safety questionnaire

● Can residents maintain a 2-meter distance?● Will residents be required to wear a mask?● Will this event take place outdoors or digitally? ● If it is taking place indoors, could it be moved

outdoors or digitally?● Will the activity include sharing of items or

distribution of items? If yes, how can you avoid or mitigate risks?

● Can you provide a hand sanitizer and masks station?

● Can your event be carried out in smaller groups rather than in one large group at once?

● Will you be able to supervise the event to ensure safety?

● Can you provide contact tracing mechanisms? (e.g. recording who is attending and when)

● Can you protect vulnerable residents or people living with vulnerable residents at home?

● If providing passive engagement activities (e.g. residents responding to an interesting question written on a whiteboard in the lobby), will you provide hand sanitizing station or single-use items to reduce spread through touch surfaces?

Disclaimer:The ideas presented in this document are not sanctioned public health or medical advice. They should not be considered a substitute for public health directives by health authorities or medical professionals. Please consult your local health authority or medical provider for medical advice.

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Engagement ideasNow that you have considered your process, it’s time for some action inspiration.

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Job security & incomeCOVID-19 significantly impacted the Canadian economy and the job market as the unemployment rate jumped from 7.8% to 12.3%. Lack of job security is impacting mental health around the country. Researchers found that 42% of respondents were concerned about loss of work hours or pay, 43% were worried about a family member getting laid off and 38% about losing their own job.

Programming ideas that touch on skill-building and employment:

Mentor/mentee program: Create a digital or passive engagement initiative where residents can post about their skills and what they seek to learn. Then allow residents to connect with others that they can learn from.

Resume workshop: Enable residents to share and obtain advice on their resumes. For example, newcomers learning English can obtain resume feedback from someone proficient in English that lives in their building.

Speed networking: Create a meetup event that can take place digitally via zoom or, if it is safe to do so, outdoors while keeping a two-meter distance. This event can be organized by industry fields to reduce the number of participants at a given time (for example, tech, designers, admin, and construction).

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Job security & income

Programming ideas that touch on skill-building and employment:

Repair cafe: Collaborate with other residents to reduce expenses. This process may be combined with the Skills swap board. This idea is more applicable during the last recovery stages as residents will be sharing tools and touch surfaces. This could be an occasional event such as bicycle tune-up outdoors or an ongoing initiative with a dedicated repair room and tools. The latter will require more effort, funding and safety considerations.

Fundraising and advocacy for local organizations: Raise awareness about the importance of local businesses and community organizations. This can be achieved either through passive or digital engagement activities, such as putting up a whiteboard in the lobby and asking residents to list their favourite local businesses or community organizations.

Local business support: Connect residents with opportunities to advocate on behalf of local independent businesses and other organizations that are struggling. This might include sharing petitions or other campaigns that seek to support the diverse local businesses and non-profits that make our neighbourhoods vibrant.

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Featured activity: bulletin job board

Considerations

Cost: Low cost.

Level of effort: This is a medium effort project. After the initial setup, the primary goal is to monitor posting activity and collect feedback from the residents.

Technology: Ideally, includes an online job board, but can be done with low tech as well.

Inclusion: Placing a physical bulletin job board is highly inclusive and will allow people with little technology skills to be part of this activity. Ensure material and offers can be translated into different languages. There might even be an opportunity to record the offerings to ensure people with visual impairment are able to participate.

Health: To reduce viral spread, consider adding a hand sanitizing station near the bulletin board. To ensure that residents feel safe, housing providers can offer general guidelines for networking in public spaces or shared spaces while following physical distancing rules.

Create a digital and physical bulletin job board featuring people who wish to share their skills or let others know about possible job openings.

Multi-unit buildings house people from various backgrounds and industries. However, residents may not be aware of the networking opportunities and the human talent surrounding them. Online job boards or physical bulletin board are simple ways to connect residents and help them during challenging economic times.

