HOUSING NEWS

Lions Place Research Report Launched

Laura Funk, Professor of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Manitoba, presented the Lions Place Research Report to a room full of press and supporters of the project. Interviews with the past and previous senior tenants provided insight from their perspective on what happened before the sale and what's happened since Lions Place has become privately owned.

The report details eight recommendations based on their findings. Among the recommendations is to include implementing legislation that would prevent buildings that are non-profit from being sold to the private market, especially buildings that have received substantial public support for their initial development. View the full report here

Gerald Brown of the Lions Place Seniors Action Committee was one of the participants willing to speak publicly about his experience. After his presentation he was interviewed by CBC News and Winnipeg Free Press.

Throughout the meeting there was mention of how volunteer boards are struggling, with board members feeling overworked, which has been leading to difficulty retaining and recruiting board members.

MNPHA has added a presentation from Laura Funk and Gerald Brown on their report as well as a session on managing board retention as well as succession planing.

Manitoba Budget 2024-25

MNPHA has responded to the housing-related items in the provincial budget with recommendations on priorities for our members.

1.    Repairs and Capital Funding

The amount committed in this budget is approximately half of the required annual investment. This is an increase from previous years and is the first time in many years there is funding earmarked for non-profit housing.

2. Operating Funding

The new funding model for expired or expiring operating agreements holds great potential to support the capital needs of organizations while maintaining affordable rents. We are very pleased that it provides for increases, including inflationary increases, in organizational budgets. We recommend that this positive aspect of the new funding model be applied to all Manitoba Housing programs including the Rent Supplement Program and Sponsor Management Program.

3. Supports within Community Housing

Over the next year, MNPHA would like to work with Manitoba Housing to shift the $1.3m/year Housing Supports Initiative to focus more on supports to create and maintain successful tenancies within community housing, which includes funding tenant support workers to begin moving towards the recommended target of one tenant support worker per 100 units in independent living housing.

Operating resources for supportive housing for those who require more intensive supports, including those who need mental and physical health supports and supports for those who have active addictions, are not identified in this budget despite major capacity and interest in the sector in creating more permanent supportive and assisted housing options.

4. New Housing Development

The provincial government must create 10,000 affordable, community-owned (non-profit, cooperative, and public) units over ten years to meet the current need. The budget is targeting 350 units, and we understand that it may lead to a higher number. Despite the increased investment, at the current pace of community housing development Manitoba will remain perpetually behind fulfilling the need.

5. Education Property Tax Rebate

The elimination of the tax rebate for all but homeowners will create financial problems for many organizations that provide affordable, non-profit housing. Many of these organizations depended on the education tax rebate to allow them to maintain their properties and make adequate investments in reserves during the two-year period that the government froze rents. Organizations that are not covered by rent control guidelines will have to raise rents at rates above inflation, while those that are covered by rent will have little choice but to under invest in maintenance and reserves to meet their operating costs.

Read the full response here

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT MNPHA

Housing Day - Tuesday, May 7th

If you were unable to register for Housing Day please keep an eye on our social media posts as we'll be sharing events as the day unfolds.

Call for Proposals: Presentations for the 2024 Conference

Planning is underway for our conference, and reviewing potential presentations that would benefit non-profit housing organizations across the province. Our goal is to present on practical operational discussions such as financing and funding, working with community partners, and saving money while also talking about the big issues affecting affordable housing: creating the next generation of housing leaders, innovations and tried-and-true solutions.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience among our network, we encourage you to reach out with a proposal or share your idea.

Building Partnerships Conference will be held at the Keystone Centre in Brandon from Monday, October 21 to Tuesday, October 22, 2024. As a conference designed to reflect, recharge, and re-engage, those attending from Winnipeg will also be able to get away from the day-to-day routine and spend more time networking.

Please send your proposal with the topic, the speaker(s), the learning goals, and the format (panel, presentation, workshop, etc) as well as any questions to Jo Dworschak, the Education and Communication Coordinator at social@mnpha.com

Deadline for Presentation Proposals are due by May 24th.

Nominate someone you know who has the Spirit of Housing

Spirit of Housing Awards recognize and reward individuals (staff, board members and tenants), groups and non-profits who have made an outstanding contribution to the quality of non-profit housing.

• SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD Honours an employee or volunteer each year from across the province that helps to make their non-profit a better place to live.

• HARRY LEHOTSKY SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP AWARD Honours an individual whose energy and vision contribute to the cause of non-profit housing in Manitoba.

• SPIRIT OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Honours tenants each year from across the province that helps to make their non-profit a better place to live.

• SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD Honours a team whose support and partnership have contributed towards strengthening non-profit housing in Manitoba.

We work together with our members to promote housing excellence through the MNPHA Awards. The 2024 awards will be presented at the MNPHA Building Partnerships Conference on October 21st in Brandon, Manitoba.

New Member - Resident Connect Supporting Low-Income Housing

Resident Connect is a cutting-edge property management system meticulously designed by forward-thinking tech entrepreneurs with over two decades of experience in the tech industry.

The following information has been provided by Resident Connect on their software program. Please note that MNPHA does not endorse a particular software solution as every organization has different needs and should assess what what will best meet them.

