In 2023, CHF Canada continued to be a strong voice for co-op housing. We advocated nationally, provincially and municipally for public investment in co-op development and acquisition, robust and dedicated funding for Indigenous-led co-operative housing, and rental assistance.
Following the federal government’s announcement of the Co-operative Housing Development Program in Budget 2022, CHF Canada and sector partners put forward our best advice during the co-design process. We have been readying ourselves to support our members to engage with the program, at the same time as putting pressure on the government to launch it without delay, in line with the resolution adopted by members at last year’s Annual Meeting.
A co-op tour in Scarborough, led by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto.
Co-op members attend a rally in Hamilton, Ontario
Other highlights of our ongoing advocacy work include:
CHF Canada team meets with Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Ongoing advocacy for the continuation of federal and provincial rental assistance programs to protect low-income co-op households, and launching new provincial advocacy campaigns (see In Your Region section).
Meetings with the federal Housing Minister and MPs across the country to build support for co-op housing and speaking on national platforms about the benefits of co-op housing.
We sent submissions and delivered presentations to the federal HUMA Committee that meets on housing issues, the federal Finance Committee, the Federal Housing Advocate and the National Housing Council.
Building and strengthening partnerships to advocate to all orders of government to invest in community housing, including co-ops. We collaborated with other housing organizations on research and advocacy, including during provincial elections (See In Your Region section).