You Hold the Key gains momentum Page 4

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1 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada NewsBriefs Spring 2015 Volume 23, Number 1 National inside: Remembering Mark Goldblatt Page 3 You Hold the Key gains momentum Page 4 New products and services Page 6 LGBTQ inclusive communities Page 12 Co-op members at the You Hold the Key rally at Edmonton City Hall organized by the Northern Alberta Co-operative Housing Association (NACHA).

2 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Contents Editorial 1 CHF Canada s executive director, Nicholas Gazzard, outlines the message of our You Hold the Key campaign. 4 8 Features Remembering Mark Goldblatt 3 Canada s co-ops celebrate a co-op hero who made his start, and biggest accomplishments, in co-op housing. You Hold the Key gains momentum 4 The number of co-ops passing campaign resolutions continues to climb as we gear up for a fall federal election. New business services 6 Three innovative new services Asset Management, Spotlight and Encasa aim to meet the changing needs of Canada s housing co-ops. Departments 12 News briefs 2 Refinancing More loans help to renew co-ops 8 Insurance The Co-operators concern for community 9 Education Healthy businesses, healthy communities Vision Co-ops talk about mission and vision 11 Diversity LGBTQ inclusive communities 12 Across Canada 14 Aging in Place survey in BC Bylaw changes in Ontario Money for renovations in Nova Scotia From CMHC 16 Around the world 17 Study tour reveals co-ops share similar concerns Noteworthy 18 Changes on CHF Canada s board and staff chfcanada.coop The End of Agreements Members Network was mandated by a CHF Canada member resolution at the Calgary AGM in It is an online members-only forum allowing federally funded co-ops to post questions, ideas, plans and resources related to expiring operating agreements. It can be found on CHF Canada s website ( NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

3 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada editorial Our position is clear You Hold the Key proposes cost-shared rent supplements managed by the provinces By Nicholas Gazzard For at least five years, co-operative housing organizations across the country have been warning all levels of government that a crisis in housing affordability is looming for low-income housing co-op residents. The federal and provincial funding agreements that assist these households with their rent are coming to an end in large numbers. We are talking about Canadians on fixed incomes; Canadians who are elderly; Canadians with chronic disabilities; and new Canadians we have welcomed into our country so they can build a bright future and contribute to our economy. Tens of thousands of affordable co-op homes are at risk. Unless governments agree to help, the co-ops in which these Canadians live will be unable to offer them affordable rents based on their incomes. Co-ops have their own financial challenges: increasing operating expenses and maintenance costs, and the need for major reinvestment in aging properties for which the co-ops will need to refinance through long-term mortgages. Co-ops will not be able to reduce the rents of low-income residents without creating financial difficulty for themselves that will threaten every member s home. They will need to charge a full rent that will allow them to break even on their operations if they are to remain viable as non-profit housing developments. The solution that we have consistently called for is simple. We do not propose that the federal government renew these expiring funding agreements with housing co-ops. Instead, we propose that Ottawa transfer savings from the expiring funding streams to the provinces, to share in the cost of rent supplement programs that the provinces will manage. In this way, the cost of continuing to support lowincome co-op households are shared between the federal government and the level of government with jurisdiction over housing. This is the co-operative housing proposal. We are not asking for capital investment dollars from government for the renewal of our members properties. As responsible stewards of their homes, co-ops will take care of their buildings through long-term asset management planning if government retains its responsibility for supplementing the rents of low-income It is now up to the federal and provincial governments to work together to deliver on what we know to be a very cost-effective means to continue to assist low-income Canadians living in housing co-ops. households. This is a social assistance role that belongs in the public domain. We have been clear and consistent in our position. It is now up to the federal and provincial governments to work together to deliver on what we know to be a very cost-effective means to continue to assist low-income Canadians living in housing co-ops. The alternative is more hardship that only adds to the housing affordability gap in Canada, along with a growing anxiety among some of our most vulnerable citizens who fear they will no longer be able to afford to live in their homes. Nicholas Gazzard is the executive director of CHF Canada. NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 1

4 national News briefs The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada NEWS BRIEFS The Co-operators commits $60,000 to support co-op housing scholarships In a great gesture of support, CHF Canada s insurance program partner, The Co-operators, has committed to supporting the diversity scholarship programs offered by CHF Canada and regional federations with a contribution of $15,000 per year for the next four years! Our relationship with The Co-operators has been one of the foundations of our success for many years, said CHF Canada Director, Sector Development, Karla Skoutajan. This is a great investment in future generations of co-op members and will enable co-ops to help even more of the many deserving candidates. We are pleased to support such a worthwhile program, said Barbara Turley-McIntyre, Senior Director, Sustainability & Citizenship, from The Co-operators. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of this investment in young people who will make great contributions to co-operatives and communities across Canada. Alongside regional co-operative housing federations, CHF Canada is helping young co-op members with scholarships to pursue post-secondary education. In 2014, CHF Canada launched the Manitoba Diversity Scholarship and this year saw the launch of diversity scholarships in Nova Scotia and Southwestern Ontario. Canada s housing co-ops step up in support of Blueprint for a Co-op Decade Last year, at CHF Canada s Annual Meeting in Ottawa, delegates brainstormed on how Canada s co-op housing movement could be an effective part of the Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade, which resulted from the International Year of Co-operatives in The Blueprint aims for the co-operative identity to become one of the best-known ethical marques in the world by Well, the numbers are coming in, and housing co-ops, their federations and associated groups make up more than 20 percent of the nearly 100 Canadian organizations that have applied to use the new international co-op marque (pictured below). They also make up a good proportion of the nearly 300 Canadian websites that now use the.coop domain name. The global Co-operative Marque is a visual identifier that is available for all co-operatives to use. It is free, and you can apply at The marque supports the.coop domain, which is used by co-operatives all over the world, differentiating us from other forms of business and allowing co-operative organizations to stand out from the crowd. The.coop domain allows us to better connect with our members and network with other co-operatives. It costs roughly $100 per year for a.coop domain, and it is exclusively available to bona fide co-operatives. To date, there are over 8,100.coop domains registered in 91 countries, and more than 1,000 co-ops in 85 countries have successfully registered to use the marque. Domains.coop, a fully owned subsidiary of the International Co-operative Alliance, has produced a guide to provide leaders of co-operative and mutual businesses with useful insight, information and ideas around communicating and promoting co-operative identity. Domains.coop is offering a special incentive to any co-op that signs up to use a.coop domain: you get the first year and two.coop s free. 2 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

