The Board of Directors wishes all our members a happy back-to-school season.  We hope that the new school year brings new and exciting opportunities to our co-op bookworms, whether they are beginning kindergarten or university!

The Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) is proud to see the success of our CHFT Diversity Scholarship program being noticed by other federations across the country. As a result, the scholarship program has expanded. CHFT has helped other federations establish their own scholarship programs. Our long-standing partner the Peel-Halton Co-operative Housing Federation was joined by the Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation, the Golden Horseshoe Co-operative Housing Federation and CHF British Columbia in granting a new generation of co-op leaders an opportunity to pursue post-secondary education.

Our young co-op members and our federation have past generations of  members to thank for our successes as a movement. We greatly value the contribution of our older members. To honour these contributions, CHFT’s Century of Co-operation Awards ceremony takes place Friday, September 27^th at Oakham House in the Thomas Lounge. Family and friends will gather to celebrate those members whose age and time living in their co-op equals 100.

A photo from the 2012 Century of Co-operation reception.
To see more photos from this reception please click here.

CHFT is also growing in years. 2014 marks CHFT’s 40^th anniversary. The Board of Directors would like to celebrate our federation’s history. Plans are underway to mark this important milestone.

CHFT will be depending on the contributions of members to help protect affordable co-operative housing in Toronto, York Region, and across Canada. Co-ops have become active as the end of their operating agreements approach. Thousands of low income members will be unable to afford to live in their homes without rent supplements once their co-op’s operating agreement ends. We encourage co-ops in the City of Toronto and York Region to contact their city councillor and ask them to write both the provincial and federal representative in their ward about this pressing issue. The City of Toronto passed a resolution about co-ops and rent supplements. In York Region, we encourage co-ops to make their municipal representatives aware of the Toronto resolution. We want a similar resolution passed in York Region.

We have included a list of ridings and municipal wards so co-ops can find their political representatives.

In this season of giving thanks, we’d like to share a quote by poet and essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” We are thankful for a strong and united federation – one that becomes stronger by facing our challenges together. We want to express our gratitude to our members. This month, our newsletter includes features  which provide opportunities for us to continue learning and growing together.

CHFT has an exciting new partnership between our Cost Cutters program and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. Most of our member co-ops will now be eligible for an Energy Savings Performance Agreement, where co-ops can access financing to pay for Energy Efficiency equipment and upgrades in multi-residential buildings. This partnership will allow many of our member co-ops to revitalize themselves in a way that respects the environment and translates into cost savings in conserved energy! For more information, read up on the new program here.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 marks our fall General Member’s Meeting, taking place at 7:00 pm at Oakham House. Co-ops are encouraged to send a delegate  from their co-op to vote at our members meeting, and to meet delegates from other housing co-ops. We’ll review our budget for the coming year, and we’ll celebrate the accomplishments of our housing co-op members. There will be a reception following the meeting. We hope to see you there.

CHFT’s Diversity Scholarship Program is now 10 years old and expanding across the country. After 10 years of awarding scholarships, we realize the cost of post-secondary education is only increasing. It’s harder and harder for people to pursue post-secondary education without facing a mountain of student debt upon graduation. The board of directors has decided to increase the amount of the Diversity Scholarship Award from a total of $5000 to $6000. Scholarship recipients will now receive four equal installments of $1500 per year. Applications for the 2014/2015 academic year are available

Registration is still open for our Fall Education Event, happening Saturday, November 9, 2013, taking place at Oakham House. CHFT is proud to partner with a variety of guest presenters. They will bring our members a range of workshops from our popular legal panel to subjects such as community safety audits, team building, refinancing and 2020 for HSA co-ops. There will be speakers from METRAC, St. Stephen’s Conflict Resolution Service, CHF Canada and CHF Ontario Region. Ongoing education and training is a co-op principle we recognize as being vital to the strength, health and success of housing co-ops. Register here we look forward to seeing you!

As I write this edition of our monthly Board Report, CHFT President, Domanique Grant is joined by Vice-President Rahima Mulla at the NDP Candidate Meet & Greet event hosted tonight, Monday November 4^th, 2013 by Windmill Line Co-operative Homes. Members of our federation were there to meet Linda McQuaig and to ask questions and raise the issue of the End of the Operating Agreements as a priority issue for the potential MP. This is the second in a series of events to give members a chance to speak with the candidates of the Toronto-Centre federal by-election.

