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What is CHRA Pre-Congress?
Examine a cutting-edge issue related to housing and homelessness in greater depth than regular Congress sessions permit. Chosen for its timeliness, the selected theme is the sole focus of this full-day event.
Finding the Money, Renewing the Mission:
Social Finance, Social Enterprise & Affordable Housing
Canada’s affordable housing sector is continually being asked to do more with less. Fewer and less predictable public dollars while working with population groups with increasingly complex needs has triggered a range of strategic responses from the sector. The housing sector has become an entrepreneurial one, with housing and support service providers engaging in social enterprises and seeking out or initiating finance models with a deeper understanding of what is meant by return on investment. This is happening so that housing missions are supported, but also so that those missions are renewed by finding ways to support those in need of housing, but not only housing.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to be part of the global re-think on how investment and enterprise can be harnessed to support social missions, including that which is at the heart of our communities - housing.
Are you just starting a career in housing?
Do you work for a housing-focused organization, but don’t have formal training in housing policy?
Could your work be improved by a better understanding of the fundamentals and history of housing policy development in Canada?
If so, this one-day course is for you; it is specifically designed as a professional development course to help to build your foundation or to fill in the gaps.
This condensed, one-day course will be held immediately prior to CHRA Congress in St. John's Newfoundland & Labrador on May 1, 2012.
The course will provide an overview of and examine:
- housing policy, programs and institutional arrangements;
- the non-housing outcomes of housing policy;
- the rationale for housing policy;
- the constitutional context and changing role of government levels;
- the nature of housing markets and housing need;
- policy and program alternatives used in Canada and their outcomes; and
- how housing policy relates to urban & neighbourhood, social and economic policy.
Taught by Steve Pomeroy, one of Canada’s leading housing policy research experts and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Ottawa, this professional development opportunity – held in conjunction with CHRA Congress 2012 - is not to be missed!
fees:
The cost to attend is $250 per person.
please note: registration is very limited and expected to sell out. if you are interested, please register as soon as possible so that you are guaranteed a place.
Click here to register.
This informal gathering is the perfect setting to catch up with old friends before Congress kicks off. From 7:30 – 7:45 the Newfoundland Duo will be performing. Featuring the vocal talents of Shelley Neville and Peter Halley, Newfoundland, Celtic and contemporary music selections will be played by both performers, accompanied by Peter on the piano and interjected with humor and fun.
All Emerging Professional delegates are invited to attend this event. Come and get to know other young housing professionals from across the country in advance of Congress.
Details to come.
While many parts of the country are struggling with job losses and decreased economic activity, resource extraction in some provincial economies has meant that these provinces have continued to boom, even if more slowly than in years past. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland represent Canada’s fastest growing economies. At the same time, while all three provinces have no doubt benefitted from this growth, they have equally been faced with rising housing costs and increased homelessness. All have had to be creative and determined in responding to ‘the downside of up’, in a way that makes sense within their jurisdiction. Come and hear how economic growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland has impacted affordable housing and homelessness issues in their respective communities, as well as the successful strategies and actions that have been developed as a result.
speakers:
Len Simms was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation in February 2005. A native of Howley on the province’s west coast, he was raised in Corner Brook and is a long time resident of Grand Falls-Windsor. From 1979-1995 Mr. Simms served as MHA, Grand Falls, NL.
Mr. Simms has a long and distinguished career in public service. From 1975-1979 Mr. Simms served as Executive Assistant to Premier Frank Moores, Premier Brian Peckford and John Lundrigan, Minister of Rural Development. From 1979-1982 he served as Speaker of the Legislature and from 1982-1989 he served as provincial cabinet minister in the portfolios of Government House Leader, Culture, Recreation & Youth, Forest Resources & Lands, Minister Responsible for the 400th Anniversary Celebrations & Royal Visit, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Minister of Development, President of the Executive Council and President of Treasury Board. He was elected Leader of the Provincial Progressive Conservative Party and Opposition Leader from 1991-1995. When he retired from politics in 1995, Mr. Simms started his own training company. From January 2002-November 2003 Mr. Simms was the Senior Advisor/Strategist to Mr. Danny Williams, Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Simms has an extensive background in serving with community groups such as past national president of the Kinsmen Clubs of Canada and presently sits as Provincial Chair of the Advisory Board for the Children’s Wish Foundation in Newfoundland Labrador.
Paul Whittaker was appointed Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs in October 2011. Paul served as Deputy Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations for three years prior to that.
