Coop Focus Online
Newsletter of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto


October 2007

Prepared for Our Readers
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In this issue:
Support the City of Toronto Fair Tax Plan
11th Annual Co-op Awards Night
Winter Coats for Kids
Still Time to Register for Education Courses
Here to Stay Fund

Support the City of Toronto Fair Tax Plan

Toronto needs a fair tax plan

On Monday, October 22 City Council will vote on two new taxes – the Land Transfer Tax and a Personal Vehicle Registration Fee. Together, these taxes would raise about $360 million per year.

If these new taxes do not pass, the City will need to impose a large increase in property taxes. This increase would hurt renters, people on fixed incomes who own their homes and co-op members.

Many co-ops would face an increase of tens of thousands of dollars in operating costs to cover the larger tax bill.

Tell City Council that you support using these new taxes to raise money for the city instead of big increases to property taxes.

Write or e-mail your city councillor.
Plan to attend the City Council meeting on October 22.
Mayor David Miller will greet co-op members outside of City Hall at 8:45 a.m.

For more information:

go to the Fair Taxes website www.fairtaxes.ca

contact Brian Eng, Government Relations and Communications Coordinator
416 465-8688, extension 215
brian@coophousing.com

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11th Annual Co-op Awards Night

CHFT has been presenting awards to co-ops since 1997. The awards night is one of the "not to be missed" events of the co-op calendar. This year it will be held on Thursday, November 8, 7:00 PM at the Metro-Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto

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Winter Coats for Kids

The CHFT Charitable Fund will once again provide winter coats for low income children living in our member co-ops through its Winter Coats for Co-op Kids project. The new winter coats will be delivered to and distributed from co-op offices.

The quantity of coats is limited. Coats will be given to those children in kindergarten through to grade 8. Priority will be given to those families who did not receive coats last year

We need to know the following information no later than Wednesday, November 14, 2007. One coat order per form.

To download an order form click here

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Still Time to Register for Education Courses

There is still time to register for many of the courses in the Fall Education Program

We are pleased to be offering two new workshops that we think are very relevant for some of our member co-ops. Space is limited so make sure you register early.

  • When Your Community is Threatened is being offered because many co-ops do not know where to turn when a traumatic event happens in the co-op. Resources are available. Come and find out where to find them.
  • Using Your Capital Reserve Plan is being presented by the Social Housing Services Corporation. This workshop is for municipally administered co-ops.

Of course, we are also offering some of our most popular standard workshops including

  • Effective elections
  • Understanding your co-op’s finances
  • The board's role as employer
  • What is governance?

To register on-line click here

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Here to Stay Fund

When financial emergencies arise, many members of housing co-ops have little money set aside and nowhere to turn.

To help co-op members cope with these emergencies without going into arrears and possibly losing their homes, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) created The Here to Stay Fund in August 1999.

The Here to Stay Fund provides:

  • credit counseling, and
  • loans for people who are one month in arrears
  • The loan is limited to one month’s housing charge.
  • The Credit Counseling Service of Toronto offers counseling to everyone who approaches the Fund.
  • To date over 200 people have received credit counseling. The Credit Counseling Service also determines whether a member qualifies for a loan.
  • When a loan is approved, the money goes directly to the co-op. This helps co-ops to keep arrears off their books.
  • Also, because the amount of the loan is limited, the Fund encourages co-ops to deal with arrears quickly.
  • Combining credit counseling with an interest free loan program has produced a strong fund that provides many options for its clients.

For more information about the Here to Stay Fund click here

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Brian Eng, Government Relations and Communciation Coordinator
416.465.8688 ext. 215 or brian@coophousing.com

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