5 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Photo credit: Pat McClain Remembering Mark Goldblatt By Donna Balkan Mark Goldblatt s death on February 3 at the age of 62 sent waves of sadness through the Canadian co-operative movement. For more than 40 years, Mark had been a fixture on the Canadian co-op scene, first in housing co-ops, then branching out to work in virtually every area of co-operation. Mark was a 21-year-old community organizer when he first attended a workshop where he learned about co-ops, and never looked back. One of the people who knew him best was Tom Clement, executive director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT), an organization Mark helped create in Mark worked on everything! says Tom. He was never one to brag about what he did but he literally did everything. He worked on developing new co-ops, and he worked on keeping in touch with the co-ops that were already there. One of Mark s greatest achievements, according to Tom, was the creation of Toronto s Atkinson Co-op, the first public housing project in Canada to convert to a co-operative. Mark was talking about turning public housing into co-ops as early as 1978, but few people believed it could actually be done. The idea remained on the back burner until 1993, when Mark met with Sonny Atkinson, president of the housing project s residents association. But even after the co-op was incorporated the following year, the provincial government kept delaying the conversion. The public housing officials kept throwing up roadblocks, and Mark looked at me and said: They ll never outlast us! On April 1, 2003, the conversion was complete, and today Atkinson is one of the city s most dynamic and successful co-ops. But Mark s legacy extends far beyond Toronto. He helped negotiate Canada s two largest co-op housing development programs: the Section 95 Program, and the Index-Linked Mortgage Program that followed it. He served on the board of CHF Canada and as its executive Canada s co-ops bid farewell to a humble hero director in the 1980s. He became active in worker co-ops and served as president of the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation. And he contributed to the creation and success of many forms of co-ops as a board member and later as a co-operative development manager with the Canadian Co-operative Association. More recently, he was the driving force behind the creation of the Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa. His legacy also extends beyond Canada s borders. In the early 1980s, after participating in a mission to assist the co-op housing movement in Kenya, architect and low-income housing specialist Barry Pinsky discussed with Mark the possibility of CHF Canada establishing an international program. Today, Barry is the executive director of the organization they created: Rooftops Canada. We knew that the German and some other housing coop movements were engaged in international development. We agreed to create a non-profit organization for this purpose and after playing with a lot of alphabet soup acronyms, Mark came up with Rooftops Canada. When asked what drove Mark s lifelong dedication to co-operatives, virtually everyone who knew him cites his deep-seated sense of social justice, along with words like gentle, kind, humble and compassionate as frequently as visionary, dedicated and determined. Says Barry: Whenever we met, I knew I was in for a big warm hug that was just part of who Mark was. To read more tributes to Mark Goldblatt, visit the Mark Benjamin Goldblatt Memorial Blog at markgoldblattmemorial.wordpress.com. Mark Goldblatt, seen here at last year s You Hold the Key rally in Ottawa, was considered a gentle giant by many in Canada s co-op movement. NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 3

6 you hold the key The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Co-ops show resolve supporting You Hold the Key campaign By Merrilee Robson For Maria Amador, it is concern for the members that is bothering her most about the end of her co-op s operating agreement and the end of federal subsidies. People are living in a nice place, but they are living in limbo and they don t know what their future will be, says the delegate and board member from Campden Green Co-operative Homes, a 60-unit housing co-op in Scarborough, Ontario. Campden Green has joined CHF Canada, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT), and other housing co-ops in the You Hold the Key campaign that they hope will end the anxiety of low-income housing co-op members. The co-op passed a resolution in support of the campaign and wrote to their government representatives. They sent representatives to CHF Canada s Annual Meeting in Ottawa last year and attended the big campaign rally on Parliament Hill. They have met with their Member of Parliament, Rathika Sitsabaiesan. And they also hosted a meeting with You Hold the Key at the AGM The CHF Canada Annual Meeting in Charlottetown, June 3 6, will be an important opportunity to focus on a topic on a lot of members minds the end of co-op operating agreements and the end of federal subsidies for low-income households. There will be an update on the You Hold the Key campaign and the progress made in advocacy to protect co-op affordability. Sitsabaiesan, which was attended by other housing co-ops in the riding. Over 100 people packed the standing-roomonly meeting! I want them to hear our cry. I don t know where these members would go if they couldn t afford to live here. CHF Canada has offered a simple solution to the crisis facing Canada s housing co-ops when ongoing subsidies to low-income residents end. CHF Canada has proposed that Ottawa transfer savings from the expiring funding streams to the provinces and territories, to share in the cost of rent supplement programs (see page 1). Housing co-ops across Canada are getting involved in the campaign. CHFT has organized a series of meetings and CHF Canada s Ontario Region is presenting an advocacy workshop at CHFT s spring education event. The Southern Alberta Co-operative Housing Association (SACHA) held a government relations webinar and a special session on the You Hold the Key campaign in Alberta. The Co-operative Housing Federation of BC (CHF BC) used There will be time to talk about how you think the campaign should progress and to discuss strategies that you are using now to prepare for the future. Regardless of the nationwide campaign, co-ops also have to start looking at ways to prepare for a future when subsidies are delivered in a different way. This year s meeting will give co-ops a chance to share, network and strategize on this important topic. 4 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

