It's nearly spring, and after this latest cold snap (can a seemingly infinite number of frigid days still be referred to as a "snap"?!) we are all looking forward to spring, which, at MNPHA, is membership renewal season! If you are already a MNPHA member you can expect to receive your renewal package soon, and if you aren't yet a member but are considering joining our Association, please head to https://mnpha.com/membership/ to learn about the benefits, or reach out to one of our staff members with any questions. |
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Save the Date!
MNPHA has set the dates for our 10th annual Building Partnerships Conference, which will be held in-person on September 26 and 27 at CanadInns Polo Park! MNPHA's AGM will be held on the first day of the conference, September 26, and will be open to all, with more information forthcoming.
MNPHA has also set a date for the first ever Housing Day in Manitoba! In the midst of increasingly visible homelessness, a clear need for safe homes for seniors to age with dignity, and housing affordability challenges that were once only discussed in Toronto and Vancouver beginning to impact more Manitobans, Housing Day is designed to allow MNPHA members to share the successes and challenges of the affordable housing sector with elected leaders. Registration for Housing Day will open in April and will be limited, so watch our social media feeds and this newsletter for more information and to claim your spot.
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CFP: Building Partnerships Conference
MNPHA is issuing a Call for Proposals for our 2022 Building Partnerships Conference! The call is open now, and we will accept responses until April 1, 2022. While we are open to a wide variety of session topics, some of the current issues we are hoping to address include:
- Housing and Reconciliation
- Isolation and Loneliness, especially concerning seniors
- Aging in Place
- Issues particular to rural and remote communities in Manitoba
- Mental health and harm reduction
- Climate change and net-zero building
- Homelessness 101
- Community Building with Tenants
Conference attendees always request more speakers from amongst their peers in the non-profit housing sector, and we highly encourage presenters from non-profit housing organizations to speak about their own experience, project, or area of expertise for an individual session or a panel discussion.To download the full CFP click here, and please share widely!
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HOUSING SUPPORTS INITIATIVE PROJECT PROFILE |
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Chalet Malouin: Housing Support Worker Project
Chalet Malouin, located in St. Malo, provides housing to seniors who are at risk of homelessness in a rural area with a lack of affordable housing options. The Housing Supports Initiative funding they received has been used to create a full time Housing Support Worker position that has already had a positive impact on those living at Chalet Malouin and on prospective tenants.
The support worker reaches out to seniors facing homelessness and helps them access Chalet Malouin’s housing programs, and existing programs within the community. The organization’s director, Martha Petrusevich, says there is a shortage of rural housing, and that it has been incredibly helpful “to have an additional person to reach out to community, let them know that we do offer low income housing, the lowest in the surrounding towns”. Petrusevich goes on to explain that “some of our folks come from really bad situations, and in order for them to get housing [at Chalet Malouin] they would need to go through getting rid of bugs etc., and we have a very small staff so there was no one to help them get connected to programs and services offered by the municipality. This way we can connect folks to the right resources at a faster pace and get people moved in sooner.”
In addition to helping prospective tenants, Petrusovich says the support worker connects those already living at Chalet Malouin with services “such as handi-transit, a foot care nurse, medical appointments, free wheelchairs, hair salon, pharmacy, and groceries" among other essential services. Chalet Malouin is also the only organization in the surrounding community that offers an affordable meal program that serves three meals per day, seven days a week for people on fixed incomes. Seniors from the community that are living on their own are encouraged to use the meal program.
Petrusevich says “before this grant I did not have the staff to do it all, now the full time staff Housing Support Worker posts vacancies, contacts the waitlist, helps tenants identify emergency contacts, and connects them to community. Some people come to us with nothing and have no one, so we find clothing and mattreses by reaching out to community and local thrift stores”.
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Canada has its first Federal Housing Advocate!
The Federal Housing Advocate’s role is key to ensuring that the federal government fulfills its commitment to realize the right to housing for all in Canada.
Here is what you need to know:
- Communities will now be able to report cases of systemic barriers that prevent them from accessing adequate housing.