His career with the Government of Alberta began in 1983 when he joined the Ministry of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs.
During his Government of Alberta career, he has also worked for Alberta Health and Wellness and served as Deputy Secretary to Cabinet and Deputy Clerk of Executive Council.
Paul was born in Manchester, UK, and holds a BA(Honours) in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University and Masters in Public Administration from Queen’s University.
He currently resides in Sherwood Park, Alberta with his wife Heather. They have a son and daughter.
Don Allen
Assistant Deputy Minister, Housing, Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services
President, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation
Don grew up in Manitoba, but has called Saskatchewan home since 1991. He is a Certified Management Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration degree. He has worked in a number of industries in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario, holding positions with Dominion Bridge, USF WaterGroup and Redhead Equipment.
After almost 25 years in the private sector, Don joined the Saskatchewan Government in 2001 as the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer for the Ministry of Social Services. Don currently serves at the Assistant Deputy Minister of Social Services’ Housing Division and is the President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. He is a strong advocate for the development and provision of appropriate, efficient, and financially sustainable housing for all the citizens of the province. He works closely with senior management, staff, key clients and stakeholders to help meet the need for housing in the province through partnerships with the entire housing system.
Don lives in Regina and is married with two grown sons.
This workshop confirms the power of strategic vision and collaboration, particularly with non-traditional partners, in leveraging dollars for housing and homelessness. The story shared at this workshop is that of the Halifax-based Partners in Affordable Housing Taskforce.
In collaboration with a small group of service providers, researchers and private partners, the Halifax-based Community Action (CAH) developed the Partners in Affordable Housing Taskforce. This group of somewhat unusual suspects created a strategic analysis of the annual costs of an overreliance on shelter use and, instead, made the case for supportive housing with appropriate financial and human supports to guarantee housing success. The Taskforce shared their presentation and analysis with relevant private and public partners, resulting in new investments in supportive housing, including $400,000 from the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services to hire seven new housing workers to help shelter users transition into housing. Learn why and how some unusual partners came together and made a successful case for housing in their community of Halifax.
speakers
Jeremy Jackson joined Killam Properties in November 2005 as Vice President, Marketing and Sales. Jeremy has over 20 years of sales and market management experience. Prior to joining Killam, Jeremy had spent 10 years with Aliant Telecom in various managerial positions. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University and an MBA from St. Mary's University. Aside from his involvement on numerous affordable housing committees, JJ is the current President of the Investment Property Owners Association of Nova Scotia (IPOANS) and is also the Club President and a coach for the West End Steelers Youth Basketball Club in Halifax. JJ also has rugby roots in St John’s, Newfoundland, having played with the Swilers and the Provincial Senior Men’s team back in 1986. He’s married to a Corner Brooker, Paula, and they have a 17 year old daughter, Meaghan.
Claudia Jahn’s professional experience started in Berlin, Germany in the 80’s working in housing development and property management in the private and non profit sector. After moving to Nova Scotia in 1993, during her first research project involving single mothers in rural Nova Scotia, she found her passion for finding solutions to ending homelessness.
Since 2005 Claudia has been the Program Director of Community Action on Homelessness (CAH) in Halifax were she aims to develop and strengthen partnerships with key sectors and broaden the housing policy debate. She is currently a co-investigator of a HarmReduction within Mainstream Services research study with Dalhousie University, is a co-founder of the Nova Scotia Housing & Homelessness Network, an executive board member of the North End United Housing Co-op, the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS), the Creighton/Gerrish Development Association, and is the Chairperson of the Salvation Army Community Council.
This workshop will tell the story of Clover Place, which is a supported housing complex owned and operated by Pacifica Housing in Victoria, BC. Tenant population is Victoria's "hardest to house" and staff are onsite staff 24-7. The complex was transformed from an office building into 18 units of affordable housing, with support for the purchase from numerous partners.
The session will outline key challenges and successes of Clover Place from construction through to occupancy/operation including reactions from neighbours, relationship with police, tenant & staff feedback and ongoing fundraising efforts to ensure sustainability. The presentation will also highlight the building's unique design features and how each of the 180 square foot self contained units provide all the necessary amenities.
Pacifica Housing is a non-profit charitable organization which operates 30 complexes in Victoria and Nanaimo, BC that provide affordable housing for low-income families and people with disabilities, as well as supported housing. Pacifica Housing also provides advocacy and referral services.
