Metro Vancouver arts and culture groups are being asked to help shed light on the challenges they face finding places to call home.

The Rent-Lease-Own? survey project aims to answer questions about how nonprofit organizations are coping with real-estate-affordability woes in the region.

“The whole purpose of this [survey] is just to get base-line information…on what’s actually happening out there with the nonprofit sector—what they’re actually paying, if they’re having trouble securing their real estate,” project manager Jada Martinson told the Straight.

Local nonprofit groups have until the deadline on Sunday (November 18) to take part in the voluntary online survey. They are being asked to share information on the topics of real-estate affordability, location and space needs, and tenure and stability. The survey is also open to nonprofit groups in other sectors, including childcare, health services, recreation, and housing.

The Mustel Group and CitySpaces Consulting are conducting the survey on behalf of the Real Estate Institute of B.C. and the Social Purpose Real Estate Collaborative. The study is expected to conclude by the spring, but project organizers have not said what information will be released to the public.

Information on the survey is available at the Social Purpose Real Estate website.