I have written before about my membership in the Athlete’s Village Housing Co-op.  I recently came across a video by CU Planet about the role that Vancity Credit Union played in the co-operative’s foundation. CU Planet is a website about credit unions and other cooperatives and how they help combat poverty around the world.

Vancity Credit Union partnered with the City of Vancover and the Co-op Housing Federation of British Columbia to convert dormitories formerly used during the 2010 Winter Olympics into 1–to-3-bedroom condos. Some of the units were made available at market value while units were designated as affordable housing.

The building is environmentally friendly, using sunlight to brighten common areas and captured rainwater to irrigate two rooftop gardens. By financing a 60-year lease at the First Avenue Athletes Village Housing Co-op, Vancity has made downtown living a little more affordable for the average family.