For members living in the Toronto-Centre riding, let this be the test in putting co-op housing on the table as an election issue, and let the rest of us learn from your trials and successes for future elections when we will need to leverage voting power from all our members. Make your voice heard! And when the candidates come canvassing at your door, tell them why co-op housing is important to you. http://www.coophousing.com/pdf/pdf_winfax/20131104b.pdf

It’s important to them – Toronto-Centre has the most co-ops and members than any other riding in Canada. This riding has over 5,000 households living in 37 co-ops. Make your votes count! You can learn more about the End of the Operating Agreements and our Government Relations messaging here: http://chft.coop/governmentrelations/

On Wednesday, October 30^th, the CHFT Members’ Meeting was held at the Oakham House on Ryerson campus. Many co-ops won awards for their beautiful gardens, which you can see on the CHFT website here: http://www.coophousing.com/2013Co-opGardensPhotoAlbum_2.asp  It’s a personal favourite to see how much pride members take in growing such lush, vibrant gardens, and to see how well community gardens tie co-op communities together.

You can also see photos from the Member’s Meeting here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chft/sets/72157637203485004/

And if you haven’t already, be sure to “Like” the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Co-operative-Housing-Federation-of-Toronto/309720475780087?ref=ts&fref=ts

Celebrate what you want to see more of

 Happy New Year! From the CHFT board of directors, we wish you all the best in 2014! CHFT celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year. For many years to come we want to see a strong, united federation which effectively represents and serves Toronto and York Region as a leader of the co-op housing movement in Ontario and Canada.

 Several CHFT Directors will attend the launch of Black History Month in late January.

 CHFT has been fostering emerging leaders in the co-op housing sector for over 10 years through our CHFT Diversity Scholarship program. 2014 marks the 11^th year of the program. Applications for the Diversity Scholarship are available online here and are due Wednesday, February 5^th, 2014. We encourage all eligible candidates to apply. The key to a successful scholarship application lies in preparation. Contact the CHFT office to speak with Angela Calderone if you have questions about your eligibility. She can be reached at 416 465-8688 extension 206 or angela@coophousing.com.

 Late in 2013, CHFT Board Members, Domanique Grant, Lindsay Denise and Rahima Mulla accompanied a busload of housing advocates from the City of Toronto to attend The Rally to Close the Housing Gap in Ottawa. The bus left from Toronto at 7:30 a.m. and arrived at 1:00 p.m. in Ottawa, where it was met by CHF Canada staff. The participants then proceeded onto Parliament Hill and appealed to federal MPs to continue rent-geared-to-income subsidies and to protect affordable housing. Among the attending politicians and community leaders and partners were Toronto City Councilor Ana Bailão, Toronto Community Housing Corporation President Gene Jones, and Toronto Community Housing Tenant Sherri Williams. CHFT President, Domanique Grant spoke powerfully and eloquently at the rally. She brought down the house.

 We want to see more commitments from federal, provincial and municipal governments to protect affordable co-operative housing. We welcomed the statement made in November by Linda Jeffrey, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, in which she says, “We need a national housing plan – one that includes the creation of new affordable housing opportunities and maintains our existing social housing units.”

Rallying cries to protect and create new affordable housing from both municipal and provincial politicians will be loudly celebrated by our federation, not just this year but for as long as the need exists.

Wishing all our members a joyous Chinese New Year, a proud month celebrating Canada’s Black History, and a very happy Family Day!

Building alliances has been the focus for the CHFT board of directors during this past month.

CHFT Vice President and board member Rahima Mulla along with CHFT staff attended a Housing Roundtable January 28^th at the Toronto Reference Library in support of the City of Toronto’s Close the Housing Gap campaign. The meeting was packed with co-op housing members, Toronto Community Housing Corporation residents and housing advocates from across the city. They gathered to brainstorm strategies for the coming year. City Councillors Ana Bailão, Janet Davis, Mike Layton and Kristyn Wong-Tam were in attendance.  There was a presentation from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities about their recent lobby efforts with the federal government.

