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Housing Co-ops and COVID-19

Published March 17, 2020

This page provides you with updates on CHF Canada services and events due to COVID-19 as well as info on what housing co-ops can do to keep members safe, while maintaining operations.

Updated January 27, 2022

At your housing co-op

CHF Canada events

CHF Canada member services

Frequently asked questions


We understand that this is a challenging and uncertain time, and CHF Canada is here to support your housing co-op during this rapidly changing situation.

This page provides you with updates on CHF Canada services and events due to COVID-19 as well as info on what housing co-ops can do to keep members safe, while maintaining operations.

We are also collecting province-specific information for housing co-ops:

Visit the COVID-19 information page of your regional federation for updates in British Columbia and in Quebec (from CQCH and FHCQ)

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We will continue to update the information on this page, and will add information for other provinces as more details become available.

At your housing co-op:

Public health officials advise that everyone should follow measures to help prevent or slow the spread of the virus, including getting vaccinated. For the most authoritative public health news and advice, visit the website of the Public Health Agency of Canada. The Government of Canada’s main page provides continuously updated COVID-19 vaccine information, which includes where to get vaccinated in your province or territory.   You can check for local updates on the website of your provincial or municipal government, and visit World Health Organization site for global updates.

Please see below for answers to frequently asked questions from housing co-ops including how to keep your community secure and your co-op operational.

You can also check out our COVID-19 Meeting Resources page for tips and guides for holding electronic board meetings, town halls, and alternate ways to hold a members’ meeting or AGM.

CHF Canada events:

CHF Canada has been delivering virtual events since a global pandemic was declared and will to do so until in-person events are restored, in order to continue to protect the health and safety of members, staff, and partners.  Currently, we are planning for an in-person Annual Meeting in Halifax in June 2022.

CHF Canada member services:

Staff have been working from home, as circumstances permit, during the pandemic. Meetings, events and travel plans have also been altered in favour of teleconferencing or virtual.  Staff have been effective in serving members throughout the pandemic to keep everyone safe.

CHF Canada FAQs Related to Housing Co-ops and COVID-19

  1. Can I still access services from CHF Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  2. My housing co-op has an upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), should we cancel it to avoid a mass gathering of people and to practice social distancing during COVID-19? Will we be in non-compliance with our provincial/territorial co-op housing act (or equivalent) if we cancel it?
  3. I need help to have my members meeting virtually, who can help me?
  4. What about if members can’t afford to pay their housing charges>?
  5. My housing co-op has received inquiries and we know of members who have suffered income loss as a result of either lay-offs, reduced work hours or illness as a result of COVID-19. Do you have any advice on how we deal with members who can’t pay their housing charges or how to offer support to our members suffering financial difficulties due to COVID-19?
  6. Can we offer more RGI subsidies to help members pay their housing charges?
  7. Should my housing co-op board of directors still be meeting given the COVID-19 measures in place?
  8. Should my housing co-op introduce measures for staff managing the co-op? What are our employer obligations?
  9. Should the housing co-op or management firm restrict or avoid maintenance and other work in member units, or with members, due to COVID-19?
  10. What else should we do to keep co-op members safe and healthy in our community?
  11. What can our co-op can do to maintain community spirit at this time?
  12. Someone in my housing co-op has been diagnosed with COVID-19, should this information be shared with other members and visitors?
  13. Is there any temporary assistance, or government relief for non profit businesses such as housing co-ops and housing co-op management companies experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19?
  14. Should the co-op continue with existing moves and filling vacant units, and if so, then how?
  15. Should my housing co-op be imposing vaccination requirements for visitors, use of common space, meetings and events?
  16. Our housing co-op has staff.  Do we have an obligation to require staff to be fully vaccinated?
  17. Does CHF Canada have a sample vaccination policy?

 

  1. Can I still access services from CHF Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Yes, CHF Canada is here for you.  Staff are available and continue to be at your service via telephone and email (find our staff contact details here). CHF Canada has a return to the workplace safely plan in place and continues to monitor the pandemic situation across Canada.  While meetings, events and travel plans have been altered in favour of teleconferencing or virtual, we are anticipating a change over 2022.

  1. My housing co-op has an upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), should we cancel it to avoid a mass gathering of people and to practice social distancing during COVID-19? Will we be in non-compliance with our provincial/territorial co-op housing act (or equivalent) if we cancel it?

