December 2020 Newsletter
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Request for Proposals: Supportive Recovery Housing: Rural and Northern Manitoba

Shared Health invites proposals to develop up to 30 new supportive recovery housing (SRH) units in rural and/or Northern Manitoba for individuals who have completed primary substance use and addiction treatment, but require housing for six to 24 months in order to transition back to community living.

Funding is up to $25,000 per unit capital grant plus operating funds.
Expectations include:
  • Self-contained apartment or bedroom within a group living housing space, with shared living and kitchen space
  • Supports including basic supportive counselling and case management, service navigation and referrals, daily living skills, skill acquisition to assist with gaining employment, further education and/or community service
  • Rent charged in alignment with Employment and Income Assistance rates
 
RFP closing date is December 21, 2020 
 
Rapid Housing Initiative: Projects Stream

The initiative provides capital contributions to expedite the delivery of affordable housing. The RHI will:
  • Support the creation of up to 3,000 new permanent affordable housing units across Canada
  • Cover the construction of modular housing, as well as the acquisition of land, and the conversion/rehabilitation of existing buildings to affordable housing
  • Aim to commit all funds before March 31, 2021, and ensure housing is available within 12 months of agreements

Apply by December 31, 2020.

Applications will be reviewed by January 31, 2021. CMHC will aim to distribute all funds before March 31, 2021 where possible.


Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)

Canadian businesses, non-profit organizations, or charities who have seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their commercial rent or property expenses.

This subsidy will provide payments directly to qualifying renters and property owners, without requiring the participation of landlords.

If you are eligible for the base subsidy, you may also be eligible for lockdown support if your business location is significantly affected by a public health order for a week or more.

Details can be found on CRA’s website.
There may be other funding your organization qualifies for from the Provincial or Federal Governments. Check their websites:

Caregiver Wage Support Program: You or Your Employees May be Eligible

The $35 million Caregiver Wage Support Program provides a $5 per hour wage supplement to eligible front-line workers that provide direct patient or residential care to vulnerable Manitobans, between November 1, 2020 and January 10, 2021.

To be eligible for this program, applicants must meet all of the criteria:
  • Earn a regular wage rate of less than $25 per hour excluding shift premiums and overtime rates.
  • Work in one or more of the following positions: Health care aide or equivalent; Housekeeping staff; House Supervisor; Direct service worker; Youth Care Worker/Practitioner; Recreation worker
  • Work in one or more of the following facilities: Child and Family Services (CFS) Group Home; Community Living disABILITY Services (CLDS) shift-staffed group home or 24/7 cluster living arrangement; Emergency Placement Resources shelter; Family violence prevention shelter; Homeless shelter; Personal care home; Retirement residence; Supportive housing residence

Application Intake 1: December 7, 2020 to December 14, 2020

Regional Energy Coach
Have you considered applying to the FCM Green Municipal Fund for an energy retrofit/energy efficiency in a new development, but don't know where to start?
The Community Housing Transformation Centre now has Regional Energy Coaches who can connect you with energy sector resources and capacity-building tools. They can support the preparation of a successful application for the Sustainable Affordable Housing fund.

SECTOR TRANSFORMATION
Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre Housing in Swan River

As you are no doubt aware, Manitoba Housing is in the process of transitioning from direct management of the projects that it owns to the role of funder / regulator. Some non-profits have purchased buildings outright and others have entered into sponsor management agreements. We will be highlighting case studies of these non-profits each month.

The Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre Housing Corporation (ECFC Housing) in Swan River is a non-profit that started managing Manitoba Housing’s portfolio in their region as of September 1. Originally, they were to start managing on April 1, but with the outbreak of Covid, that date had to be postponed.

ECFC Housing established in 1985, previously owned 59 units of housing for Indigenous persons and operated a 26-unit complex under an existing Sponsor Managed Agreement. They have now taken on 299 additional units, some as far as an hour and a half away. Taking on this number of units meant they had to hire additional staff as well as relocate their office to accommodate the staffing increase.

Manitoba Housing approached the ECFC Housing to see if they would be prepared to take on management of the units and when asked why they would take on such a daunting initiative, Paula Jones, Housing Manager, said “it is an excellent opportunity for growth in our community, creating jobs and capacity to strengthen tenant relations.” Their Board asked themselves “if not us then who?” Their Board wanted to ensure that the units remained in the non-profit sector as it was plausible that social housing may end up managed by for-profit businesses.

While the transition to management wasn’t without its stumbling blocks, Paula reports that tenants are very happy with their new management and express appreciation at seeing the staff out at the buildings, visiting tenants. When asked whether they would consider taking on more units if appropriate, Paula hesitated a moment then said, “yes if we had a checklist of what we need and are provided all requested information in advance.”

MNPHA is currently working with non-profit housing providers who need resources to help them to take on management or ownership of Manitoba Housing units. We strongly believe that in order to maintain affordability, the buildings must remain in the non-profit sector. MNPHA has developed resources and hired Cheryl Krostewitz to lead its Transformation Team in order to support the non-profit housing community in this time of transformation.

One resource that has already been developed is a comprehensive checklist of what kind of information a non-profit housing provider needs to have before it commits to taking on any units. If you are a non-profit housing provider thinking about taking on more management / ownership but aren’t sure where to start, or if you have already done so, we’d love to hear your “lessons learned” so we can help others.

Please contact Cheryl at 204-318-6114 or by email at transformation@mnpha.com. 
MNPHA MEMBERS
Welcome to MNPHA's Newest Members

Associate Members:
  • Jubilee Fund: The Jubilee Fund provides loan guarantees and bridge financing to non-profit organizations and social enterprises, which are then used for community-based projects that reduce poverty and financial exclusion.

