Frequently Asked Questions
Good questions deserve clear answers.
Rooted Cowichan is a grassroots housing justice movement exploring new ways to connect people, housing, and community resources. We believe that finding solutions begins with conversations, and that everyone deserves to understand how those conversations work.
Whether you’re looking for somewhere to live, have space to offer, or simply want to help, here are some answers to questions you might have.
About Rooted Cowichan
What exactly is Rooted Cowichan?
At its heart, Rooted Cowichan is a circle of moms who have spent years navigating complicated government systems, advocating for people we love, and finding creative solutions when the usual pathways lead nowhere.
Between us, we bring professional experience, lived experience, and a deep understanding of the barriers people face when trying to access housing, disability supports, healthcare, and community services.
We are mothers, neighbours, advocates, and community members. We have homes and families of our own, and we recognize the stability that has given us. But we’re tired of watching our friends, former classmates, ex-partners, and elders struggle to survive in the very communities where we grew up.
These aren’t strangers or statistics to us. They’re people we know. People we went to school with. People we’ve loved. People who have worked, raised families, contributed to this community, and somehow ended up living in vehicles, encampments, or conditions nobody should have to endure.
We know that many people don’t fit neatly into existing housing and support programs. We also know that our communities are full of people with spare rooms, unused spaces, practical skills, and a willingness to help.
Rooted Cowichan exists to bring those people together.
We take the time to build relationships, understand individual circumstances, and explore fair, mutually beneficial housing arrangements. We help people navigate complex systems, connect with community resources, and find opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.
We’re also here to challenge the policies and practices that keep people stuck, because helping one person find housing matters, but changing the conditions that made them homeless matters too.
Are you a charity, housing provider, or government program?
Rooted Cowichan is an emerging grassroots community initiative, not a government program or conventional housing provider. We are building a network of people interested in creating housing opportunities and challenging the barriers that prevent them.
We do not currently operate housing facilities, administer rental subsidies, or provide emergency shelter. Our work focuses on building relationships, understanding individual circumstances, facilitating thoughtful housing connections, and exploring community-led solutions.
Is Rooted Cowichan a replacement for affordable housing or social services?
Absolutely not. We believe governments have a responsibility to invest in affordable housing, healthcare, disability supports, income assistance, and other essential services.
Rooted exists because those systems do not currently meet everyone’s needs. Our work is intended to complement existing services, help people navigate gaps, and demonstrate possibilities that may inform broader change.
Where do you operate?
Our focus is the Cowichan region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, including Duncan, North Cowichan, Lake Cowichan, Ladysmith, and surrounding communities.
We are interested in building connections throughout the region, particularly where rural geography, transportation barriers, and limited housing options make finding suitable accommodation difficult.
For People Looking for Housing or Support
Can Rooted help me find somewhere to live?
Possibly. We are building a network of people who may have housing opportunities or other resources to offer. By sharing your circumstances and what you’re looking for, you can help us identify whether a suitable connection might be possible.
Our approach is personal. We want to take the time to understand who you are, what matters to you, and what kind of living arrangement would genuinely work for your life.
We cannot guarantee that housing will be available or that we can find an appropriate arrangement for everyone who contacts us. However, we believe your circumstances deserve to be heard, even if you don’t fit the criteria of an existing housing program.
Do I need to be homeless to ask for help?
No. Housing insecurity takes many forms, and we would much rather explore options before someone loses their housing.
You might be living somewhere unsafe, struggling with unaffordable rent, facing eviction, staying temporarily with friends or family, or trying to transition out of an institutional or supported living arrangement.
If your current housing situation is unstable or unsuitable, you’re welcome to reach out.
Do I have to be sober, employed, or receiving government assistance?
No, you just have to be honest.
Rooted does not believe that people should have to prove their worthiness to deserve housing.
Different housing opportunities may have practical requirements or expectations, and compatibility matters when people are considering sharing their homes. But we don’t begin by deciding who deserves help based on employment status, income, disability, or personal history.
We begin by understanding your needs, preferences, and circumstances.
What if I have a disability or need additional support?
You’re welcome to contact us. Some people need accessible housing, some need help navigating services, and others may benefit from an arrangement that offers companionship or occasional practical assistance.