 For more information about how you can become involved in the City’s Close the Housing Gap campaign, visit the web site

 On February 15^th, the CHFT Board of Directors met with representatives from Federation des Cooperatives d’Habitation Intermunicipale du Montréal Métropolitain (FECHIMM) to talk about ways in which our local federations can collaborate with each other on common issues. As federations, our political priorities align with the End of the Operating Agreements. It was agreed that both federations will work with CHF Ontario Region and CHF Canada to organize meetings with MPPs and MPs while the entire sector is in Ottawa for the CHF Canada AGM in June. (A quick reminder that the deadline for AGM resolutions going to the CHF Canada AGM is March 10^th.)

Strengthening the City of Toronto’s campaign and teaming up with FECHIMM will demonstrate to provincial and federal politicians that the co-operative housing sector is committed to the future of affordable housing in this country and that we are a political force to be reckoned with!  

Spring is finally here!   And to all our members who celebrate Persian New Year, Happy Nowruz!

From left to right
Simone Swail, CHF Ontario Region, Harvey Cooper, CHF Ontario Region, Dipika
Damerla, MPP, Mississauga East-Cooksville, , Domanique Grant, CHFT
President, Ana Bailão, Toronto City Councillor, Rahima Mulla, CHFT
Vice-President, Nicole Waldron, CHF Ontario Region President, Adam Vaughan,
City Councillor, Tom Clement, CHFT Executive Director at Queen’s Park on
March 19.
Photo by The City of Toronto

Co-op members, CHFT directors and staff were at Queen’s Park on Wednesday, March 19 as part of the Close the Housing Gap Day. They were asking Ontario MPPs to press the federal government to continue their commitment to rent subsidies after the expiry of federal operating agreements.  CHFT, CHF Ontario Region, City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) were the day’s sponsors. Members met with MPPs in the morning and in the afternoon after question period.

In the afternoon, CHFT Executive Director Tom Clement, Harvey Cooper from CHF Ontario Region, City Councillor Ana Bailão and TCHC CEO Gene Jones spoke at a press conference outlining the urgency for all three levels of government to work together to protect housing for co-op and non-profits. CHFT President Domanique Grant spoke at an evening reception encouraging MPPs of all parties to work with the housing sector to get results from the federal government.

CHFT Treasurer, Lindsay Denise was recently featured in the Toronto Star as one of three “hidden experts” in housing, along with Nicole Stewart from the City of Toronto’s Affordable Housing Office and Neil Pattison from Daniels Corporation.  The article showcased “Big Ideas,” for solutions to Toronto’s affordable housing crisis. Read the star article

 Over March break, several CHFT board members interviewed  CHFT Diversity Scholarship applicants. These interviews are a highlight of our year.  We hear about the students’ remarkable accomplishments and learn more about the vibrant and diverse individuals we’re investing in with a scholarship.

A reminder to all members about the benefits an investment in education can bring, as our registration opens for CHFT’s annual Spring Education Day taking place Saturday, April 26. Find out more information about courses and how to register here: http://www.coophousing.com/documents/20140318a.pdf

We hope to see you there!

Thursday May 22 is CHFT’s Annual General Meeting and its 40^th anniversary!

Elections will be held for the CHFT Board of Directors. Come out and find out who your new board will be. We’ll also hear updates on our government relations, discuss CHFT’s audited statements and celebrate the achievements of our co-ops. A reception will follow the meeting – we hope to see you there! Please contact Angela Calderone, angela@coophousing.com for more information.

Ontario heads to the polls on June 12.

Now’s the time to raise our voices as a sector to let all candidates know that affordable and co-operative housing plays a vital role in healthy communities. We also want a commitment from our MPPs to lobby the federal government for a solution to the End of the Operating Agreement issue. For more information about the provincial campaign and what co-op members can to get involved, please go the CHF Ontario Region or contact hcooper@chfcanada.coop.

CHFT’s Spring Education event took place on April 26. It was a great success. We saw over 100 members come out to Oakham House to find out more about topics such as a new website for federally funded co-ops, social media in housing co-ops, how to take good minutes and how to understand co-op budgets. We also learned about the new eviction system for Ontario housing co-ops.

Fall is here! For many of our members and their families, it’s back-to-school season. Good luck to those returning to school, whether you’re beginning junior kindergarten or university. We especially wish our Diversity Scholarship Award winners an exciting and smooth beginning to their new programs!

Autumn marks a time of abundance in harvest, and a time to prepare the coming winter. We wish for those not returning to school, that this change of season can bring a fresh beginning for your own pursuits.