Housing Provider Members:
  • Anicinabe Housing Corporation (Dauphin, MB)

Individual Members:
  • Garry Marshall
  • Michael Kelsch
MNPHA EVENTS
The course is online, and includes video presentations, readings, and activities that participants complete on their own time. The three modules, Governance, Working with the ED/Management, and Effective Organization, take approximately 4-5 hours in total to work through.

Participants will receive a certificate of completion after reviewing all of the material and completing the activities.
Building Partnerships Full Conference Registration closes December 14

Registration for the Building Partnerships Conference is open until December 14 - those who register for the full event at that time receive video links to the sessions held in November. After that, you can still register for individual series or sessions. Registration rates start from $30/session.

Session 4: How COVID-19 Impacts Mental Health and Well-Being
December 8, 2020 11:30am - 12:30pm

This session features a discussion between Melissa Martin from the Winnipeg Free Press and Robyn Priest of Live Your Truth on isolation and its impacts on tenants, particularly tenants with mental health challenges.

Watch the video where Robyn Priest discusses what Session 4 is all about
Session 5: Accessing Mental Health Supports for Tenants
December 15, 2020 11:30am - 1:00pm
Do you have challenges supporting tenants with mental health resources that you would like help with?
This interactive workshop will feature speakers with different approaches to
housing management and tenant supports.
They will discuss how they work with tenants, then in small groups will help brainstorm steps to resolving scenarios that participants bring.
CONFERENCE SPONSORS
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
Wellness Resources: Save time for Exercise

For most of us, screen time has significantly increased our sitting time. In 2018, an American Cancer Society 21-year study of 127,554 people linked prolonged sitting time with a higher risk of death from all causes, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, lung, liver and digestive diseases, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Let this be a driving factor in reducing your sitting and fitting in some daily exercise. Finding time for fitness activities can be challenging for those of us with work and family demands. First, consider the rewards of regular exercise: protecting your health and feeling your best. Second, make exercise a priority. Third, don’t make excuses with every little interruption that comes along.

Break it up. If you can’t always fit in a 30-minute workout, shorter bursts of physical activity can count toward the overall goal of at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity. Limit sedentary time to eight hours or less. Make it a habit.

Read the full Body Bulletin here

Body Bulletin and other wellness resources are sent monthly to members of MNPHA's Group Employee Benefits plan People Corporation. Learn more about the plan here
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has released: Building Back Better Together: Municipal Recommendations for Canada’s Post-Covid Recovery”. It includes a number of recommendations related to ending and preventing homelessness, and ensuring housing affordability and security.

These recommendations include:
  • launch a non-market housing construction program ($15b with $3.3b targeted to Indigenous housing)
  • Enable community housing providers to acquire existing low-rent market rental properties ($585m)
  • Protect and improve social/affordable housing by investing an additional $600 million over 4–5 years through the Green Municipal Fund’s Sustainable Affordable Housing initiative

Read all their recommendations here
PICTURE OF THE MONTH
November Picture of the Month: Building Partnerships Conference

Building Partnerships just isn't the same without seeing all of our members and talking housing with you for two days straight.

But that doesn't mean we don't get a chance to network and meet each other. Each month has a workshop-oriented session with as much networking as Zoom can allow.
Picture of the Month Feature! MNPHA's team has seen all the interesting, fun, and innovative things you do to improve the lives of tenants, your staff teams, and the communities around you.

"Pictures of the Month" - is a way to share this regularly so members can learn from each other. No idea is too simple or too complex. If you are doing something you think should be shared with your colleagues in the non-profit housing sector, send a photo and brief description to us by December 31 to be included in the January newsletter.
OPPORTUNITIES BOARD
Jubilee Fund: Executive Director
Launched in 2000, The Jubilee Fund Inc. provides loans and loan guarantees to not-for-profit organizations, and business, (co-operatives and social enterprises) that are unable to get traditional financing for community-based projects that reduce poverty, financial exclusion and have a positive social impact in Manitoba. The Jubilee Fund is a registered Canadian non-profit charity.

The successful candidate will provide leadership and strategic direction to achieve the organization’s mission, vision and values. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization, including strategic planning, operational management, financial management, human resource management and stakeholder relations.

Apply by December 4: See the full job description for details

Winnipeg Housing: Property Manager
Reports to: Director of Housing Services
Salary: $23.38 hourly (Collective Agreement); comprehensive group benefits package
Hours: 35 hours per week; no on call responsibilities

The Property Manager is responsible for the management and leasing of an assigned affordable, residential housing portfolio. The incumbent is to ensure maximum occupancy and prompt collection of rents in addition to each project’s compliance with operating agreements, leasing policies and general guidelines.

Duties & Responsibilities:
The following listing is not exhaustive but does highlight some of the positions main responsibilities:
  • Reviewing and approving leasing applications
  • Income testing and rent calculations for both new and renewing tenants
  • Managing unit turnovers and all leasing functions
  • Supervising and coordinating property caretakers and trades
  • Tenant receivables and collections
  • Taking and coordinating minor maintenance requests
  • Evictions

Apply by December 4, View the full job description for details.

Share your Opportunity
Did you know that MNPHA's job postings are the most "clicked" item in our newsletter?
Do you have a position you are trying to fill in your organization? MNPHA is always accepting job and volunteer postings for display on our website.

The opportunities Board is located under the Resources tab on the MNPHA website.

To have your position added to the board, send the pertinent information to: