Resolution 2: Equitable representation in all regions for a stronger co-op housing movement

SUBMITTED BY: Argyle Park Housing Co-operative, Rainbow Housing Co-operative, Rosewood Housing Co-operative, Stewart Court Housing Co-operative, and Terra Housing Co-operative 

CONTACT: James Gilliard
Rainbow Housing Co-operative
302 Berini Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3P4
Tel: (306) 242-0604
Email: jajgilliard@shaw.ca 

WE RESOLVE:

1. THAT ensuring excellence in service provision to members in all parts of Canada is essential for the growth and well-being of Canada’s co-operative housing movement; 
2. THAT despite the smaller number of housing co-ops in some regions, robust support from CHF Canada is essential in these regions, especially in the areas of education, government relations and development; 
3. THAT in some regions, there has been little or no progress on rental assistance and development, and this must change; 
4. THAT while CHF Canada services are evolving, especially development (as we await the new federal program), education and the Annual Meeting, they must evolve and be delivered in a way that takes into account unique regional needs and context; 
5. THAT because some provinces and territories do not have a dedicated seat on the CHF Canada Board of Directors, extra care and attention must be paid to those regions when the Board of Directors is making decisions, especially about member services; 
6. AND THAT CHF Canada develop and report back on a plan, in a timely manner, in consultation with members, and which includes consideration for increased staffing budgets for unfederated provinces/regions which share representation on the Board of Directors, to ensure that the voices and needs of members in all regions are heard and met in an appropriate, robust and accessible manner. 

OUR REASONS FOR THIS RESOLUTION ARE:

1. Several provinces share regional representation on the Board of Directors, including Manitoba and Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia needs are taken into account when the CHF Canada Board of Directors are making decisions about services for members.
2. Areas with greater numbers of housing co-ops, and with regional federations, may have financial, educational, and other advantages than other geographically dispersed regions without federations that rely solely on CHF Canada for member service and representation. 
3. Regional federations do not exist everywhere to support housing co-ops, so the support of CHF Canada is essential. 
4. Some regions have seen almost no progress on provincial government rental assistance programs, and this is putting the sustainability of housing co-ops in those places at great risk. 
5. Most regions in Canada have seen no new co-ops developed since the end of the federal programs in the 1990s. A dedicated growth strategy and scaling resources are needed to see growth of the co-op housing movement and access to co-operative living in areas where co-ops are smaller and/or geographically dispersed. 
6. The Annual Meeting can be difficult and costly to attend given the locations and size of the country, which limits access to in person exchanges education delivered there for members who cannot travel. 

WE THINK THAT THIS WILL COST:

The development of the plan proposed in the report can be undertaken within the 2024 operating budget.