There are several reasons to celebrate our members’ accomplishments and pursuits this fall at CHFT. On Friday, October 3^rd, CHFT will host the Century of Co-operation Awards to recognize co-op members whose age combined with the number of years they’ve lived in their co-op amounts of 100 + years. These members are community leaders who have built our co-op movement and we are honoured to celebrate their contributions!

On Co-op is hosting several roundtable discussions throughout the GTA in October where members from any type of co-op are invited to shape a stronger co-operative movement in Ontario! For more information about where and when these discussions are taking place, visit

Contact gta@ontario.coop with any questions, ideas or to tell them you are interested.

2014 marks CHFT’s 40^th Anniversary of advocating and working for our members! Come out to our General Members’ Meeting on Wednesday, October 29^th to hear about what CHFT is doing on behalf of its members, recognize accomplishments with various awards and to meet and mingle following the meeting.

We hope to see you there!

The CHFT board would like to extend its gratitude to all members who have come out for recent meetings with politicians to champion renewed government funding at the End of Operating Agreements for Section 95 housing co-ops. Substantial momentum has been made on this issue but only with the power of our members raising their voices with a chorus of others across Canada.

On November 13, 2014 over 180 people came out to Windmill Line Co-op. Members of Parliament Chrystia Freeland and Adam Vaughan attended. CHFT’s vice president Karyn Moore and CHF Canada’s executive director Nicholas Gazzard spoke at the event.

On December 16th, 2014, over 80 members came out to Campden Green Co-op to meet with Rathika Sitsabaiesan, Member of Parliament for Scarborough – Rouge River. CHFT corporate secretary Kathy Bontje and CHFT Board member Nneka Perry spoke along with CHF Ontario’s Harvey Cooper.

There is a federal election on the horizon, and you, our members, have forced politicians to take notice of housing co-operatives and our members who will be affected by the End of the Operating Agreements.

We need you again! Next Wednesday, February 11th, 2015 Main-Gerrard is hosting a meet & greet with Matthew Kellway, MP from Beaches-East York Riding. Show solidarity with Section 95 co-ops and come help us pack the room! RSVP to angela@coophousing.com or 416 465-8688 extension 206.

Another important event to attend is CHFT’s review of our Five Year Plan. The board of directors consulted with members in 2012 to develop a comprehensive list of our priorities as a federation. It’s time to review and get feedback about how this plan is working for our membership.

Join us Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at Oakham House in the Layton Room at 7:00 pm. RSVP to angela@coophousing.com or 416 465-8688 extension 206.

It was great to see so many of you at the meeting on November 22^nd, 2012, and we wish to thank you for your assistance in gauging the current situation and climate within which the Co-operative housing movement operates. In this report, we are reporting back to you regarding the board of directors’ decisions regarding our priorities. We would like to deeply thank each and every person who contributed to this effort.

PRIORITIES

Building on your ideas and giving insights from co-op sector allies considerable study, the Board has determined the top 3 priorities for the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto must be

ADDRESSING THE END OF THE OPERATING AGREEMENTS AND TRANSITION PLANNING

The protection of members’ housing is critical. Expiry of Operating Agreements for our member co-ops has already begun, and the number of co-ops facing the end of their Operating Agreements will only grow over the next few years, peaking in 2017. We will work with CHF Canada to assist co-ops implementing 2020. CHFT must lead member co-ops through this transitional time to ensure they are in a strong position once their Operating Agreements come to an end

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND POLITICAL ACTION

Again, the protection of members’ housing is critical. CHFT will work to secure members’ housing through targeted Government Relations working alongside CHF Canada, CHF Ontario and other Federations across the country to:

1. Win a commitment from the provinces to fund replacement subsidy programs;
2. Pressure the federal government to keep RGI funding on the table, to support provincial RGI programs
3. Develop active partnerships at the municipal level

BUILDING NETWORKS AND SOLIDARITY

Our success in Government Relations and Political Action depends on support from our allies in the co-op sector, the non-profit housing sector, and beyond. CHFT must foster relationships that support and strengthen the future of co-operative housing.