Activity goals

● Facilitate networking● Expose residents to potential job opportunities● Enable residents to share information about their

skills and experience

What you need

● A safe digital platform moderated by resident animators, housing providers or the social animator using platforms such as Nextdoor, WhatsApp or Facebook. Applications that do not require social media profiles are more inclusive as not everyone is able to use social media platforms easily.

● A dedicated space in the lobby or another well-frequented shared space where residents can put up their business cards and job opportunities. Not everyone has internet access or phone connection.

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Food securityCanadians are experiencing an increase in food insecurity. According to Statistics Canada, 14.6% percent of Canadians experienced food security this year as compared to 10.5% in 2017/2018. Households with children are especially at risk. 9.1% of respondents with children reported going hungry compared to 4.6% of respondents without children. Seniors and people with compromised immune systems also face additional food insecurity, as trips to the grocery store put them at a risk of COVID-19 exposure.

Programming ideas to foster food security:

Group grocery purchases: Organize group purchases for food at bulk prices to reduce grocery expenses for staple and culturally-appropriate items. The challenging aspect of this activity is logistics around food collection and distribution. The housing operator or social animator will need to create a shopping list, hire a delivery service or assign a weekly volunteer team to deliver and distribute the groceries. The latter provides great opportunities for connection but also increases risk of exposure from touching surfaces.

Grocery delivery: Connect neighbors to help each other out during the pandemic through grocery delivery. Typically, people with stronger immune systems do shopping for older adults, people with compromised immune systems or people in self-isolation. Housing providers can distribute door knob signs (similar to the hotel “do not disturb” signs) to allow residents to inform others if they need help with groceries and their contact information in case face-to-face contact could pose a risk. 14

Programming ideas to foster food security (continued):

Far-apart dinners: Promote community dinners that support wellbeing and social connections. Rather then hosting a dinner in an indoor space, housing providers and social animators can invite residents to a video call where they can tell others about their dish. Residents can also meet outside in small groups at a two-meter distance. Portable furniture, creative ways to designate space (e.g. circles or hearts on grass) and decorations such as patio lights can lighten the mood while still adhering to guidelines. In August 2020, restaurants in British Columbia limit the number of patrons per table to six people.

Recipe sharing: Allow residents to share recipes online or by posting a recipe for a low-cost and complete meal on a bulletin board. The housingprovider can also host a contest for the best recipe.

Gardening program: Allocate gardening space around the building or on the rooftop. People who garden eat fresh fruit and vegetables 1.4 times more than compared to their non-gardening counterparts. Community gardens also build resilience and emergency preparedness by establishing a supportive social network among residents. Create opportunities for residents to swap seeds and share resources that are typically sold in large quantities.

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Food security

Featured activity: communal food pantry

Considerations

Cost: High cost. If possible, housing providers can also install a freezer for donations of healthy items like frozen fruit and vegetables.

Level of effort: High effort.

Technology: Can be done without tech.

Inclusion: To reduce stigma, housing providers should not position the pantry idea as a local food bank. Rather it should be a shared economy initiative where residents take or add items depending on their current situation. Perhaps, one month someone is struggling financially and takes an item, and in the future they may be in a better situation and will be able to contribute back.

Health: The communal pantry is a potential high touch area. A hand sanitizer station should be on site for residents to use. In case someone is unable to leave their apartment due to self-isolation, a volunteer or a resident animator can drop off an item by their unit. People who are handling items should be well aware of guidelines and follow safety measures.

Create and organize a communal food pantry containing staple food for most vulnerable residents.

Food banks are struggling with demand and a dwindling number of volunteers. In April 2020, the demand for food banks increased by 20%. As many as 19.2% of households living with children and 12.2% without children experienced some degree of food insecurity from going hungry to being unable to afford complete meals. Food bank use is often associated with stigma, with users hiding the fact that they access food banks or avoid accessing one altogether.

A communal pantry for residents in need can alleviate food insecurity and stigma by introducing the idea of a “sharing economy.”