Given the length of the pandemic and need to provide effective governance and direction for your housing co-op, member meetings are required and recommended. Provincial restrictions on the number of people allowed to gather has and will continue to change. If meeting in person, there is still an obligation to do so safely. Consider alternatives and vaccination requirements; and adhere to the safety protocols and regulations in your region.

Many housing co-ops have successfully held member meeting using other technology.  If you can easily use Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting or other web or teleconferencing for your member meetings. Contact CHF Canada staff if you require clarification and to discuss options if you have not yet held your AGM.  In the meantime, here is a list of provincial and territorial registrar websites.

See our COVID-19 Meeting Resources page for tips on holding electronic board meetings, a guide on alternatives to holding member meetings and member information meetings or town halls. Verify with CHF Canada and your regional federation about virtual member meeting support services they may offer.

  1.  I need help to have my members meeting virtually, who can help me?

     Verify with CHF Canada and your regional federation about virtual member meeting support services they may offer.

  1. What about if members can’t afford to pay their housing charges?

It is quite likely that you have members living in your co-op who will struggle to pay their housing charges. The government has put in place income relief programs for individuals whose income has been impacted by Covid-19.  Each housing co-op will need to consider its unique situation, and provide options and flexibility for deferment of housing charges. We recommend your co-op is proactive in asking members who will be in this situation, and work with your manager to develop a process to record agreements if you don’t already have these in place. There could also be potential to access funding to support those struggling to pay housing charges through existing agreements with government. For more information contact your regional federation or CHF Canada.

  1. My housing co-op has received inquiries and we know of members who have suffered income loss as a result of either lay-offs, reduced work hours or illness as a result of COVID-19. Do you have any advice on how we deal with members who can’t pay their housing charges or how to offer support to our members suffering financial difficulties due to COVID-19?

     The federal government has and continues to make announcements regarding support available to all Canadians impacted by COVID-19, including financial support for those whose jobs have been affected. You can find information on these and other measures here.

Check your by-laws and regulations about housing charge assistance to members, and where it is allowed and available, provide additional assistance to those who qualify.

It is also important to balance and make decisions in the best interests of the co-operative, and not jeopardize the financial viability of the co-op. We do not advise housing co-ops to waive housing charges. If your housing co-op is thinking of deferring housing charges and would like help please contact us.

CHF Canada continues to monitor, seek and share information on financial relief measures and programs that will help our members co-ops. We will continue to update this information.

  1. Can we offer more RGI subsidies to help members pay their housing charges?

     Housing co-ops under federal subsidy programs such as Section 95 and ILM may be able to offer assistance using available subsidy funds on hand. These housing co-ops can talk to the Agency or other regulatory body about additional assistance that may be or become available.  If you are under a provincial, territorial or municipal (Ontario Service Manager) government program, contact your regulator to find out what they can offer.  CHF Canada will continue to monitor and update you with specific information by province and territory as it becomes available.

  1. Should my housing co-op board of directors still be meeting given the COVID-19 measures in place?

Given the length of the pandemic and need to provide effective governance and direction for your housing co-op, board meetings are required and recommended. Provincial restrictions on the number of people allowed to gather has and will continue to change. If meeting in person, there is still an obligation to do so safely. Consider alternatives and vaccination requirements; and adhere to the safety protocols and regulations in your region.

If you can easily use Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting or other web or teleconferencing for board meetings, where every director has access to a computer and an internet or phone connection, you may consider this option. Depending on your jurisdiction, email exchanges and other means of polling directors individually may not meet the test of a meeting under co-op legislation, so you will need to take care that you are conducting business properly.  Please reach out to our staff and reference our new resource Answering the 5Ws of Electronic Board Meetings and tip sheet.

  1. Should my housing co-op introduce measures for staff managing the co-op? What are our employer obligations?

   Yes. In addition to your usual obligations as an employer, there are a number of additional steps that need to be taken in accordance with public health advice. Here is a resource explaining what employers should know during a pandemic.

Your board of directors should have discussions with staff or your property management firm regarding protocols for daily operational activities to ensure the safety of staff and members which may include, but not limited to, limiting contact, social distancing, vaccination requirements for maintenance workers.

  1. Should the housing co-op or management firm restrict or avoid maintenance and other work in member units, or with members, due to COVID-19?

Maintenance is likely still being evaluated as pandemic restrictions change.  During the loosening of restrictions across different regions, some maintenance may be done. Very clear and appropriate protocols should be in place for any maintenance in member units. Co-ops should not reduce cleaning services. Cleaning with disinfectants should be increased for high touch surfaces such as elevators and door handles.