ADDITIONAL KEY PRIORITIES

There are several other priorities that will be undertaken as resources (time, money, and people) allow. These areas are interconnected and vital to the success of our urgent priorities. They are very important to the needs and interests of our members, and our long-term strength as a Federation:

BUILD AWARENESS OF CO-OP VALUES

Promotion of co-operatives values and co-operative housing is a vital part of our Government Relations strategy. This is included as part of our top priorities.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

CHFT currently offers a comprehensive range of courses year round for member co-ops, in addition to organizing two Education Events per year. Education & Training will continue to evolve over the next few years in partnership with other Federations to ensure that member co-ops build their own capacity to thrive at the end of their Operating Agreements.

YOUTH

CHFT is a national leader in youth engagement. The CHFT Diversity Scholarship Program celebrates its 10^th year.

TECHNOLOGY

1. CHFT recently launched a Facebook Page.
2. CHFT’s website in the process of being updated.

EXPAND COST CUTTERS AND BULK PURCHASING

CHFT currently seizes every opportunity to expand bulk purchasing for members, and will continue to do so as our resources allow.   The program has 25 suppliers. There is a huge emphasis on energy efficiency, green products and water conservation.

Appendix A

OVERVIEW OF NOVEMBER 22^nd MEMBER CONSULTATION MEETING

At the Member Consultation Meeting on November 22^nd, we gathered ideas about FACTORS WHICH WILL INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF CO-OP HOUSING. These factors are crucial in making realistic plans. They inform us about the big picture in both society and community, and allow us to make plans with these factors in mind in order to continue our success.

Here were member observations:

INFLUENCING FACTORS IN MAKING THE 5-YEAR PLAN

• End of operating agreement – loss of subsidies
• A need for positive action on affordable housing
• Growing rate of retirement of staff and management
• Issues of leadership renewal
• Poor construction; ageing housing stock
  • Need to explore funding sources for our ageing buildings
• All levels of government are non-committed
• There are differing expectations between new and older members: CHFT should help sort that out
  • How to engage new and older members?
  • How to engage youth?
• Potential partnerships with condo developers
• Need to increase awareness of co-operative model and International Principles Co-operation; 1. Voluntary & Open Membership, 2. Democratic Member Control, 3. Member Economic Participation, 4. Autonomy & Independence, 5. Education, Training & Information, 6. Co-operation among Co-operatives, 7. Concern for Community.
  • External awareness by public and politicians
  • Internal awareness by people who choose to move into co-op housing. Educate new members about co-op model and values.
• Current economic climate in an age of austerity and future economic climate unknown
• Co-ops threatened by their properties existing on leased land
• Privatization perceived as solution to money shortfall
  • Our buildings and properties have huge value. There will be increasing pressure to privatize and sell
  • Privatization of public assets and privatization of operating public services seen as solution to money woes
    • City of Toronto and TCHC privatizing their portfolios
      • To offer units for people to buy
      • Wiping out affordable housing

The Board added to these observations:

• Changing demographics
• Unstable economy
• With a considerable emphasis on the End of Operating Agreement for member co-ops

This PDF is the five year plan
CHFT Five Year Plan

From top left, Angela Watson, Hickory Tree Co-operative Homes
Domanique Grant, Atkinson Housing Co-operative, Bob Wiseman, CoAction
Main Gerrard Community Development Co-operative, Manager, Katherine Bontje-  President, Ramer’s Wood Co-operative Homes, Paul Uytenbogaart,
Local 75 Hospitality Workers’ Housing Co-operative, Karyn Moore, Vice-President
Oak Street Housing Co-operative.  Front row, from right: Gabriela Russek, Treasurer, Fred C. Dowling Housing Co-op, Rahima Mulla, Vice-President
Ernescliffe Non Profit Housing Co-op, Nneka Perry, Corporate Secretary
Campden Green Co-operative Homes

From top left, Angela Watson-Hickory Tree Co-operative Homes, Domanique Grant- Atkinson Housing Co-operative, Bob Wiseman, CoAction- Main Gerrard Community Development Co-operative, Manager, Katherine Bontje, President
Ramer’s Wood Co-operative Homes, Paul Uytenbogaart- Local 75 Hospitality Workers’ Housing Co-operative, Karyn Moore, Vice-President- Oak Street Housing Co-operative.  Front row, from right: Gabriela Russek, Treasurer- Fred C. Dowling Housing Co-op, Rahima Mulla, Vice-President- Ernescliffe Non Profit Housing Co-op, Nneka Perry, Corporate Secretary
Campden Green Co-operative Homes.