Activity goals

● Reduce food insecurity and stigma● Increase resilience and social connections between

residents

What you need

● A dedicated space for safe food storage. This space should be in an area that offers a degree of privacy to make sure people are comfortable taking items

● A group of volunteers or resident animators collecting and distributing items and keeping track of expiry dates

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SociabilityThe COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent lockdowns and physical distancing measures are significantly affecting Canadians. Younger people and women report feeling more lonely than other groups. Loneliness levels began to decrease after social distancing measure started to relax. In Mid-may, one third of Canadian women and young adults reported feeling lonely compared to a total population average of approximately 20%. Depression levels also rose during COVID-19, especially for those with pre-existing depression.

Programming ideas for building social connections:

Newsletter to keep people connected: Publish a building newsletter to keep people connected and to update them on building measures to ensure the health of residents. This could include a “classifieds” section for people to write poetry and requests to neighbors.

Talent show: Organize a talent show for residents of all ages to showcase their musical, physical, or artistic talent. This show could be broadcast digitally, or take place from a balcony or other shared outdoor space.

Photo of your pet competition: Create an opportunity for residents to interact with each other through their pets. Create a virtual competition where people can post photos and vote, or a physical one where people post a photo of their pet on a bulletin board in a common area.

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Sociability

Programming ideas for building social connections (continued):

Social distance bingo: Host an outdoor bingo game with safely distanced seating. Provide a bingo card in advance that residents can print themselves at home, or have one at each spot.

Distanced celebrations or parties: Organize outdoor parties such as BBQs or celebrations where neighbors can safely gather. To minimize risk, residents can bring their own food and drink items.

Art interventions: Engage local artists (or artists living in the building) to create art installations or interventions throughout the common outdoor and indoor spaces to engage residents.

Chalk art for kids: Allow kids to draw with chalk in parkades, outdoor paved areas (both on the ground plane and on easy to clean walls). This can encourage them to leave messages for friends and neighbors.

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Featured activity: check-ins

Considerations

Cost: Low cost.

Level of effort: Low level effort to organize.

Technology: Can be done with or without technology.

Inclusion: This activity can be tailored to any type of user since communications can happen in a variety of ways. Privacy is another aspect that is important to consider. Housing providers need to provide ways to communicate about any issues if they arise. Video calls or audio calls over the internet may be safer as they do not require people to share their phone numbers. Similarly, delivering letters can be done by resident animators to avoid sharing unit numbers.

Health: Housing providers should outline guidelines for meetings that will happen face-to-face to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Enable frequent neighbour check-ins, a “buddy system” to match neighbours for regular check-ins and support.

Neighbour check-ins are a simple way to connect neighbours with each other whether in person, online, over the phone or even in the form of written letters. This buddy system builds resilience and can become an in-person activity when the threat of COVID-19 passes.

Activity goals

● Build social connections and resilience● Match neighbours with each other according to

interests

What you need

● A database of interested participants. To start off the housing providers or social animators will need to ask residents to sign up to the program by promoting it digitally and in the common shared areas. If possible, a few basic questions about interests, hobbies and preferred communication style can be helpful in matching neighbours.

● Ice breaker activities. Meeting new people can be challenging, especially when it happens during a formal meeting rather then at a casual event. Housing providers, social animators or resident animators can create an ice breaker card deck. They can be designed from scratch or purchased online.

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HealthPhysical health has always been a priority for Canadians. Older people and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk. Uncertainty and worry are on the rise, with 44% of Canadians reporting feelings of worry. 42% also state that their physical health is a lot worse than before the pandemic, and 50% feel a lot worse mentally now than before.

Programming ideas to foster health and wellbeing:

Health ambassadors: Designate health ambassadors in the building that keep up with the changing information surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. They can host talks with small groups outdoors or digitally to share information, answer questions, and help dispel myths and misconceptions. They can also provide assistance to residents who need help understanding how to access healthcare during the pandemic.

