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About CHRA

We are the national voice for the full range of affordable housing issues and solutions in Canada.

Annual General Meeting 2010

The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association held its 2010 Annual General Meeting on June 5, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the Québec City Hilton (1100 boul. René-Lévesque Est, Québec).
 
Resolutions considered at the AGM were received at the CHRA National Office on or before Friday, May 21, 2010.
 
Emergency resolutions,  were put forward during Congress for the consideration of the CHRA Board of Directors at its next meeting. These resolutiosn have since been voted on and passed by the Board and added to CHRA advocacy activities, as described below. 
 
 

Here is a synopsis of the 2010 resolutions:

1. call for the immediate renewal of existing federal housing and homelessness programs for 2011-2014 

SUBMITTED BY: City of St. John´s
This resolution was carried.
Background: The Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI), Federal Renovation Programs (RRAP) and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) have, since their inception, contributed to improved housing affordability and a reduction in homelessness and represent the primary avenue of sustained federal engagement in housing and homelessness.
The three programs were renewed for a two-year period from 2009-20011 and a commitment for funding ‘housing and homelessness’ for 2011-2014, however, AHI, RRAP and HPS have not been specifically renewed.
Resolution: CHRA should urge the federal government to continue to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to a strong, ongoing, federal role in improving housing affordability and reducing homelessness through the renewal of AHI, RRAP and HPS, as distinct programs which continue to engender an innovative, community-driven approach to improving housing affordability and reducing homelessness.
 

status:

  • July 13, 2010 - CHRA sent a letter to the Minister with responsibility for CMHC, Diane Finley. Click here to read the letter.
     
  • August 13, 2010 - The intent of this resolution was articulated in the CHRA pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Click here to read CHRA's pre-budget submission.
     

  • September 21, 2010 - CHRA President Bruce Pearce met with Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to Diane Finley, and emphasized the importance of expeditiously announcing the renewal of the Affordable Housing Initiative and CMHC’s renovation programs (RRAP) and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy.

  • October 26, 2010 – CHRA Executive Director Jody Ciufo emphasized the importance of expeditiously announcing the renewal of the Affordable Housing Initiative and CMHC’s renovation programs (RRAP) and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy as part of her presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

  • November 5, 2010 - The Government of Canada announced that it will continue to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by renewing the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) for another three years at current funding levels.  This was one of the programs specifically articulated in the resolution.

  • February 10, 2011 - CHRA President Bruce Pearce met with Minister Diane Finley and emphasized the importance of expeditiously announcing the renewal of the Affordable Housing Initiative and CMHC’s renovation programs (RRAP).

  • February 11, 2011 - CHRA emphasized to officials from CMHC the importance of announcing the renewal of AHI and RRAP as quickly as possible.

  • March and April 2011 – In advance of the federal election held May 2, 2011, CHRA articulated a list of key issues and requested that federal parties and candidates respond to the list.  Included on this list was the outstanding renewal of AHI and RRAP.

2. cancellation of cmhc housing awards, research grants and act program

  • SUBMITTED BY: Stella Burry Community Services
    This resolution was carried.
    Background: In 2010 the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation is cancelling its Housing Awards Program which honoured the people and organizations creating affordable housing solutions across Canada. They are also cancelling the External Research Program which has provided funding assistance to encourage and draw out new ideas, innovative solutions, and better understanding of housing issues. CMHC is further cancelling its Affordability & Choice Today (ACT) Program which has provided grants for the improvement of planning and building regulations in communities to make housing more affordable and responsive to local needs.
    Resolution: CHRA should call upon CMHC and the Minister responsible for CMHC to immediately reverse decisions to cancel the Housing Awards Program (HAP), and ensure the non-profit sector is eligible for the awards, the External Research Program (ERP) and the Affordability & Choice Today Program (ACT).

    status:

    • July 13, 2011 - CHRA sent a letter to the Minister with responsibility for CMHC, Diane Finley. Click here to read the letter.
       
    • August 23, 2011 - The intent of this resolution was articulated in the CHRA pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.  Click here to read CHRA's pre-budget submission.
       