7 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada you hold the key Federal Election 2015 The federal election scheduled for October 19 will give housing co-ops a chance to be heard on their issues. Before the election, all parties will be working on their platforms, which include their policies and campaign promises. CHF Canada will meet with all major political parties, asking for support for the subsidy solution. Well before the election, CHF Canada will launch an interactive website so members can engage with candidates in their riding. The website will serve as a one-stop shop for other key election documents, like platforms and relevant party statements. It will be linked to social media platforms, with an emphasis on Twitter. their February members forum with CHF Canada to brainstorm ideas to get other housing co-ops to pass a resolution in support. Campden Green s manager Heidi Oehlschlager says many of the co-op s subsidized members are pensioners with limited incomes. She says those members are aware of the issue but not exactly sure what the end of the operating agreement will mean for them. Maria Amador finds it unacceptable for the federal government to let people in need live with such uncertainty. She wants to make sure elected officials understand why housing co-ops are concerned and what they can do to fix the problem. I want them to hear our cry. I don t know where these members would go if they couldn t afford to live here. She says she has received some good responses and hopes for a positive outcome. For more information on how the end of the operating agreement with government will affect your co-op, and to get involved in the campaign, contact CHF Canada or your regional federation. Above: Shown at a You Hold the Key rally in Edmonton are (from left) NACHA director Tony Duk, Edmonton city councillor Ben Henderson, CHF Canada director Deryl Thompson, NACHA director Ayanna Innis and Alberta MLA Brian Mason (Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood). Left: CHF Canada executive director Nicholas Gazzard and CHF BC executive director Thom Armstrong hold one of the campaign keys. Far left: Members of Easton Housing Co-op in St. John s, NL, are among the 154 co-ops that have passed a You Hold the Key resolution. By the numbers: Co-op households affected: over 20,000 People living in these homes: over 51,000 You Hold the Key resolutions passed by co-ops: NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 5

8 new services The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Suite of new CHF Canada business services aims to meet members evolving needs By Scott Jackson One of the current annual operating priorities established by CHF Canada s Board of Directors last fall is to design and deliver the business services member co-ops need to build a strong future. CHF Canada is pursuing this goal vigorously, alongside the Housing Services Corporation (HSC) as a strategic partner, and with involvement and investment of multiple sector stakeholders including regional co-op housing federations, co-op property management companies and other non-profit housing organizations. By leveraging the scale and capacity of Canada s co-op and non-profit housing sectors together, CHF Canada can satisfy the changing needs of member co-ops. The objective is to enable Canada s housing co-ops to succeed as businesses well into the future with well maintained and restored buildings, sound money management and 21 st century business tools and systems. Here is an introduction to the new services that have recently launched or are set to launch this spring: ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES* assistance with capital projects and planning Whether your housing co-op is simply completing routine capital repairs or considering refinancing to do major work, Asset Management Services can help you with your to do list and get you started in the right direction. CHF Canada has partnered with the HSC to offer Asset Management Services to members. Asset Management Services can assist your housing co-op with everything from procurement and tendering, to building condition assessments (BCAs), asset management plans and major multi-year project management. At the heart of the service is an Asset Management Plan (AMP) that sets out a long-term plan for managing and maintaining your co-op s buildings and other assets to a high standard. AMP will give you: An overview of the condition of the co-op s assets Using your existing or updated building condition assessment (BCA), the plan provides a summary of the condition of the co-op property, including recommended short-, medium- and long-term capital replacements. Capital spending plans AMP reviews BCA raw data and generates capital spending plans for implementation each year. Maintenance planning Included in AMP are basic maintenance recommendations and schedules that will extend the life of existing assets. Financial projections and spreadsheets AMP provides long-term budget spreadsheets that project annual operating revenues and expenses, capital expenditures and debt service. Refinancing, reserves and housing charges AMP recommends borrowing, saving and housing charge schedules intended to provide the most viable scenario for implementing current capital projects, maintaining co-op assets over time and managing the cost of living for co-op members. For more information, and to find out what Asset Management Services can do for you, contact CHF Canada s Program Manager, Co-operative and Asset Management Services, David Spackman, at or ams@chfcanada.coop. ENCASA investment options tailored for affordable housing providers In late 2014, four key housing organizations from across Canada CHF Canada, HSC, CHF BC and the BC Non-Profit Housing Association launched Encasa Financial Inc., an innovative partnership to help nonprofit and co-operative housing providers meet long-term investment needs. 6 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

