Fighting for Home

Reprinted from 3.21: Canada’s Down Syndrome Magazine (Issue #19: The Advocacy Issue). Click here to download the full magazine.

Lauren Simpson has taken a leading role in the fight for an affordable, inclusive housing project in Surrey, BC. Lauren is an alumnus of the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation, having taken many programs through the years, including Speaking Out: Advocacy + Climate Change. 3.21 Magazine recently sat down with Lauren to hear about her inspiring advocacy work.

3.21: Tell us about yourself.

Lauren Simpson: I am Lauren Simpson and I’m 28. I live with my family in South Surrey, BC: my mom and dad and Jax. Jax is my dog. I like to go out for coffee and go to restaurants. I listen to music and spend time with my family. I love Special Olympics. In the spring and summer, I will be participating in running and softball.

3.21: You are a housing activist, a public speaker, and a disability advocate. Why is it important to you as a woman with Down syndrome to advocate for yourself?

LS: It is important to me. I like to stand up for myself and make my voice heard, and for other people in my community to have choices in their life.

3.21: As a member of UNITl’s Community Development Committee & Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo, you have been advocating for several years for the Harmony housing project. Can you describe this project for us?

LS: Harmony is a 91-unit affordable, inclusive, accessible, six-storey rental apartment building. It will be built by UNITI, a non-profit organization.

3.21: Why is the Harmony project so important to you personally?

LS: I want everyone to have the place they deserve; to be safe and happy, and to live where they grew up. I want to live there myself.

3.21: It has been a long journey to see Harmony become a reality. What are some of the things you have done to advocate for it?

LS: I spoke at the public hearings, and I had a phone meeting with the Mayor at that time. We delivered flyers to neighbours. I did interviews and conferences. We did a documentary called Lauren’s Story.

3.21: What obstacles have you faced along the way?

LS: In 2021, the Mayor at that time and four members of city council said no. The neighbours also said no because they won’t get any sunlight.

3.21: How did you feel when the City of Surrey rejected plans for the Harmony development?

LS: I was really disappointed and angry. I cried. Everyone was heartbroken.

3.21: The story didn’t end there, fortunately. How did you regroup and continue to push for what you needed?

LS: We never gave up. We made Lauren’s Story, which we showed at the Inclusion BC Conference in 2022. We wrote letters and spoke at housing conferences and gave interviews. We put pressure on the city council.

3.21: Where does the Harmony project stand today?

LS: Harmony was finally approved by city council, and we are breaking ground in 2024. We will start our public fundraising campaign soon. It is called the Leadership Committee Campaign for Harmony. Hopefully the building will be ready to move in by 2027.

3.21: What have you learned through this whole process?

LS: I learned a lot. I learned to speak up and talk to people about what I believe in. I can talk to the local government, and they will listen to me. We are a good team at UNITI.

3.21: You’ve earned some wonderful honours for your work, including, most recently, the Surrey Board of Trade’s 2024 Women in Business Social Trailblazer award. What other awards have you received, and how does this recognition make you feel?

LS: In 2023, I received the YWCA Women of Distinction Community Champion award. I also received the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation’s George Klukas Achievement Award in 2020. I feel happy and honoured.

3.21: What other causes are important to you, which you would like to advocate for in the future?

LS: I want to keep working on affordable housing. We have a lot of work to do. I also advocate for single moms, families, and seniors.

3.21: What would be your advice for other people with Down syndrome who feel like their voices are not being heard?

LS: Don’t be afraid to use your voice. Be part of a team. Never give up.

UNITI is a partnership of three affiliated societies that have provided important community services for decades. Semiahmoo House Society provides quality services and supports to people with disabilities and their families in Surrey and White Rock. Peninsula Estates Housing Society provides affordable and inclusive housing that reflects the diversity of our community. The Semiahmoo Foundation ensures that UNITI has the recognition, relationships and resources to support an inclusive community. UNITI promotes inclusion and creates models that will influence societal change. To learn more about UNITI and follow the progress of the Harmony project, visit https://uniti4all.com.