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ONPHA
ONPHA
Funding received for Phase 2 of MMAH Partnership
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has
announced additional funding for a Phase 2 extension to the Partnership Project between MMAH, ONPHA and the (HF. The project's mandate is to' increase non-profit and co-op success under the Affordable Housing Program.
Theextensionwill allow us: to continue assisting groups inter~,
ested in developing new housing; continue research into program design and delivery issues that may impede success; fund an education component aimed at helping both first-time and experienced housing providers prepare for ongoing management challenges .
ONPHA 489 College Street, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M6G lAS T: 416-927-9144 I 800-297-6660 F: 416-927-8401 I [email protected]
oard Connections Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association I www.onpha.on.ca J U N EIJ U LY, 2007
ONPHA CAMPAIGN PICKING UP MORE STEAM
W ith an October 10 election on the horizon, we informed members in the
last Quick Connections about ONPHA's campaign to advance the message of commun ity-based affordable housing. ONPHA is working with Counsel Public Affairs/Counsel Public Relations, a government and media relations firm with great expertise in helping associations like ONPHA advance the cause of social agendas.
Since the $392-M of federal housing funds were released by the Province
2007 Ontario budget, the ONPHA campaign has moved into its next phase - MPP outreach by members in their local communities .
"You can't spread the non-profit housing message from just the ONPHA offices and hope to have it heard," says ONPHA Executive Director Sharad Kerur. "It has to come from ONPHA's members themselves across the province with their stories and in their own words . It is many voices saying the same things that government will ultimately hear."
NEW COMMITTEES AND WORKGROUPS TO EXAMINE PROVIDER ISSUES
ONPHA has comm issioned two new groups to take on issues and
challenges facing ONPHA members. The Housing Management and Operations Advisory Committee will discuss emerging issues and strategies related to housing management
and capital reserves. The Property Tax Work Group has been put together to review and examine the problems non-profit provider groups face in their pursuit of property tax exemptions from Municipal Property Assessment Corporation .
PROVIDERS CONCERNED ABOUT APARTMENT LICENSING STRATEGY
Toronto non-profit housing providers have undertaken a let
ter-writing campaign targeting municipal councilors to express their concerns about the City ofToronto's proposed Multi -Residential
Apartment Building (MRAB) Regulatory Strategy. ONPHA is sharing this w ith all our members because other municipalities are apparently considering similar strategies.
ONPHABoard Connections I JUNE/JULY, 2007
Management Help Tips
REPAIRS ANDTENANrS REASONABLE ENJOYMENT? The RTA states that even if capital repairs substantially interfered with tenants' reasonable enjoyment, the Board Member shall not order an abatement of rent if various conditions are satisfied, including: 60 days notice or advanced and accurate description of the work. Check out RTA O. Reg 516/06 s. 8 (4) for further details. Meeting the 60 day advance notice may be difficult for providers trying to co-ordinate with outside contractors . The key is to communicate well with tenants.
WORKING INCOMETAX BENEFIT The March federal budget introduced the Working Income Tax Benefit to help individuals and families over the "welfare wall ". The WITB will provide up to $500 per year for individuals and $1,000 for families to help them re-enter the workforce. These payments will be paid to qualified households in 2008 based on 2007 income tax returns . For RGI purposes, these payments should not be considered income.
ONTARIO CHILD BENEFIT The March provincial budget announced the creation of the Ontario Child Benefit to assist low -income families. As of July 1, 2007/ households with children under the age of 18 will receive a one time non-taxable payment of up to $250 per child based on their 2006 income tax return . Monthly OCB benefits will begin to flow to households beginning July 2008 with payments up to $600 per child annually.
These payments will not affect social assistance benefits and should not be considered income when calculating RGI.
MANDATORY RETIREMENT ABOLISHED On December 12, 2006 / the mandatory requirement to retire at age 65 was abolished. However, this has no effect on the requirement to pursue income under the SHRA. If a member of an RGI household is 65 years or older, you must advise them to apply for any pensions or benefits to which they may be entitled, whether or not they continue to be employed .
PROVINCE-WIDE ARREARS DATABASE The SHSC's implementation of the province-wide social housing arrears database is underway this summer. Full implementation in each of 36 service areas should be complete by the end of the summer.
CHANGETO PUPIL LEARNING AGE A new legal requirement states that children must attend school until they graduate or reach the age of 18. Non-profit housing providers should continue to verify that students over 16 years of age meet the definition of "student" under SHRA O. Reg. 298/01 Section 50 #26. For more informa tion on calculating RGI for students, consult the Info On attached to this mailing.
ONPHA Board Connections I JUNE/JULY, 2007
News in Brief:
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Please check Quick Connections for information regarding ONPHA's Call for Nominations for the Board of Directors and Call for Resolutions for November's 'A nnual General Meeting.
ONPHA'S 2007 CONFERENCE