Member Services

CHFT offers a wide range of services for housing co-ops. Our goal is to help our members build vibrant, well-managed communities.

Telephone Advice
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CHFT provides advice to members on a wide variety of issues including:

• subsidy administration,
• by-laws,
• dealing with conflict,
• confidentiality, and
• the Co-operative Corporations Act.

We handle more than 15,000 calls a year from co-op members and staff.

Meeting Support
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CHFT staff are available to meet with co-op boards, committees and members. We provide:

• neutral chairs for difficult meetings,
• advice on co-op by-laws,
• help with elections,
• information on co-op roles and responsibilities,
• assistance with hiring, and
• confidential conflict resolution services.

Education
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We offer education on a variety of topics related to co-op housing. Workshops on The Board of Directors, Your Co-op and the Law and Keeping Conflict Constructive are always popular. Each year, we hold scheduled courses for volunteers and staff. We will also arrange portable courses. Last year, more than 1,000 people attended CHFT courses.

Co-op Cost Cutters
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Co-op Cost Cutters, CHFT's bulk purchasing program, provides huge savings for CHFT members. We offer savings on

• appliances
• computer systems and software
• gas purchasing
• maintenance supplies
• paint
• photocopiers, and
• AutoShare, Toronto's Smart Alternative to Owning a Car.

Metro Credit Union offers Federation members bonus interest rates on operating accounts and term deposits in the Co-operative Housing Investment Pool (CHIP). Through CHIP, co-ops can also get special banking services such as a free courier once a month.

The Co-op Housing Bookstore is a joint project between CHFT and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. The Co-op Housing Bookstore publishes books on various aspects of co-op living such as

• co-op administration
• financial management
• co-ops and the law
• maintenance, and
• co-op communities.

We write our publications in "plain language" so that they are easy to read and understand.

• Board of Directors, 20th Anniversary Edition
• Your Co-op and the Law, 2nd Edition
• Job Descriptions
• Words, words, words . . . The Co-op Housing Dictionary.

Annual Publications
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We also compile the Annual Staff Survey (a survey of co-op staff working conditions, salaries and benefits) and the Contractors' Yellow Pages (a listing of contractors used and recommended by our members).

CHFT represents co-op interests to federal, provincial, and municipal politicians. We also assist Federation members in dealing with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH).

Over the years, CHFT has worked closely with co-op housing lawyers to develop model by-laws, policies and procedures for co-ops. Staff is available to help members bring their by-laws up to date.

All member households receive our newsletter, The Circuit. Co-ops and CHFT delegates receive the Government Relations News.

We hold regularly scheduled meetings for CHFT delegates. We also publish a regular Delegates Report on Federation activities.

Federation members receive regular mailings of information on CHFT activities, our education program, special events, and political developments affecting co-ops.

CHFT operates a 24-hour housing information line (416) 465-1309. Basic information on co-op housing is available in six languages. Callers are directed to co-ops with open waiting lists. Each month, about 45 co-ops are listed. Last year, more than 36,000 people called the information line.

We have three additional lines:

1. Employment Opportunities - (416) 465-8688, extension 5
2. Upcoming Events - (416) 465-8688, extension 6
3. Upcoming Course Information - (416) 465-8688, extension 7

Development
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CHFT has assisted with the development of 55 co-operatives. Despite government cutbacks, CHFT continues to work with member co-ops to expand the co-op movement. Currently, we are working with the residents of Alexandra Park, a public housing complex, as they prepare to convert to a member controlled, non-profit co-op.