The evening of December 16, 2014 marked another in a series of meetings organized by the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Toronto and CHF Canada to discuss the pressing issue of the end of operating agreements for many co‑operative and non‑profit housing providers.     In the GTA alone, 14 co-ops will reach the end of their operating agreements in the next two years.  

Despite the season and the weather, some 70 + members and staff of housing co‑ops, property managers, and others from the sector attended a meeting at Campden Green housing co‑op in Scarborough.  When the operating agreements ends, the rent supplements end.  There is no commitment from the federal government to provide rent supplements for the low income members who will be affected by this. We heard about the impact of the potential cuts from co‑op members.  If the federal government doesn’t shift its current course, the social housing waiting lists in Toronto, currently 93,000 people, will surely grow by thousands.  Sector leaders and from Rathika Sitsabaiesan, New Democrat MP from Scarborough‑Rouge River told us of efforts that are being taken to convince the federal government to continue the existing funding.

All those who attended were inspired to make politicians of all stripes and at all levels know that this issue matters to us and should matter to them too.  If you’d like to add your name to the growing list of concerned Canadians on this issue, please sign the NDP petition.

Filed in: Co-operative Law

Tags: Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, End of co-op operating agreements