- The Advocate will investigate systemic housing issues, follow up with impacted communities, and present recommendations to the federal government to have the issues resolved.
- The Advocate’s recommendations will be based on requirements to uphold the right to housing under international human rights law.
- Recommendations made by the Federal Housing Advocate to respond to systemic housing issues cannot be ignored. The federal government will be required to follow up on the recommendations and take action to respond to the issues.
This is a significant new mechanism to claim the right to housing in Canada, because it ensures that affected groups can participate and contribute to the realization of their right to housing. Click here to learn more about the Federal Housing Advocate’s role and the other key mechanisms that are in place to advance the right to housing in Canada.
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Sustainable Building Manitoba's Annual Gathering lineup announced
Sustainable Building Manitoba's annual gathering is an opportunity for community to come together and learn from leading experts and each other. This year the gathering is virtual and will take place over 4 afternoons starting on March 10th and will explore industry innovations and sector updates. Each day will have four 30 minute presentations full of useful and inspiring information. The 4th Thursday will be devoted to policy development that will help identify a path towards progress. For more information and to see the lineup of speakers and sessions click here.
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CHRA Virtual Congress registration now open
Mark your calendars for CHRA’s National Congress on Housing and Homelessness, taking place from April 26 to 28, 2022. Join from the comfort of your own home or workspace for three days of learning, networking, and engaging with leaders from across the Canadian community housing sector. Have your say on key issues, learn about the latest developments in the sector, and get inspired for the future! To learn more and to register click here.
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CHRA Pre-Budget Information
In early February, federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland launched a pre-budget consultation with Canadians. CHRA has submitted a letter to the Minister outlining a number of key priorities that CHRA and its partners have identified over the past year, including the need for an urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing strategy, additional investments in community housing supply, and measures to address financialization. CHRA has also requested the opportunity to meet with the Minister to discuss these items in more detail. To read the submission click here.
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MNPHA Lunch and Learn: Security and Technology to protect tenant information and keep your organization secure
Are you protecting your tenant data? What is your greatest security risk? Is the Wi-Fi in your facility exposing you to risk? Are your older computer systems actually putting you at risk? These questions and more will be answered in this info session on March 8!
Andrew Behnke, Risk Advisory Consultant from Fort Group Chartered Professional Accountants, is joining us. He will be briefly touching on the concept of IT Risk Management, as well as sharing practical steps to manage your risk in various areas that are easy and cost-effective to implement. Andrew has over 20 years of experience in helping clients with understanding risk in all facets of business. The session will run from 12pm to 1pm, with time for a Q&A.
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New Grants Available to Support Accessibility Projects for Manitoba Non-Profits
The Manitoba government is calling for applications for grants of up to $50,000 from the Manitoba Accessibility Fund (MAF) for organizations that will promote accessibility and remove barriers for people with disabilities. Application intake will begin March 1 and projects must fulfill one of three objectives including:
- raising awareness about the prevention and removal of barriers;
- developing tools, resources and training to support compliance with legislated standards; or
- removing barriers to information and communications electronically in print and in person.
The Manitoba Accessibility Fund, managed by the Winnipeg Foundation, was launched in 2021 with a $20 million investment. The fund promotes increased compliance with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, which became law in 2013 to ensure accessibility in important areas of everyday life. For more information on accessibility in Manitoba and the new grant funding, visit www.accessibilitymb.ca. The application deadline is April 15.
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University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation Building Superintendent Position
The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation (UWCRC 2.0 Inc.) is a non-profit corporation that contributes to the renewal of Downtown Winnipeg with a focus on recognizing and responding to affordable housing needs, challenges and opportunities for partnerships that create a thriving and sustainable urban community. UWCRC 2.0 Inc. is searching for a Building Superintendent to contribute to a variety of day-to-day tasks related to building and mechanical operations within their multi-family residential and commercial portfolio. The ideal candidate is self-motivated and detail-oriented, and will work independently and effectively as a team member in a fast-paced environment, where customer service is of primary importance.
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membership@mnpha.com I (204)797-6746 ext.3
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