9 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada new services Encasa is a registered investment fund manager, created specifically to manage the investment of pooled capital reserves of non-profit and co-operative housing providers. The Social Housing Investment Program, administered by Encasa, enables housing providers to effectively invest capital reserves and operating dollars such as last-month rents and member deposits. This new model will give co-operative and non-profit housing providers across Canada access to investment options that they previously did not have, says CHF Canada Executive Director Nicholas Gazzard. As of March 31, 2015, approximately 850 housing providers invested more than $493 million in Encasa funds. The benefits of the Social Housing Investment Program include: giving housing providers a wider range of investment funds for their money, with both long- and short-term investments access to professional money management and expert advice access to individuals who know social housing as well as those who understand the investment world a low management expense ratio funds designed to meet providers needs and interests the ability to adapt to changing needs over time funds overseen by a board where providers are represented the opportunity to link investments with education and training to meet providers needs specialized communications to support the program For more information about Encasa Financial, visit or call SPOTLIGHT* integrated property management software customized for housing co-ops CHF Canada, again in partnership with HSC, is pleased to introduce Spotlight, a new, leading-edge, web-based property management solution tailored specifically for housing co-ops and their managers. Spotlight offers a seamlessly integrated suite of occupancy, property and financial management tools that include subsidy management and a full accounting package. Spotlight users get access to smart-management software tools and reports to help them run their co-ops effectively and efficiently. And because it s webbased, SpotLight delivers 24/7 access to all your co-op s information with just an internet connection. That means co-op property managers, maintenance staff and boards can have all the information they need to make decisions, take action and deliver results whenever they need it and wherever they are. Spotlight offers: Occupancy management full move-in/move-out administration and record keeping of all co-op residents built-in rent-geared-to-income calculator and income verification wizard waitlist management for RGI and Market units Maintenance management full management of maintenance for service requests and work orders templates and links to inspection checklists automatic reminders for scheduled maintenance work orders optional add-ons such as mobile work-order and inspection apps Financial management full general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, budgeting and cheque writing functionality complete financial reporting including balance sheets, income statements, arrears reporting and cash-flow Reporting and analytics standardized board reports and forms based on common co-op needs the ability to print, export and reports, letters and forms as Word, Excel or PDF documents Spotlight is available to co-ops at competitive rates that only used to be available to much larger housing providers. It will be introduced at a special membersonly price: $1.25 per unit per month plus a one-time implementation fee. This includes software, online help, continuous system upgrades and data protection. You will also select an annual support package and choose from custom add-ons based on your needs. For more information about Spotlight, contact SpotLight@chfcanada.coop or call *not available in BC or Quebec NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 7

10 refinancing The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Spring Refinancing Fever! Housing co-ops lining up to renew their homes with CHF Canada s Refinancing Program By Janet Shim Windfield Housing Co-op is a 70-unit co-op that completed a refinancing with help from CHF Canada in July of The co-op received financing from Meridian Credit Union to undertake various renovation projects. They have now completed the majority of the interior work. They did a hell of a great job, says Windfield member Ashley Hunt about the improvements to her unit. All the workers involved with the project were so great and kept checking up to see if we were happy. People at the co-op are all really excited for the renovations, and it now feels like home. The renovations were done quickly, and we are so happy about the new units compared to how they were before. So far, eleven housing co-ops have received loans from their local credit unions through CHF Canada s Refinancing Program, with another 22 co-ops in various stages of refinancing. This has been a great program to date, says CHF Canada Refinancing Program Manager Janet Shim. It has been a real pleasure meeting with co-ops of all kinds from different areas. I thoroughly enjoy helping co-ops through the refinancing process, and to see some of the renovations being done and the difference it makes to those who live there. CHF Canada s Refinancing Program continues to improve and evolve with the support from our credit union partners, the Agency and CMHC, says CHF Canada s Manager of Corporate Services, Linda Stephenson. We have worked collaboratively to make this program efficient and effective. We work closely with those within the sector and have found it a key to success to the program. Asset Management Services help co-ops plan and prioritize for refinancing Refinancing is just one part of maintaining your buildings in good condition to keep your communities thriving. In order to keep your building in good condition, you will need a building condition assessment (BCA), an Asset Management Plan (AMP), and project management services. CHF Canada s new Asset Management Services can help you with that (see page 6 for details). With a refinancing loan in place, renovations are underway at Windfield Housing Co-op, and members are enjoying their unit upgrades. 8 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