Health webinars or talks: Organize health focused webinars for residents. For example, invite a doctor to speak about how to make the best use of telemedicine and doctor’s visits during the pandemic. If residents do not have access to videoconferencing technology, consider broadcasting the webinar in a shared space with proper safety measures implemented.

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Health

Activity clubs: Create organized activity clubs for all interests such as a cycling group, walking group, yoga group, or dog walking group. This is an great activity that attracts both extroverted and introverted people. Having these groups happen at the same time every day or every week, allows residents to participate whenever they can or want. Having agency over social activities helps reduce anxiety levels for the most introverted residents.

Programming ideas to foster health and wellbeing (continued):

Virtual exercise classes: Organize virtual exercise classes where residents participate together in their separate homes. Ensure that residents can motivate each other to participate by creating challenges or ways to hold each other accountable for participation.

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Featured activity: emotional baggage drop

Considerations

Cost: Medium cost. Instead of rigid partitions, people participating in building the installation can be creative and use curtains for instance.

Level of effort: Medium. Requires organization at the beginning and producing the booth. Once it is built it requires minimum maintenance.

Technology: Can be done without technology.

Inclusion: This event can take place in an area where residents are often passing by to increase participation. The booth should have barrier-free access to ensure everyone can use it. A good idea would be to identify listeners that speak different languages so everybody is able to talk and be listened to.

Health: A sanitation station should be provided prior to entering the installation. The person who leaves the both should be in charge of disinfecting surfaces. Even though partitions will separate people, it will be smart to use masks. In case curtains are used to build the booth, they should be washed frequently.

Build and organize an emotional baggage drop booth where residents can drop off problems and/or emotional burdens by talking to someone.

In 2018, Happy City conducted an experiment based on art installation by Stuart Semple. Passers-by at the Denver Union Station were able to sit down with a stranger and share their stories and challenges. The listener then switched places with the stranger. A mental health worker was available on-site. Happy City found that there was a higher number of participants who reported having little or no support system (friends or family), than participants who believe they have strong social relationships.

This finding suggests that this type of activity can help people who do not have a strong social network. The activity provides a useful outlet to share emotions that many people think might be a burden for their family or those around them.

Activity goals

● Help residents improve their mental wellbeing● Engage residents in an interactive installation

What you need

● A wall partition to separate speaker from the listener for anonymity and a set of chairs

● A mental health worker, if possible● A set of instructions for participants. To learn more

about the design of this art installation please visit the following link: Happy Denver report 22

Use of shared spacesIn multi-unit residential buildings, smaller and smaller unit sizes are putting greater importance on shared amenity spaces as alternatives to connect with others. These shared spaces allow for casual encounters between neighbors, and can help reinforce the sense of privacy by reducing feelings of being over-crowded. However, during the pandemic many buildings have closed down amenity spaces for residents. It is possible to continue using these spaces while taking the right health precautions.

Programming ideas to help activate shared spaces:

Keeping shared spaces open: Advocate to keep shared spaces open and safe for residents with greater need to use them. Usage should be mindful. Spaces can include signage explaining what safe use of the space looks like. Consider an online booking system that limits the number of people using the space and allows for a record of who used the space and when. They can also be used based on a rotating system to ensure no more than 12 households are making use of the space each week.

Spaces for casual encounters: Create socially distanced “bumping spaces” in shared spaces and building circulation. For instance, a book or seed library. Provide a hand-sanitizing station and some socially distanced seating nearby for residents to pause and chat at a safe distance.

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Use of shared spaces

Maximize usage of outdoor shared spaces: Maximize the use of outdoor shared spaces by providing socially distanced seating, floor markers for distancing, and shelter from the sun, wind and rain. Ensure that these spaces feel safe and welcoming. They should include health and safety signage and hand washing stations.

Parkade games: Allow residents to play games in the parkade, and activate empty stalls. This could include darts, bean bags, or croquet. These games can be designated as semi-permanent areas with storage opportunities and options to modify the ground plane with paint or chalk.

