In 2021, we took several steps towards securing support for low-income households in co-ops across the country, while also making the case for new public investments in growth and development.

Vote Housing

Federal Community Housing Initiative

Advocating for growth of co-op housing

CHF Canada continued to put forward our members’ bold Co-op Housing for All vision to develop significantly more co-op homes across the country, so our sector can play an instrumental role in addressing the housing crisis.

In December 2021, the Prime Minister mandated the Minister for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion to “make critical investments and priority policy decisions to expand Canada’s housing supply, and continue to advance [federal] investments in affordable housing and extend the model of co-operative housing to new communities.”

We continue to advocate that the federal government:

• co-invest to develop 50,000 permanently affordable co-op homes over a 10-year period, and even more over time as the sector leverages those assets in the longer term; and

• robustly fund and enable the development of an urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing strategy, developed by and for Indigenous people.

In April 2022, the federal budget announced a new Co-operative Housing Development Program, with $500 million in funding and $1 billion in loans to build an estimated 6,000 new co-op homes over the next five years. This is the first funding program for new co-op development in 30 years.  

Facing a pandemic

Education

Asset & Financial Planning Services

In 2021, CHF Canada’s Asset and Financial Planning Services continued to expand the range and amount of services provided to member co-ops.

We also secured two years of funding through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Community Housing Transformation Centre for a Regional Energy Coach through FCM’s Sustainable Affordable Housing Program. The Coach:

• supported over 15 Sustainable Affordable Housing applications to FCM;

• presented six educational webinars; and

• reviewed over 30 energy audit reports.

For financing, 2021 was the most successful year so far, in terms of number of funded loans through CHF Canada’s Financial Planning Services.

• 59 co-ops have been funded since program inception, for a total of $207 million in private loans for our members;

• More money is now being invested in home repairs than paying off current mortgages; and

• We can now also help ILM co-ops refinance as their mortgages end, working with First National Financial which holds the majority of ILM mortgages. 

We congratulate housing co-op members planning and investing for the future of their homes and quality of life.

Insurance

In 2021, a major focus in Ontario was on launching the successful Fix the Funding Formula Campaign to protect rental assistance for more than 250 co-ops.

• Over 135 Fix the Funding Formula resolutions were passed by co-ops and shared with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;

• We held over 40 meetings with Ministers and Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) including a tour of an affected HSA co-op by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;

• For Co-op Housing Day at Queen’s Park, more than 35 co-op members and staff met online with their MPP;

• We began helping HSA co-ops (who will soon reach their end of mortgage) to prepare; and

• We offered webinars for new managers and an HSA information day.

In 2021, work in this region included:

• CHF Canada’s Manager, Atlantic Region, provided a voice for co-ops on Nova Scotia’s Affordable Housing Commission, leading to CHF Canada’s recommendations;

• We helped members speak up for co-ops in the Nova Scotia election campaign;  

• We supported capacity-building initiatives in Nova Scotia through extensive operational reviews and strategic planning sessions, as well as renewed capital plans for member co-ops;

• We worked with Compass NS and NB Housing Alternatives on development projects.

• We provided supports and resources for members, as they negotiated rental assistance extensions, including meeting with various levels of government.

• CHF Canada continued to work with the broader community housing sector to protect the existing housing stock, including by considering new models such as community land trusts.

CHF Canada continued to put forward members’ bold Co-op Housing For All vision to support co-op housing growth and sustainability, working with members, regional federations, and other sector partners.

Growth

• Launched referral services to connect co-ops pursuing development with professionals;

• Supported co-ops as they undertake development, including Kingston Co-op and Clairvue Co-op;

• Obtained City of Toronto development funding as part of our recent collaboration with sector partners via Community Affordable Housing Solutions;

• Added a new Co-op Housing Development Co-ordinator position;

• In the Atlantic region, we worked with Compass NS and Housing Alternative NB to get new co-op homes built; and

• Through Compass NS, collaborated with 902 Man Up and United Way to engage the community on the Maitland Street development.

Sustainability

• Established working groups and partnerships to explore new governance solutions to achieve greater viability, resilience and adaptability among housing co-ops, such as unified co-ops;

• Facilitated discussion among key stakeholders to advance new governance solutions across the country;

• Helped Nova Scotia co-ops access funding from the Community Housing Infrastructure Repair Program; and

• Worked on the amalgamation of two co-ops under Compass NS.

In 2021, numerous mass graves of children were discovered at former so-called “residential schools” in Canada. For some, this caused an awakening to the violence of the colonization of these lands. For others, it underscored tragedies that had profoundly shaped their families for generations.

When remains were initially found at Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, CHF Canada’s President, Tina Stevens, shared a statement expressing her grief, and calling for the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and also for individuals to recognize this injustice:

“We invite co-op members to draw attention to this national incident by honouring and showing your grief, love and acknowledgement of all children lost in Residential Schools by placing children’s shoes on your doorstep or by putting a hand drawn sign in your window.”

CHF Canada staff also observed the first annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and shared how we are working towards reconciliation in our own lives.

Advocating for an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy

Canada’s housing co-ops are working toward greater understanding and taking action to make housing co-ops more inclusive and diverse.

CHF Canadas and regional federations are enabling education and exchange to support housing co-ops with this work. This year in support of diversity, we:

• Ensured that equity and inclusion were front and centre in our 2021 Annual Meeting workshops, with topics like ‘Inclusive co-ops: advocating positive system change’ and ‘The co-op difference: empowering marginalized communities’;

• Continued the education of CHF Canada staff with ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace’ training sessions; and

• Supported young people in our movement who champion diversity and inclusion with Diversity Scholarships (see Awards & Grants).

Aging in Place

In 2020, like many other organizations, CHF Canada had to rapidly figure out new ways of doing business and keeping in touch with our members.

In 2021, this work paid off, as we had more capacity to smoothly provide education and services online, and keep in touch with members across Canada.

Welcoming new members

In 2021, we welcomed:

• 7 new housing co-op members

• 2 associate members, and 4 individual members to CHF Canada

CHF Canada now has 913 housing co-op members, 134 associate members, and 16 individual members. We also celebrated members who marked 20, 30, or 40 years of CHF Canada membership.

Organizational effectiveness

COVID-19 accelerated CHF Canada’s work to improve organizational effectiveness by enhancing our digital infrastructure:

• Made more information, member services and educational events available online;

• Member portal launched so that members can make sure their contact details are always up to date;

• For the first time, offered electronic payment for dues; and

• Continued to improve our website, enewsletters and social media presence.

We’re always glad to hear from our members. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact a CHF Canada staff member.

Throughout 2021, we continued to share stories of co-operators who are making a difference in their co-ops and beyond.

Co-operative housing was also part of the national conversation on the need for affordable housing. Read more media coverage of CHF Canada and Canadian housing co-ops.

Financials at December 31, 2021