    • October 26, 2010 – CHRA Executive Director Jody Ciufo requested that the CMHC Housing Awards Program (HAP), the External Research Program (ERP) and the Affordability & Choice Today Program (ACT) be reinstated, and that all sectors be eligible for HAP, as part of her presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

    • May 2011 – CHRA Staff met with staff from the organizations who partner to deliver the ACT program to discuss opportunities following the termination of the program.  Discussions are ongoing.

3. gst/hst rebates for non-profit housing 

SUBMITTED BY: Centretown Citizens of Ottawa Corporation (CCOC)
This resolution was carried.
Background: Currently, non-profit housing providers are eligible for GST/HST rebates. However, they run the risk of losing their eligibility if their government funding falls below 40%.
Resolution: CHRA should press the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to revise its criteria to focus less on government subsidy and more on the nature of the organization (i.e. non-profit). CHRA should enlist the support and collaborate with provincial governments and other concerned federal and provincial associations.
 
status:
  • August 9, 2010 - Following discussion with other stakeholders who have already done work on this issue, CHRA sent a letter to Keith Ashfield, Minister responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency, with a copy to Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. Click here to read the letter.
     

  • August 2010 - CHRA requested a meeting with the Minister of Finance. 

  • February 2011 – present – this issue is reflected in CHRA and partners’ research work on the impact of the expiry of social housing operating agreements.

4. support for bill c-304 and a national housing strategy

SUBMITTED BY: New Brunswick Non Profit Housing Association 
This resolution was passed on to staff for review and follow-up.
Background: With almost 1.5 million Canadian households in core housing need and 200,000 homeless Canadians, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing recommended the federal government develop a national housing strategy.
Bill C-304, an Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians, is expected to go to a vote in the House of Commons in the near-term.
Resolution: CHRA should urge MPs to vote in favour of Bill C-304 as a means to developing a national housing strategy; and urge its members to indicate their support for the bill to their Members of Parliament.

status:

  • June 2010 – A postcard campaign was initiated at the CHRA 2010 Congress, which urged Minister Finley to support Bill C-304.  All the postcards collected over the course of the campaign were sent to Minister Finley.
     
  • July 13, 2010 - CHRA sent a letter to the Minister with responsibility for CMHC, Diane Finley. Click here to read the letter.
     
  • July 2010 - Copies of the letter were forwarded to MP Libby Davies, the sponsor of the bill. 
     
  • August 13, 2010 - The need for a national housing strategy was reflected in the CHRA pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Click here to read CHRA's pre-budget submission.
     
  • October 26, 2010 – CHRA Executive Director Jody Ciufo emphasized the importance of a national housing strategy as part of her presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.
     
  • September, 2010 – March, 2011 – CHRA provided regular updates to members and responded to external inquiries on the status of Bill C-304, until the dissolution of Parliament in March 2011. CHRA urged its members to contact their local MP on this Bill.

5. chra member services for education and training

SUBMITTED BY: New Brunswick Non Profit Housing Association 
This resolution was referred back to staff for follow-up.
Background: CHRA over the years has developed and made available to non-profit housing associations across Canada an education and training program to support the operations of non-profit housing corporations. These materials are in need of review and update so that CHRA can be a repository for comprehensive, leading-edge education and training programs pertaining to the operations of non-profit housing.
Resolution: CHRA, in conjunction with provincial non-profit housing associations, housing corporations and various housing officials, should undertake a comprehensive review of its existing education and training programs, make necessary updates and/or develop new programs, in a timely fashion and as resources allow. The end result is intended to be the most comprehensive education program for non-profit housing groups across Canada.

status:

 

  • September 2010 – present – CHRA has offered a greater number and variety of webinars.  The webinars are now widely promoted amongst the CHRA membership and offered free of charge, which is a new feature.  As such, the webinars represent an improved member education service.
     
  • June 2011 – CHRA Congress offers a housing course taught by Steve Pomeroy, as a professional development offering for those new to the housing sector, or those wishing to further strengthen their foundation of housing knowledge.
     