11 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada insurance More than Great Insurance The Co-operators epitomizes the seventh co-op principle concern for community By Merrilee Robson Each year, when housing co-ops renew their property insurance through CHF Canada s commercial insurance program, they re probably thinking about the excellent coverage they get to protect their buildings, property, directors and volunteers. But they might want to give some thought to The Co-operators, CHF Canada s partner in the commercial insurance program, and in all insurance programs offered to members. The Co-operators General Insurance Company has a history that goes back 70 years to a small group of farmers in Those families wanted to protect themselves and their communities The Co-operators staff participate in a wide range of activities that contribute to their communities. and found that traditional insurers did not meet their needs. Albert Savage, one of the original founders of The Co-operators, described the company as an acorn that will grow into one of the greatest oak trees of the co-operative movement. Today, the Co-operators has over a million clients but it has followed its vision and maintained strong roots in the community. Here are some examples of The Co-operators community involvement: the only corporate national sponsor of the Block Parent Program of Canada partner with the Infant and Toddler Safety Association (ITSA) to provide car seat education in the form of free car seat safety clinics for parents and caregivers across Canada partners with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and the Fire Marshal s Public Fire Safety Council to reduce the loss of life and property from fire supporter of various programs, including ones that encourage employees to volunteer in their communities, address the dangers of youth using drugs and alcohol, and provide tips to help keep seniors safe in their homes The Co-operators also has a strong focus on sustainability. It knows that, as leaders in risk analysis, insurers can advocate for better ways to predict and prevent losses from extreme weather events caused by climate change. It offers products and services that promote environmental, social and economic responsibility, offer hints on reducing your own carbon footprint and advice on sustainable investment. Linda Stephenson, CHF Canada s Manager, Corporate Services, says CHF Canada s decades-long relationship with The Co-operators has really benefited member housing co-ops. Our partnership with The Co-operators is working very well. Together, we have worked hard on risk management education for our co-ops, and it s paying off. Members are making fewer claims than ever, and we had a very positive program renewal process, with no base rate increase for the first time in years. The Co-operators to donate $60,000 to housing co-op scholarships In another great example of The Co-operators community spirit,it has just committed $15,000 per year over four years to housing co-op diversity scholarship programs (see details on page 2). CHF Canada s insurance programs include the commercial insurance program (property and casualty insurance), a group benefits package for staff of housing co-ops and the housing charge life insurance program. For individual members of housing co-ops, there s MemberGuard for household property and liability, and AutoGuard for vehicle insurance. Both CHF Canada and The Co-operators are part of the international co-operative movement and are preparing for a strong future through the Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade, a plan to build on the achievements of the International Year of Co-operatives in For more information about The Co-operators, visit NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 9

12 education The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada CHF Canada Education promotes both healthy businesses and healthy communities By Scott Stager Piatkowski Each year, CHF Canada s Board of Directors sets operating priorities for the organization. For 2015, one of the five priorities was to identify ways to improve our members access to the knowledge and tools to sustain healthy co-op businesses and strong and vibrant communities. More specifically, CHF Canada will continue to look for new and innovative ways to expand and strengthen capacity to deliver an education program that supports member engagement in the democratic and community life of co-ops and creates long-term viable businesses. Based on this priority, Healthy businesses, healthy communities has been adopted as the theme for the Member Education Forum at the 2015 Annual Meeting and other CHF Canada regional educational events held during the year. Participants in these workshops will be on their way to sustaining the health of their co-op business and their co-op community. Rebecca Richardson, CHF Canada s Program Manager, Education Services, notes a co-op that is a well-run business has the ability to nurture a healthy community, while a co-op that is struggling as a business may also suffer as a community. Richardson also points out that transparency and accountability form the basis of both a healthy business and a healthy community. Tina Hiscock is the president of Needham Housing Co-operative, a 22-unit scattered co-op in downtown Halifax. She argues that, If you don t think of it as a business you can start to forget that we as a board are responsible for a multi-million dollar corporation. There are rules that need to be followed and legal obligations that must be met. If these things are forgotten, your business and your community will fall apart! She adds that having strong management in place is important, particularly in controlling arrears, minimizing vacancy loss and maintaining the co-op s physical assets. If these areas are taken care of, members can then concentrate on building healthy relationships with their neighbours and planning things like potlucks and family days. Judith Sainsbury, co-ordinator of Cole Road Co-operative Community, an 82-unit townhouse co-op in Guelph, agrees. In a well-run co-op, a member can grow as a person, socially as well as professionally, and learn to take responsibility not only for themselves, but also for the co-op enterprise. In a housing co-op, a person extends their personal responsibility to the people of the co-op community. The co-op will naturally grow because the members grow with it. If this growth is fostered, the co-op becomes a vibrant business and a vibrant community. Watch for the icons representing healthy businesses and healthy communities in your workshop program and explore how you can help your co-op become both a healthy business and a healthy community. Scott Stager Piatkowski is the property manager for Bread and Roses Co-operative Homes in Kitchener, ON. Left: Members and staff of Cole Road Housing Co-op: Alan Pickersgill, Judith Sainsbury and Farial Hashimi. Right: Needham Housing Co-op president Tina Hiscock, on the front step of her home. 10 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

