Aach - Notes From The National Meeting 2009

Notes from the National Meeting of the Alliance for Affordable Co-operative Housing May 28, 2009 CHF Canada AGM, Victoria This year’s AACH meeting focused on the following questions: How is the recession affecting your members? Can your co-op keep up with the need for subsidy? In advance of the meeting, AACH sent a survey about the impact of the recession to its e-mail list of approximately 70 co-ops across Canada. A report on the survey results was presented at the meeting, and an updated version will be attached to these notes. Donald Altman, AACH co-chair, welcomed everyone and opened the discussion. At his co-op, Church-Isabella in Toronto, increased demand for subsidy means the co-op is over its budget for subsidy by 11% and won’t make it to the end of the year. Sarah Thrasher of Brighton Yards, Waterloo, said her co-op is no longer accepting external applicants who need subsidy. Maureen Foy of Stanley Knowles, Toronto, said the co-op would require a 243% increase from federal funding if it weren’t using internal subsidy. Christine Mounsteven, Charles Hastings in Toronto: The co-op has 91 units, 20 on subsidy, and does not accept external applicants who need subsidy. Christine pointed out that waiting lists are long for long-term-care facilities, so when seniors or people with disabilities lose subsidy, where will they go? But some in her co-op are asking why co-op members should have to fund subsidy internally. Corrie Galloway, Windward, Toronto: Corrie noted that elderly people in co-op townhouses with stairs are stuck because other co-ops are closed to external applicants who need subsidy. Sharyn Wallace, Innisfree, Toronto: Five years ago Innisfree was sending money back, but now it’s shrinking its pool, has a lot of arrears and is drawing from investments. At one time 50% of households received subsidy; now it’s 15%, and members’ contribution toward housing charge is going up. Michelle Maldonaldo, Swansea Village, Toronto: The co-op has 96 units, 25% on subsidy, with a long internal waiting list for subsidy. No external applicants who need subsidy are accepted. The co-op is financially sound overall, and its operating agreement ends in 2016. She is interested in the long term. Co-ops

AACH May 28, 2009

should not have to fund subsidy internally; we should hold the government accountable. Nick Sidor, CHF Canada: The end of subsidy as agreements expire is a huge issue right across the country. The principal political challenge is communicating a sense of urgency. MPs say yes, it’s a serious problem – but it’s not happening tomorrow. Nick said CHF Canada has never been more influential than it is right now; they can get in to see people. Getting the renovation money was great, but that’s done now and we have to move on to other challenges. Maureen asked why CHF Canada is more influential now. Nick said the organization has followed new strategy and tactics. It sends staff rather than consultants to meet with politicians; it emphasizes outcomes, not the number of meetings. CHF has found that taking MPs to visit co-ops is very effective. It was the first housing organization to put renos and retrofits on the table, and the proposal was allocated $1 billion in the 2009 budget. After CHF publicly applauded the budget, it was called to the Prime Minister’s Office, an invitation that no other housing group got. After CHF representatives complained that they hadn’t met the minister, a few days later the minister’s office called. Donald said it would be useful for CHF Canada to get numbers on the impact of the decline in subsidy, and on how the end of agreements will change those numbers further. Corrie commented that subsidy in co-ops is more cost-effective than putting seniors in long-term care. Pat Leslie, Hugh Garner, Toronto: Hugh Garner has 181 units, 84 subsidized, and the waiting list for subsidy has been cut off. The co-op’s agreement ends in 2017, and they are working on the 2020 Vision process. Rosemary Newman, H.W. Flesher, Vancouver: Currently 50% of households receive subsidy, but that won’t last until 2020. Rosemary noted that the co-op sector lobbied for the Agency, and that worked, so maybe lobbying can work again. Jane Kansas, Halifax Women’s: Members of the co-op are politically unaware. Three receive subsidy. Social assistance rules are a problem. A member was paying more than 60% of income. Jane would like to have her MP tour the co-op. David Granovsky, CHF Canada, said CHF has already met with Jane’s MP, Megan Leslie, and found her very supportive. Edward Nixon, Windmill Line, Toronto: Internal subsidy accounts for 68% of subsidy funding. The co-op put all the savings from its recent mortgage rollover

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AACH May 28, 2009

into subsidy; this is not a sustainable approach for the long term. We need to be partners with government in the business of providing non-profit housing. Rhina Racine of CMHC said she was present as an observer and enjoyed meeting co-op people face to face. Merrilee Robson of CHF Canada said she had come to listen and to invite ideas on getting the message across to the public. David Granovsky said his work at CHF Canada focuses on lobbying MPs. Donald reminded David of the need for data to explain the issue. It’s particularly frustrating to have no way to measure internal subsidy. Phil Brown, general manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, City of Toronto: Phil spoke about Housing Opportunities Toronto, a new 10-year strategy for affordable housing. He described an in-situ housing allowance program that offers $300/month for 18 months but is unfortunately not available to people in federal co-ops. Connie Morton, Cawthra Mansions, Toronto: At Cawthra Mansions, 38% of units receive subsidy. The operating agreement ends in 2013 (it is an ILM). Connie commented on CMHC’s benchmark of 85% of local market rent as a measure of “affordability.” She wants MP Olivia Chow to stick to her promise that belowmarket co-ops won’t disappear. Sue Moorhead, CHF BC: Leaky co-ops can’t top up the Subsidy Surplus Fund with any surpluses because of the mortgage arrangements they have made to deal with building issues. But housing charges keep rising towards market, so these co-ops will be short of subsidy. Members’ contribution to housing charges is getting up to 45% in some co-ops. Donald wrapped up the session by saying it is clearly difficult to generalize; some co-ops are doing badly at the moment, some not so badly. The end of agreements down the road will be a huge problem, and from now until then the lack of urgency about fixing the problem is disturbing. For many co-ops, internal subsidy is masking the eventual need as well as the current problem. Barbara Czarnecki, the other AACH co-chair, will revise the report distributed at the meeting to incorporate the discussion, and the report will then be sent to the CHF Canada board of directors.

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