  1. What else should we do to keep co-op members safe and healthy in our community?

     The Public Health Agency of Canada gives good direction on how to keep people safe during COVID-19.   Let your members know what your co-op is doing, such as increased cleaning, housing charge assistance, social distancing reminders and signage.  If you have put in place a safe program to check on your neighbours, especially those who are elderly, vulnerable or have physical disabilities, let members know. Maybe offer to pick up groceries or other needed items for them.  Each housing co-op will have different needs and levels of comfort to implement COVID-19 measures.  You have to do what is right for your housing co-op. Feel free to contact our staff for assistance, we are here for you.

  1. What can our co-op can do to maintain community spirit at this time?

     Here are some ideas:

  • Have a balcony or front porch singalong, like Fieldstone Co-op in Toronto did!
  • Have children at your co-op start a ‘neighbourhood window walk’ or ‘apartment door walk.’ Each week has a different theme for children to draw pictures and place them in their windows or on their apartment doors for other children to see.
  • Rediscover the pleasures of a phone call. For kids, suggest they try out ‘tin can’ calls with their friends across the way!
  • Virtually get together with your neighbours and have a Netflix party, stream a musical performance from your favourite musician, go on a free virtual tour of a world-class museum or have an online fitness class together.

There are lots of ways we can come together even though we are apart during these times.

Click here for some other healthy and fun ideas to help keep spirits up during COVID-19 from our American friends at the National Association of Housing Cooperatives.

Thanks to Mary Ho and a member at the co-op she works at, as well as Lindsey Reed for providing a number of these tips.

  1. Someone in my housing co-op has been diagnosed with COVID-19, should this information be shared with other members and visitors?

     A housing co-op should abide by and respect the protection of personal information, and privacy law. Privacy laws vary by jurisdiction. If you are uncertain about your legal obligations regarding privacy law, do seek legal counsel.

Given the Public Health Agency advice and the concern for community transmission of COVID-19, posting general information reminding members to adhere to Public Health Agency information and protocols of self-isolation, quarantine, social distancing and symptoms is prudent.

  1. Is there any temporary assistance, or government relief for non profit businesses such as housing co-ops and housing co-op management companies experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19?

CHF Canada continues to monitor the various programs being introduced by the federal and provincial governments to see what is applicable to our members.  Canada’s COVID 19 Economic Response Plan outlines programs that support individuals, businesses, and communities hardest hit by the pandemic such as hospitality and tourism, sport and Indigenous Communities. Further information can be found here.

  1. Should the co-op continue with existing moves and filling vacant units, and if so, then how?

     There are a number of things to consider and these will be different for each housing co-op.  First, have the discussion and make a plan.  Clear communication with members about move-ins is always helpful and can reduce anxiety and make sure everyone can play their part in staying healthy and safe (e.g. not use the elevator during move in times).

For any units where rental subsidy applies, you can check with your regulator to see if vacancy loss is covered and if so, how much and for how long. If you have vacancies you need to fill, here are some options you could consider:

  • limit viewings of units, or use only online listings with virtual tours instead of in-person viewing, especially if members are still in the unit
  • set guidelines for the day of the move, including cleaning of common areas (e.g. elevators after the move is completed)
  • use electronic means for signing agreements and housing charge payments
  • limit repairs of units being turned-over to critical and in accordance with essential services and public health directives
  • check if there are moving companies still operating and that their COVID-19 health and safety protocols are satisfactory to you and aligned with public health directives.

Here are is an article that may help you reflect on your plan and protocols around vacancies and move ins.

  1. Should my housing co-op be imposing vaccination requirements for visitors, use of common space, meetings and events?

     Vaccination requirements are being introduced across Canada in different ways.  Some provinces have introduced vaccination passports or other requirements but there are exceptions and they apply differently to different industries.  We recommend you refer to your provincial government’s COVID-19 information website(s) and comply with provincial regulations and direction regarding vaccination requirements for businesses.

  1. Our housing co-op has staff.  Do we have an obligation to require staff to be fully vaccinated?

Your obligation as an employer is to create a safe workplace. Vaccination requirements are being introduced across Canada in different ways. CHF Canada recommends you seek legal advice and continue to keep abreast of the shifting requirements, legislation and legal perspectives on this matter.

  1. Does CHF Canada have a sample vaccination policy? 

With a rapidly changing environment and regional differences, policies will differ.  If you are interested in a sample, please contact your local staff.


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