Rooted does not provide clinical care, personal support services, or disability funding directly, but we may be able to help identify useful community connections or explore housing possibilities that better reflect your needs.
Can I keep my pets?
We recognize that pets are family, and that separating someone from an animal can be a significant barrier to housing.
Whether pets can be accommodated will depend on the particular housing opportunity, but we encourage people to tell us about their animals so we can consider that when exploring possible arrangements.
Is there a waiting list?
We are not operating a conventional housing waitlist with guaranteed placements or a predictable timeline. Housing opportunities will depend on what community members offer, whether an arrangement is suitable, and the resources available to explore it.
We encourage you to keep pursuing other housing and support options while we look for possible connections.
What if I need somewhere to sleep tonight?
Rooted Cowichan is not an emergency shelter or crisis-response service, and we cannot guarantee immediate accommodation.
If you need emergency housing or help locating available services, you can contact BC 211 to explore community resources.
You’re still welcome to contact Rooted about longer-term possibilities.
For People Who Have Space to Offer
What kinds of spaces are you looking for?
We’re interested in hearing about a wide variety of possibilities, including spare bedrooms, secondary suites, small dwellings, shared living opportunities, temporary accommodations, and land-use properties that may have potential for future housing projects.
Not every space will be appropriate or immediately usable, but we believe it’s worth beginning the conversation.
Do I need to own a separate house or rental property?
Not at all. A spare bedroom in your own home, an outbuilding on your property, or a long-term parking spot might be exactly what someone needs.
Some people may be comfortable with shared living, while others need more independence. Our goal is to explore arrangements that respect everyone’s preferences, boundaries, and circumstances.
I have land. Could I offer space for an RV or tiny home?
Potentially, but the possibilities depend on local zoning, land-use regulations, servicing, safety requirements, and the type of accommodation being considered. We hope to demonstrate to local regional districts that non-conventional housing can work.
Rooted is particularly interested in exploring how existing properties and community resources could support appropriate housing opportunities. We welcome conversations with landowners who want to investigate what’s possible.
Offering land does not automatically mean it can legally or safely be used for residential accommodation. Part of the work is identifying which ideas are feasible and where existing rules may create barriers worth examining.
Would I be expected to provide housing for free?
No. Rooted is not built around the expectation that property owners should give away their resources or take on financial hardship.
Some people may wish to offer free or temporary accommodation, while others may be interested in affordable rent, shared living, or arrangements involving mutually agreed contributions.
We want to build relationships to explore fair opportunities that are sustainable and beneficial for everyone involved.
Could someone help around my property in exchange for reduced rent?
That may be worth exploring. For example, someone might enjoy gardening, helping maintain a property, or contributing to household activities as part of a shared living arrangement.
Arrangements involving work and accommodation need clear expectations and consideration of applicable tenancy, employment, and other legal protections. Contributions should be freely agreed upon and fairly valued, without creating dependence or pressure.
We want connections to be built on mutual benefit, not exploitation.
What if I’m nervous about inviting someone into my home?
That’s understandable. Sharing a home or property is a significant decision, and nobody should feel pressured into an arrangement that doesn’t feel right.
One of the reasons Rooted takes a relationship-based approach is to give everyone time to get to know one another before making a commitment.
That might involve several conversations, meeting in person, sharing a meal, visiting the property, and discussing household routines, expectations, privacy, finances, and boundaries.
We believe trust is something people build together, not something that can be established through an application form alone.
How does Rooted screen and match people? Can you guarantee a successful arrangement?
Rooted takes a relationship-based approach to housing connections. We believe that successful arrangements begin with taking the time to genuinely get to know everyone involved, rather than simply matching an available space with someone who needs housing.
We spend time understanding people’s needs, circumstances, expectations, boundaries, and what they can offer. This may involve multiple conversations, meetings, shared meals, and opportunities for everyone to get comfortable with one another before considering an agreement.
Every person and property is different. A homeowner may have particular safety concerns or request a criminal record check. Someone seeking housing may have a criminal history and need an opportunity with a property owner who is comfortable considering their circumstances. Neither person’s needs should be ignored, and neither should be reduced to a single piece of information.