13 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada 2020 vision Compass Facilitators support co-ops through the 2020 Vision Process By Marni Norwich For co-ops working through the five standards of a 2020 Co-op, the creation of a mission statement and vision for the future can be daunting. Rallying members to attend a meeting on philosophical concepts, bridging ideological differences and agreeing on specific wording can challenge the best of communities. That s why many co-ops invite a CHF Canada Compass facilitator to guide them through the process. By and large, those that have used a facilitator really appreciate the facilitation component, says CHF Canada Compass facilitator Céline Carrière. Having a discussion about a co-op s view for the future can be very hard to have, and it s important to ensure everyone s voice is heard from a neutral position. Carrière, who is also the executive director of the Co-operative Housing Association of Eastern Ontario (CHASEO), recently served as Compass facilitator with Ottawa s Co-op Voisins. Says co-op manager Amanda Shaughnessy, Céline did a fantastic job trying to get consensus on values. It s hard to try to wordsmith phrases with 30 people in the room. Voisins is a bilingual co-op, and the discussion involved the issue of bilingualism. I think it was crucial to have a neutral person without attachments or known biases, especially around the discussion about bilingualism, says Shaughnessy. It helped people to discuss the issue in a respectful way. She says that while co-ops nearing the end of operating agreements feel pressure to come to decisions on subsidies, the process for Voisins is not only about facilitating future visioning but helping the co-op to evaluate where they are now and how they could be better. Megan Davies, treasurer of Mount Seymour Park Housing Co-operative in North Vancouver, BC, calls the experience of engaging CHF BC and Compass facilitator Pat McClain awesome. It was so, so good and the biggest thing for our co-op: tapping into the expertise that s out there. We re all volunteers, so adding that to your full-time job can be a daunting task. Using the resources available certainly helped us get through two of the five stages so quickly. Students from the University of Calgary helped Sunnyhill Housing Co-op with part of their 2020 Vision process. Noel Keouah is a professor in the faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary and a former co-op member. When he assigned his grad students to work with members of Alberta s Sunnyhill Housing Co-operative on their vision, the project involved interactive outdoor exercises, the use of cameras, focus on texture and work with plasticine, among other exercises. Sunnyhill s 2020 Task Force member Phil Cox says the experience was inclusive and mind-expanding. Most of our co-op s members could not conceive of a vision for the co-op that went beyond changing a few things. It opened our thinking in a very profound way. Pat McClain says the result of the 2020 Compass is about more than establishing a future vision for a co-op or about the end of an operating agreement. It s about excellence, good governance and principled leadership now, not just in the future. For some co-ops, it s a long time before the agreement ends Vision is not just about the year 2020, it s about seeing clearly. To find out how to find a 2020 Compass facilitator in your region, contact CHF Canada or your regional federation. NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 11

14 diversity The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Educating for Inclusion Promoting LGBTQ inclusive communities By Donna Balkan When Wesley Austin first moved to Bread and Roses Co-operative Homes in Kitchener, Ontario, three years ago, he barely knew what a co-op was, and he had no idea how he would be treated there. As a trans man with a young son, he had experienced discrimination and hoped that the co-op would be different. Today, the 39-year-old self-described author, public speaker, educator and gender outlaw feels more at home than he ever has in his life. For him, the co-op is more than just a place to live, it s an inclusive, welcoming community. One of the biggest assets for me is that I don t have to edit my personal story, he said. How do I explain my son? How do I explain the ex-husband? I don t have to think about any of that. Lisa Freeman, who moved into Vancouver s Lakewood Terrace Housing Co-op with her same-sex partner last October, tells a similar story. She was so impressed with how open and welcoming her fellow co-op members 12 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

15 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada diversity were that she decided to run for the co-op board and was elected. Everyone who was running for election had to talk about diversity, so I got to talk about my experience as a queer person, said Freeman, who teaches criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. That s not something I would normally talk about in a group of strangers, but I felt very comfortable talking about it there. Austin and Freeman have been especially fortunate in that their co-ops already had a good reputation within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer/ Questioning (LGBTQ) community. In fact, Lakewood Terrace actively promotes itself as LGBTQ-friendly on its website. As Kate Milberry, who sits on Lakewood Terrace s membership committee, puts it: We strive to reflect the neighbourhood, and diversity is part of this neighbourhood. Part of the vibe of our co-op culture is that we are part of the community in every way. We want our co-op to include many different types of people the more diverse we are, the stronger it is for our community and for our kids growing up here. It s less of a campaign and more of an opportunity for education: an opportunity to learn; an opportunity to grow. But according to Emily Doyle, Program Manager, Special Projects, who works with CHF Canada s Diversity Committee, awareness of LGBTQ issues varies from community to community and from co-op to co-op. That s why the Diversity Committee has chosen LGBTQ Inclusive Co-op Communities as the diversity theme for I m very used to living in Toronto I have the Pride parade coming down the street. But some people have never even heard the term LGBTQ, she said. In order for a co-op to run successfully and have a healthy community, everybody has to work together. If you can t work together in a way that s accepting and inclusive, your co-op just isn t going to work very well. One of the biggest assets for me is that I don t have to edit my personal story. Wesley Austin CHF Canada is partnering with Toronto s 519 Church Street Community Centre to develop resource materials and deliver a series of workshops, beginning with the 2015 Annual Meeting in Charlottetown. Steven Little, 519 Church Street s manager of education and training, agreed that education is important to ensure that all co-ops are safe, inclusive environments. And although public attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have improved significantly over the years, there is still work to be done. Canada is a country where people are arriving from many parts of the world, including parts of the world where it is still illegal to be gay, he said. He added that although discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is prohibited by provincial and federal human rights laws, that s not necessarily true for gender identity and gender expression. And there s often a reality gap between the letter of the law and people s actual experiences. We help people to understand that the impact of homophobia and transphobia is the same as racism, sexism, discrimination on the grounds of disability, he said. Even here in Toronto, the same people who might tackle racist behaviours wouldn t necessarily react the same way to homophobia or transphobia. Both Little and Doyle hope this year s diversity theme will make a difference and that co-op members will continue to talk about LGBTQ issues after the year is over. It s less of a campaign and more of an opportunity for education: an opportunity to learn; an opportunity to grow, said Doyle. I wouldn t want it to just go away after this year it s the focus for 2015, but hopefully it will go on and on. As for Wesley Austin, he says there are simple things co-op members can do above and beyond attending workshops to make their co-ops more LGBTQ inclusive. Go out for a cup of coffee with us. You ll find that we re not some exotic species we re people just like you, he concluded. There s no shame in saying I don t understand. You just have to be willing to listen. NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 13

