David Eddy, CEO of the Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS)

  Release Date: March 7, 2016 In January 2001 David Eddy became the Chief Executive Officer of Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS), a non-profit, off-reserve, Aboriginal housing provider in Vancouver, Canada.

Under David’s leadership over the last seven years, VNHS has increased its portfolio by nearly 100% and broadened its mandate from strictly housing urban Aboriginal families and seniors to providing supportive housing for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal homeless people and those at risk of homelessness, as well as housing for youth and for women leaving abusive/violent situations.

Since June, 2012 David has taken VNHS in a new direction of entrepreneurialism and self-sustainability, creating two social enterprises which have received international media attention and acclaim. With the introduction of Skwachàys Lodge (www.skwachays.com) and the Urban Aboriginal Fair Trade Gallery (www.urbanaboriginal.org), the society is guiding new projects to focus on Aboriginal art and culture as a means of revitalizing community pride and leading transformative change, and while doing this providing subsidy for 24 Aboriginal artists to live in the community.

David sits on the Board of Directors of Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) and served as its president from 2008 to 2010. He previously served on the Board of the British Columbia Non-Profit Housing Association as a director and as secretary on its executive. He is a founding director of the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC) and currently sits on its Housing and Homelessness Table. In 2014, Dave was asked to join the Vancouver Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Health and Addictions.

Prior to his work with VNHS, David worked for 16 years in social and affordable housing with a particular focus on marginalized groups and communities on the east side of Vancouver.

He has a Master’s degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. A father of a grown son, David delights in his role as grandpa to his three young grandchildren.

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