  • Ongoing – CHRA remains committed to expanding the services for members in the area of training and education as resources allow.

 

 

emergency resolutions

Resolutions crafted during the resolutions workshop at Congress (June 2010) and presented for discussion at the AGM. These resolutions were voted on and passed by the CHRA Board of Directors at their meeting in November 2010. 

6. call for action to ensure the sustainability of the existing social housing stock               

SUBMITTED BY: BC Non-Profit Housing Association

BE IT RESOLVED THAT CHRA advocate to the Government of Canada to collaborate with provincial/territorial and municipal governments, and non-profit housing providers and other housing stakeholders to ensure the viability and sustainability of all social housing stock enshrined within a National Action Plan on housing for Canada;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT CHRA recommend to the Government of Canada that any savings which the federal government accrues as a result of the expiration of operating agreements be directed to re-investment in sustainable programs designed to reduce core housing need and homelessness.

 

STATUS: 

  • August 13, 2010 – The importance of the social housing stock to housing low-income Canadians articulated in this resolution was reflected in the CHRA pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.
     
  • September 21, 2010 - CHRA President Bruce Pearce met with Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to Diane Finley, and emphasized the importance of addressing the expiring social housing operating agreements.
     
  • October 26, 2010 – CHRA Executive Director Jody Ciufo emphasized the importance of federal support for the expiring social housing operating agreements as part of her presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.
     
  • February 10, 2011 - CHRA President Bruce Pearce met with Minister Diane Finley and emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainability of the social housing stock.
     
  • March 22, 2011 - CHRA sent a letter to the Minister with responsibility for CMHC, Diane Finley, outlining the importance of federal action needed to ensure the sustainability of the social housing stock. 
     
  • March and April 2011 – In advance of the federal election held May 2011, CHRA articulated a list of key issues and requested that federal parties and candidates respond to the list.  Included in this list was the social housing stock.
     
  • April 2011 – CHRA assessed all federal party platforms based on a number of key areas, including whether the platforms had a plan for Canada’s social housing stock.
     
  • April 2011 – CHRA produced an ‘affordable housing by the numbers’ document, as part of its election related material, which included information on social housing units which have already expired.
     
  • June 2011 – CHRA Congress 2011 will offer a session on the social housing stock, which looks at what providers who have already had a project expire have experienced.
     
  • February – present – CHRA and partners are undertaking new research on the expiry of the social housing operating agreements.

7. green housing

SUBMITTED BY: M'akola Housing Society

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we support and endorse this policy; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that CHRA implement the recommendations made by this committee in developing this policy.

STATUS:

  • March and April 2011 – In advance of the federal election held May 2011, CHRA articulated a list of key issues and requested that federal parties and candidates respond to the list.  Included in this list was the renewal and enhancement of the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program.
     
  • February 17 and 18, 2011 – In the spirit of the CHRA Green Housing, Green Jobs Policy Statement, along with partners, CHRA helped organize an event that showcased initiatives which combined home energy retrofits and job and skills training to First Nation officials.
     
  • June 6, 2011 – CHRA responded to the federal budget tabled on June 6, and commented on the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program. The comment praised the inclusion of this program in the budget, but asked that it be extended beyond the one year time frame and that it include a dedicated component for low-income households.
     
  • June 2011 – Many of CHRA Congress 2011’s session reflect a sustainability and green housing focus

 

8. interest rates and effects on affordable homeownership

SUBMITTED BY: City of Saskatoon

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that CHRA call on the federal government to allow moderate and low income working Canadians to be able to qualify for a mortgage to purchase a purpose-built affordable housing unit in Canada; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that CHRA call on the federal government to allow moderate and low income working Canadians to qualify for mortgage financing at special rates offered by banks which are lower than the 5 year posted rate.

Status:

 

  • January 4, 2011 - CHRA sent a letter to the Minister with responsibility for CMHC, Diane Finley, which, in the spirit of the resolution, requested that CMHC support moderate and low-income working Canadians in qualifying for a mortgage to purchase a purpose-built affordable home. 
  • January 26, 2011 – CHRA webinar highlights affordable homeownership initiatives