16 Across Canada The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada ACROSS CANADA British Columbia CHF BC Seniors Survey Addresses Aging in Place CHF BC s Aging in Place Committee is conducting a province-wide survey of older co-op members as part of the Aging in Place Project. Through a Vancouver Foundation grant, the committee hired co-ordinator Alison Planche to write and disseminate the survey, run focus groups, analyze responses and make recommendations to CHF BC. The project goal is to develop a clearer picture of the issues affecting older co-op members in BC so that the committee can help co-ops to adapt to the changing needs of their members. The results will provide CHF BC with a clear sense of the issues affecting older co-op members and how to address them. Says CHF BC Aging in Place Committee member Dianne Brubaker, There are a lot of original co-op members now getting toward their senior years, and aging in place is a national issue. The project involves four different surveys: for members 60 and over, members 59 and under, managers and boards. The surveys cover accommodations, social connections, financial security, and the needs and challenges of older members and their co-ops. Brubaker says the information derived from the surveys will be used to develop programs and services through CHF BC to address aging in place issues. The surveys will also provide statistics necessary for some grant applications. The baby boomers will be over 60 in 11 years, says Planche, and many co-ops built decades ago no longer meet the needs of older members. For example, many co-ops require stairway access for all suites, she says, yet approximately 30 percent of older adults have difficulty climbing 10 steps or walking two or three blocks. Planche hopes to have the project s preliminary findings ready for presentation at CHF BC s semi-annual general meeting on May 2. Ontario Eviction law reform prompts Ontario co-ops to look at by-laws Ontario co-ops need to look at their core by-laws. Last year CHF Canada s Ontario Region and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) released a new model Occupancy By-law. The by-law made changes to the internal eviction process that work with the new eviction system that came into force last June. The new by-law includes a number of changes to modernize the previous Occupancy By-law and incorporate things learned since it was written in The Ontario Region and CHFT are now working on a new model Organizational By-law that will become available in the fall of The new by-law will update and modernize the previous Organizational By-law, also written in With new versions of these two core by-laws, now is a good time for co-ops to do a by-law checkup and make sure they work in today s setting, says Diane Miles, Manager of Co-op Services for CHF Canada s Ontario Region. 14 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

17 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Across Canada Nova Scotia NOVA SCOTIA ANNOUNCES $8 MILLION FOR CO-OP RENOVATIONS On January 23, Housing Nova Scotia announced it will invest $8 million through its SHARP program over the next three years to help the province s housing co-ops make repairs to aging homes. The funds will be drawn from $42 million in federal transfers the province committed to invest in affordable housing. This investment is an example of funding that works, said CHF Canada s Director, Sector Development, Karla Skoutajan. Previous SHARP funding has improved the physical condition of housing co-ops and the lives of hundreds of members of housing co-ops. Our members certainly value the partnership and investment of both the federal and provincial governments in the long-term viability of housing co-operatives in Nova Scotia. Co-ops are an important piece of the affordable housing mix, said Joanne Bernard, Minister responsible for Housing Nova Scotia (pictured right). Residents have access to stable, long-term housing, and they have a voice in how the co-operatives are governed. Our government is committed to ensuring that Nova Scotians have better access to secure, stable housing along with more jobs and opportunity which leads to better overall economic outcomes, said federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay (pictured left), on behalf of Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development). Interested co-ops are required to submit applications through CHF Canada, contact Karen Brodeur at kbrodeur@chfcanada.coop or call , extension 1. Federal Justice Minister Peter Mackay and Nova Scotia Minister responsible for Housing Joanne Bernard announced $8 million to help Nova Scotia housing co-ops repair aging homes. NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 15

18 Co-op Excellence at Windmill Line Co-operative Homes In 2014, in collaboration with CHF Canada, CMHC set out to create a video that showcases the successes and challenges of housing co-operatives. CMHC took a look at co-ops all over the country, and found that many were doing a great job at meeting CHF Canada s 2020 Vision standards. We sent a camera crew to Windmill Line Co-operative Homes in Toronto, Ontario. Using the 2020 Vision toolkit, the co-op completed all five 2020 Vision standards. The membership of this co-op is made up of young families, singles, couples, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Several of Windmill Line s members were interviewed by our camera team. Brian Eng, one of the co-op s board members explained how working together on 2020 helped them think about the future. We ve stopped trying to sort of think of it in terms of end of operating agreement and really started to try to think of it in terms of a transition to independence, and what are the opportunities that creates for us, as well as trying to figure out how we re going to deal with the challenges. Want to know more? This video will be premiered at the Annual Meeting in Charlottetown, PEI. After the meeting, the video will be featured on both CMHC and CHF Canada s websites and YouTube channels. Congratulations Windmill Line on your commitment to co-operative housing excellence! Calling all Co-op Housing stars! We want to showcase the stars of co-operative housing is that you? CMHC wants to hear your stories! Co-ops can look to each other for new ideas and best practices, and CMHC wants to help with this process. Stop by our booth at this year s Annual General Meeting in Charlottetown, where we ll be filming on-location. Share your stories about co-op excellence and be featured in our next video! Come prepared with stories about your co-op s journey towards co-op housing excellence and long-term sustainability. Have you developed a new vision and mission? Have you changed the way your co-op is managed to improve performance in providing services to members? Did you undertake long-term financial and asset management planning? Are you trying out new and creative ways to be sustainable? We ll be creating videos from the stories at the conference, featuring your testimonials and advice. Visit for more information, and we can t wait to see you there! 16 NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1