Offer for the Nonprofit Housing Sector

We have extensively researched the software programs used for property management—and they’re costly! As a local Manitoba company, we have decided to offer our new software to Manitoba nonprofit housing providers at prices lower than they’ll find anywhere else! Yes, we have a fantastic product that is incomparable. Of course, as a start-up, money is important to us, but so is being a good citizen, and by offering our software to nonprofit housing providers, we can help them slash their operating costs so they can focus on helping those who need it the most. Contact us to learn how you can drastically reduce your operating costs and save taxpayer money by using our software. Learn more.

EDUCATION AND EVENTS

Urban Indigenous-led housing organizations in Manitoba are invited to attend the annual Indigenous Housing Provider Forum. The forum is designed to bring Indigenous organizations together to network, learn from each other, and engage in the issues impacting them.

This year’s agenda includes discussions with Manitoba Housing, a presentation on Drug Awareness with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, followed by round-table discussion on practices, challenges, and solutions.

*This session is only open to Indigenous-led housing organizations.

Friday, June 7, 9:00am - 3:30pm

Norwood Hotel, 112 Marion St, Winnipeg

Building Communities Together

CHF Canada’s Annual Meeting is taking place June 6-8, 2024 in beautiful Winnipeg, Manitoba with the theme of Building Communities Together. Join for three days of learning and networking to strengthen co-op housing communities, build the movement, and attain the collective vision of Co-op Housing for All. Register here

Housing and Health webinar recording available

This session outlined why housing matters to health, how supports in addition to homes are needed, and what approaches and strategies are urgently needed now to find our way home. The Canadian Public Health Association's webinar is available to watch.

We list all the funding opportunities, including the ongoing funding on mnpha.com

Manitoba Safe and Healthy Home for Seniors

Seniors aged 65 and older and family members who have seniors living with them can apply for funding of up to $5,000 ($6,500 in rural and remote areas) to help fund basic home adaptations that are essential for daily living. Applicants can apply for a grant every three years, to a lifetime maximum of $15,000. To be eligible, the applicant must have a combined household income of $60,000 or less.

The funding can be put toward the cost of essential accessibility solutions and could include:

• adaptations that increase safety, like grab bars, bathtub safety rails and increased lighting; or
• accessibility improvements for daily activities, such as zero-threshold showers and widening doorways.

Unfortunately adaptations to rental properties aren't eligible.

Applications are available here or by calling 1-866-906-6006

Security Rebate to Improve Safety

The Manitoba government is offering a $300 rebate for homeowners and small business owners to purchase security equipment. Upgrades eligible for a rebate include security cameras, alarm systems, motion detectors, reinforced doors or windows, anti-graffiti film, paints, security gates, pull-down protection shutters and permanent security fencing. Ongoing subscriptions or monthly fees for existing alarm systems are not eligible. Only equipment associated with the alarm is covered by the rebate. Any purchase made after Sept. 1, 2023, is eligible to receive the $300 rebate. The application system for the rebate will launch this June and applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Manitobans with multiple homes or business locations in the province will only be eligible to apply for one location.  Learn more

From the Ground Up: Safe Healthy Communities for All program 

The Manitoba government is investing $12.5 million to launch the From the Ground Up – Safe Healthy Communities for All program, which will focus on the revitalization of high-needs neighbourhoods throughout Manitoba and community infrastructure and initiatives to support poverty and crime reduction efforts.

Grants under the program will support initiatives in the areas of community capacity building, community economic development, well-being and recreation, and housing and safety co-ordination supports.

Under the program, applicants can apply for funding under the following three streams:

• Community Renewal Initiatives;
• Community Spaces; and
• Healthy, Safe, Connected Children and Youth.

To learn more and apply for the From the Ground Up program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/grants/.

Canada Greener Affordable Housing Program

Canada Greener Affordable Housing provides low-interest loans and grants for deep energy retrofits. Multi-unit (5+) residential can access the program if they target at 70% reduction in energy consumption and an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Applications for retrofit funding are accepted on a continuous basis until the available funding have been fully committed. Learn more

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

MNPHA: Regional Energy Coach: Prairies (2 year term, full-time)

This position will provide coaching and technical services for affordable housing providers related to the planning of energy efficient capital projects. The objective of this role is to build the capability and capacity of housing providers to initiate sustainable energy efficient projects. The REC will have a strong understanding of the Prairies context and will lead efforts in engaging and coaching affordable housing providers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, particularly smaller providers with less capacity to initiate projects.

Program Coordinator: Non-Profit Housing Energy Efficiency (2 year term, 32 hours/week)

The Program Coordinator will be working with non-profit housing organizations in Manitoba and Efficiency Manitoba (EM) to promote energy efficiency programs and awareness, and create & implement a non-profit housing energy efficiency plan with guidance & support from EM.

The Program Coordinator will also help identify energy-saving opportunities in non-profit housing in Manitoba and encourage participation in Efficiency Manitoba’s energy efficiency programs, ultimately leading to reduced energy consumption and lower energy bills.

Learn more and apply by May 12

Kinew Housing hiring Executive Director

Kinew Housing is Indigenous led and is located in the City of Winnipeg. The Executive Director ensures the efficient and effective management of Kinew Housing Inc. rental properties and is responsible and accountable for all property management functions and activities including maintenance of units and grounds; leasing; vacancy management; tenant relations. The Executive Director will perform these duties and responsibilities in accordance with Kinew Housing Inc.’s project Operating agreement, Manitoba Housing, MHRC, The Residential Tenancies Act and the Residential Tenancies Branch. Read more

Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association | www.mnpha.com

social@mnpha.com I (204)797-6746