Programming ideas to help activate shared spaces (continued):

Socially-distanced picnics: Organize a picnic for residents, with a fun theme (such as “Parisian Cafe”). Residents bring all their own items from home. Organizers can pre-set squares or circles at the appropriate distance where each group can set up their picnic. This can take place in outdoor amenity spaces such as rooftops, terraces, courtyards, or transition spaces. If none of these spaces are available, the event can be moved to a neighborhood park instead.

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Featured activity: balcony contests

Considerations

Cost: Low to high, depending on the theme. Consider financial barriers to participating, which could be offset by providing a “box” to help residents get started.

Level of effort: Low to high level of effort for participants, medium to high effort to organize depending on theme.

Technology: Can be done without technology.

Inclusion: Ensure that the theme selected for the contest maximizes the number of people who can participate. For example, if some residents don’t have balconies they could serve as judges or be given space in the common outdoor areas. If children live in the building, consider child-friendly contests that encourage intergenerational participation. Lastly, provide digital or printed material that gives residents ideas and instructions on how to participate.

Health: Low risk, can be done with no close or indoor contact.

Create a friendly competition among residents as a way to promote self-expression while encouraging the use of balconies.

Balconies have been allowing people to socialize and have access to fresh air within safety of their homes. Many cities across the world are participating in balcony singing, cheers for the front-line workers, concerts and more. Early research from Italy and Israel lockdowns, confirm that people perceive balcony gatherings as highly conductive to unity, support, connectedness, and entertainment. This was especially true for those experiencing high levels of isolation.

Activity goals

● Encourage residents to use their balconies● Encourage residents to interact with each other

while using the building’s outdoor spaces

What you need

● Organize a theme for the contest: for example, greenest balcony. This could take place over a period of a month, to give residents time to plan their balcony garden and watch it grow. Another example could be a kid-friendly contest where kids decorate their balcony with art, crafts or toys.

● Include information to help residents participate, example a balcony gardening guide or a “box” that includes basic gardening tools and seeds.

● Include prizes for winners, such as more gardening supplies!

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Sources: EvidenceHealthy & connected: ➔ Pollara Strategic insights. (2020). Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak Wave 1. Mental Health Research Canada. Retrieved from

:https://www.mhrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Full-Report-of-Findings-of-Survey-FINAL.pdf➔ Angus Reid Institute. (2020). Worry, Gratitude & Boredom: As COVID-19 affects mental, financial health, who fares better; who is worse? Retrieved from:

http://angusreid.org/covid19-mental-health/

Job security & income: ➔ Lundy, Matt. (2020). Labour Market recoups nearly one million jobs, but recovery still perilous for young, women and gig workers. The Globe and Mail.

Retrieved from: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canadas-economy-added-record-953000-jobs-in-june/➔ Pollara Strategic insights. (2020). Mental Health During COVID-19 Outbreak Wave 1. Mental Health Research Canada. Retrieved from

:https://www.mhrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Full-Report-of-Findings-of-Survey-FINAL.pdf

Food security: ➔ Statistics Canada. (2020). Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, May 2020. Retrieved from:

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00039-eng.htm➔ Alaimo, K., Packnett, E., Miles, R. A., & Kruger, D. J. (2008). Fruit and vegetable intake among urban community gardeners. Journal of nutrition education

and behavior, 40(2), 94-101.➔ Chan, J., DuBois, B., & Tidball, K. G. (2015). Refuges of local resilience: Community gardens in post-Sandy New York City. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening,

14(3), 625-635.