Our goal is to approach these conversations openly, respectfully, and without judgment, while protecting people’s privacy and ensuring that relevant information is shared with informed consent. Where additional screening or checks are appropriate and lawful, we can help participants understand and coordinate those steps.
We aren’t looking for perfect people. We’re looking for arrangements that work for real people.
We cannot guarantee that every connection will result in housing or that every arrangement will succeed. What we can offer is a thoughtful, individualized matching process that prioritizes communication, compatibility, transparency, and mutual respect.
Ultimately, everyone involved must feel comfortable with the arrangement and freely choose whether to proceed.
Getting Involved
I don’t have housing to offer. Can I still help?
Absolutely. Some of the most valuable contributions have nothing to do with owning property.
We welcome people with experience in community outreach, social services, construction, planning, gardening, administration, communications, fundraising, advocacy, and other practical areas. We are also interested in hearing from people who simply have time, connections, or ideas to share.
You don’t need a particular qualification to start a conversation with us.
Can local businesses or organizations get involved?
Yes. Rooted hopes to develop relationships with local businesses, farms, community organizations, service providers, tradespeople, and property owners.
A business might have employment opportunities, materials, equipment, professional expertise, or a space that could support a project. An organization might have experience, relationships, or services that complement a community-led housing opportunity.
We believe meaningful partnerships begin by understanding what each participant can contribute.
Can I share an idea even if I don’t know whether it’s possible?
Please do. Exploring possibilities is central to what we’re building.
Not every idea will be feasible, and some may require research, professional input, funding, or changes to existing regulations. But dismissing an idea before understanding it means potentially overlooking something valuable.
We’re interested in practical creativity, thoughtful experimentation, and learning from the community.
How is Rooted funded, and how can I support the work?
Rooted Cowichan welcomes financial contributions, donated resources, and community partnerships to help get this movement off the ground.
Meaningful housing connections take more than a phone call or an introduction. They require time spent meeting people in their communities, listening to their stories, understanding their needs, visiting potential housing opportunities, navigating systems, coordinating meetings, and building the trust that makes successful arrangements possible.
This work is deeply personal, often complex, and resource-intensive. It deserves the time and attention necessary to do it well.
Financial contributions help us cover the practical costs of building Rooted, including transportation, outreach, communications, administration, community meetings, and the coordination involved in exploring potential housing connections.
We also welcome in-kind donations, professional services, volunteer time, and partnerships with businesses and organizations that share our vision.
As Rooted grows, we intend to explore sustainable funding models, including grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and social-enterprise opportunities. Our goal is to build something that can continue serving the community without relying entirely on unpaid labour.
Housing justice takes people, relationships, time, and resources. Your contribution helps make that work possible.
Rooted Cowichan is not currently a registered charity, so financial contributions are not eligible for charitable donation tax receipts.
Privacy, Safety and Expectations
What happens when I submit a form?
The information you provide helps us understand your inquiry and determine whether there may be an appropriate opportunity, resource, or connection to explore.
We may contact you for additional details or to discuss possible next steps. Submitting a form does not guarantee housing, a placement, or a particular service.
Will my personal information be shared?
We understand that housing insecurity can involve sensitive personal circumstances. Our intention is to use the information you provide to respond to your inquiry and explore possible connections, not to publicly share your story or circumstances.
We will seek your permission before sharing your contact details or identifying information with a potential community connection. Please avoid including highly sensitive identification, financial, or medical information in your initial inquiry.
How do you make sure arrangements are safe and fair?
Safety, informed consent, and respect for everyone’s rights are fundamental to the approach we’re developing.
We make room for clear communication, appropriate agreements, consideration of accessibility and compatibility, and compliance with applicable housing and safety requirements.
This looks like multiple meetings, shared meals, property visits, and time together so everyone has an opportunity to get to know one another before entering into an agreement.
We also recognize that people facing housing insecurity may be in vulnerable positions, making it especially important that arrangements are not coercive or exploitative.
Rooted cannot guarantee the conduct of independent participants. We believe being transparent about those limitations is part of building trust.
Still Have Questions?
Rooted Cowichan is growing through conversations with people who believe our communities can do things differently. If your question isn’t answered here, we’d like to hear it.
Whether you need support, have space to share, or want to contribute an idea, you are welcome to start a conversation.
What do you have? What do you need? What can we create together?