19 The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada around the world Community safety a global concern Rooftops Canada study tour helps Kenyan, South African and Canadian housing groups share experiences By Keith Moyer I feel safe. My children can go outside and play and I know they will be safe. This remark from a mother in the Ngasemo, Royal and Mutindwa Greenfield communities in Nairobi, Kenya, was my first interaction with local housing co-op members during a recent Rooftops Canada study tour of Kenya and South Africa. The comment could just as easily have been made by a member of a housing co-op here in Canada. In late November, I was privileged to represent CHF Canada alongside individuals from five other Canadian housing organizations on a two-week study visit to Kenya and South Africa. CHF Canada has been a long-time supporter of Rooftops Canada, helping to start the organization in In fact, CHF Canada members feel so strongly about affordable housing solutions internationally that they voted many years ago to contribute three percent of CHF Canada s budgeted annual revenue to Rooftops Canada. One of the many unique things about Rooftops Canada is that it works in partnership with local organizations, helping them to build capacity rather than building homes independently. The National Co-operative Housing Union (NACHU) is Rooftops Canada s main partner in Kenya. NACHU is doing innovative grassroots work to help build small co-op homes to meet the overwhelming need for affordable housing. In South Africa, a country still dealing with the legacy of apartheid, NASHO, the National Association of Social Housing Organizations, is Rooftops Canada s main partner. We were privileged to visit the innovative ekhaya neighbourhood regeneration project in Hillbrow. This inner city area in Johannesburg was abandoned by middle class white residents when apartheid ended. The city stopped providing basic services, including garbage collection, Above: A member of Ngalawa Housing Co-op in Kenya is proud of the award they received for having the highest savings among housing co-ops. Left: Study tour participants pose with tour guides at Madulammoho, a nonprofit housing provider in Johannesburg. Keith Moyer is second from right. which spurred gang violence and drug dealing. We were escorted on a tour by Josie Adler and ekhaya security officers and saw first-hand the changes made possible by community-based, grassroots efforts. Parks have been built, garbage removed, streets are becoming safer, and ekhaya security officers are seen as uncles in the neighbourhood. I was struck many times during the study visit by both the differences and the similarities with Canada. It is true that the context is very different. The level of poverty is shocking and the scars of apartheid are still obvious. But the people there want the same things as Canadians: good-quality, affordable housing where they can raise their families in a safe environment. Keith Moyer is a program manager, Co-op Services, for CHF Canada s Ontario Region. He will be giving a presentation about his Africa experience at CHF Canada s Annual Meeting in Charlottetown. For more information about Rooftops Canada, visit NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2015 Volume 23, No. 1 17

20 NOTEWORTHY The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Board changes and appointments Since the previous edition of NewsBriefs was published, Wajiha Syed resigned from CHF Canada s Board of Directors, opening up an extra one-year position, which will be filled by elections at the 2015 Annual Meeting in Charlottetown. CHF Canada s regional director for Quebec/Nunavut, Louis-H. Campagna, has been elected to the board of The Co-operators as a representative of CHF Canada. New CHF Canada staff There was a significant amount of staff turnover in 2014, as several staff departed for other opportunities. Here are some of the new faces of CHF Canada staff: In December 2014, Cynthia Mitchell joined the CHF Canada Ottawa office as Program Manager, Member Engagement. Cynthia is a past participant in the Ontario Co-op Association internship program, and she has four years of housing co-op management experience with Ottawa s LSM Services. For the past two years, she has also served as chair of the Ottawa Co-op Network, which joins local co-op enterprises to work together on various initiatives. In February 2015, Dallas Alderson took on the new position of Program Manager, Policy and Government Relations. For the past five years, Dallas was the Manager, and then Director, of Policy and Programs at the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) in Ottawa where her responsibilities included federal policy analysis, government relations and member services. She hails from the sunny prairies and holds degrees in political science from the University of Manitoba and Carleton University. She previously worked with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities as their policy analyst with responsibility for housing and as a senior policy analyst with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. At the Ontario Region office, Peter Gesiarz completes the Co-op Services team as Program Manager, Co-operative Services. Peter brings with him a rich and varied history in co-op housing. His experience includes several years as a co-op manager, work with the Agency for Dallas Alderson Mahj Chowdhury Cynthia Mitchell Peter Gesiarz Co-op Housing, and also background as a development consultant. And Mahj Chowdhury is the new administrative assistant for the Ontario Region office. Mahj previously worked for Rooftops Canada, and brings extensive administrative and program delivery experience in the non-profit sector. Publication information NewsBriefs is published by the Co operative Housing Federation of Canada. Material may be copied. Please credit CHF Canada. Story ideas, comments or questions? Call Scott Jackson at or sjackson@chfcanada.coop. Editor: Scott Jackson Contributors: Donna Balkan, Nicholas Gazzard, Marni Norwich, Keith Moyer, Scott Stager Piatkowski, Merrilee Robson, Janet Shim, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Design and production: Aerographics Creative Services Printing: Cielo Print Inc. Contact information: 225 Metcalfe Street, Suite 311 Ottawa, ON, Canada K2P 1P9 Tel Fax Toll-Free