Communal food pantry: ➔ Food Banks Canada. (2020). COVID-19 Impact on Food Banks and How you can help. Retrieved from: https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/COVID-19.aspx➔ Britneff, Beatrice. (2020). Food Banks’ demand surges amid COVID-19. Now they worry about long-term pressures. Global News. Retrieved from:

https://globalnews.ca/news/6816023/food-bank-demand-covid-19-long-term-worry/➔ Statistics Canada. (2020). Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, May 2020. (2020). Retrieved from:

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00039-eng.htm➔ Middleton, G., Mehta, K., McNaughton, D., & Booth, S. (2018). The experiences and perceptions of food banks amongst users in high-income countries: An

international scoping review. Appetite, 120, 698–708. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.10.029

Sociability: ➔ CAMH. (2020). COVID-19 National Survey Dashboard. Retrieved from:

https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19/covid-19-national-survey

Health: ➔ Angus Reid Institute. (2020). Worry, Gratitude & Boredom: As COVID-19 affects mental, financial health, who fares better; who is worse? Retrieved from:

http://angusreid.org/covid19-mental-health/

Emotional baggage drop:➔ Happy City. (2018). Happy Denver Report. Retrieved from: https://thehappycity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Happy-Denver_Final-Report.pdf

Balcony contests: ➔ Traverso, Vittoria. (2020). Why do balconies inspire us? Travel. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200409-the-history-of-balconies➔ Gvirts, H. Z. (2020). The Balcony Party–Mitigation of social isolation during the coronavirus outbreak. Retrieved from:

https://psyarxiv.com/rp5nh/download?format=pdf 26

Sources: ImagesIntroduction:➔ Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

Healthy & Connected: ➔ Photo by Marco Di Lauro on Getty Images

Selecting activities: ➔ Photo by Noam Galai on Getty Images

Considerations: ➔ Photo by Bernard Weil on Toronto Star ➔ Photo by Marc Buhrer on Unsplash➔ Photo by Gradikaa Aggi on Unsplash➔ Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Stay Healthy & Safe: ➔ Photo by Georg Arthur Pflueger on Unsplash

Food security➔ Photo by David Sundberg on Design Boom➔ Photo by Solstock from Getty Images

Job security and income➔ Photo by mussbila on Freepix ➔ Photo by Lynn Giesbrecht on Regina Leader-Post

Sociability➔ Photo by Orion Public Library from Facebook ➔ Photo by Pindi Mann from Delta Optimist➔ Photo by Kara Powell on 9News

Health➔ Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels➔ Photo by Travelerpix from Shutterstock➔ Photo by Becky Wass, Twitter ➔ Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Use of shared spaces: ➔ Photo by Angela Caldin on Verbalberbal➔ Photo by Javier Callejas on Frame ➔ Photo by Natasha Hitti on Dezeen.➔ Photo by Sue Tone on the Daily Courier

Icons:➔ Worker by Flatart from the Noun Project➔ care by Chameleon Design from the Noun Project➔ cooking by Justicon from the Noun Project➔ talk by shashank singh from the Noun Project➔ Park by Nikita Cherednikov from the Noun Project

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AcknowledgementsThank you to everyone who participated in the Hey Neighbour Collective workshop to explore programming ideas featured in this guide.

This guide was produced by the Happy City team:Katia AristovaMadeleine HebertPaty Rios

Social equity approachLuna Aixin

Graphic design and editingKatia Aristova - Happy CityMadeleine Hebert - Happy CityHarry Olson - HAO Emma Jones - Happy City Michelle Hoar - HNC

Workshop collaboratorsAnthony Kupferschmidt - West End Seniors’ NetworkDave Ramslie- Concert PropertiesGhazaleh Akbarnejad - SFU / HNCMeg Holden- SFU / HNCLainey Martin- SFU / HNC Luna Aixin- HNCMichelle Hoar- HNCNicole Viduka- Concert PropertiesPaula Carr- HNCSarah Hunn- City of Victoria Stacy Barter- Building resilient neighborhoods / HNC

This guidebook, as part of the larger project: Happy Neighbours: Promoting affordability and social wellbeing through multi-unit housing design and programming actions received funding from the National Housing Strategy under the NHS Demonstrations Initiative, however, the views expressed are the personal views of the author and CMHC accept no responsibility for them.

August 2020

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