Speakers:
Karyn French is Executive Director of Pacifica Housing Advisory Association in Victoria and also serves as Board Chair for BC Non-Profit Housing Association . She has worked and volunteered in the public and non-profit sectors in BC and Washington State. Her career has focused on services and housing for seniors, people with disabilities, families and homeless individuals. Prior to working in the not-for-profit sector, Karyn attended the University of Alberta and gained valuable skills working in the field of Library Science, Conference Planning and Banking.
Karyn is proud to be a fourth generation Victorian with strong community roots.
Nancy Gnaedinger, whose education is in sociology and psychology, has designed and conducted social research on aging, housing and homelessness for 25+ years and has dozens of publications. Her clients include Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Veterans Affairs Canada, the governments of British Columbia, Alberta and Yukon, and more. She has also volunteered for numerous non-profit groups including the Alzheimer Society and the Canadian Association on Gerontology and Pacifica Housing.
In Ontario, centralized waiting lists for social housing have been in place since 2002. In Ottawa, the centralized process for applications was in place long before. It was developed by housing providers and community advocacy agencies in order to make it easier for potential tenants to apply for subsidized housing.
This session will provide you with information about the strengths of a centralized waiting list system and how to reach out in your community to gain support and move towards a shared vision to enable a centralized system. This session will also provide a practical overview of the data applications required for this kind of system.
Come and learn how the centralized social housing wait list system was created, and how your community may be able to benefit from something similar by learning from experience
speaker
Ishbel Solvason-Wiebe is the Executive Director of The Social Housing Registry in Ottawa. She was hired to operationalize an access system for applicants in Ottawa fourteen years ago.
Ishbel also is the current co-chair of the Social Housing Co-ordinated Access Network of Ontario. In 2005, she was the recipient of the Ontario Non Profit Housing Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award.
Nunatsiavut, which means ‘our beautiful land' in Inuttitut, is the homeland of Labrador Inuit within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the first Inuit region in Canada to achieve self-government. Nunatsiavut communities are rapidly growing and housing development is a priority for local Inuit community governments. The Inuit Health Survey recently estimated that 29% of Nunatsiavut children live in a crowded house, 38% live in a house needing major repair, and 34% lived in a house with mould. Additionally, much of the infrastructure historically built in Nunatsiavut was constructed according to Newfoundland standards and practices that do not necessarily accommodate the harsh climate and shifting ground conditions of a subarctic environment, nor the Inuit culture and traditional way of life. Attend this session to learn first-hand about housing conditions and challenges in Nunatsiavut communities and how the Nunatsiavut Government and Inuit community governments are responding with a broad-based sustainability plan to design and build healthy homes.
speakers:
Trevor Bell
Professor, Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Tom Sheldon
Director, Environment Division, Nunatsiavut Government
This session will describe how Raising the Roof – a national charity focused on homelessness - has cultivated creative partnerships with a variety of non-traditional stakeholders, including major corporations, media, advertising agencies and even celebrities! Examples from the organization’s national Toque Campaign, its public education initiatives and its popular comedy fundraisers will be used to illustrate how Raising the Roof has worked successfully with partners outside ‘the sector’ – including RBC (Royal Bank of Canada), Intact Financial Corporation, Global Television and Leo Burnett Canada – to leverage media attention, funding and volunteer support for long-term solutions to homelessness.
speakers:
Maureen Gallagher has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate fundraising, sponsorship, events and media relations within the non-profit sector. During that time, she has developed innovative, mutually rewarding partnerships with businesses, corporations, advertising agencies and media outlets around charitable causes and social issues.
Maureen is currently Director of Partnership Development with Raising the Roof, where she has engaged the private sector in the issue of homelessness through initiatives such as the Toque Campaign, Youthworks and The Hidden Homeless public education campaign. Previously, Maureen worked as Marketing Manager for the City of Toronto’s Special Events Department and as Event Manager with The Easter Seal Society of Ontario.
Maureen lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.
Sean Gadon has been active in local, provincial and national housing and homeless advocacy for more than 30 years, and is currently Director of Affordable Housing for the city of Toronto. Deeply committed to the cause of providing decent and affordable housing for all Canadians, he has served as senior advisor to three Toronto mayors and Executive Assistant to two Ontario housing ministers. He has also coordinated the development of over 2000 non-profit homes for the Labour Council of Metropolitan Toronto and York Region.
In his ‘spare’ time, Sean volunteers as President of Raising the Roof – a national charity founded in 1997 to raise awareness and support long-term solutions to homelessness.
During Sean's tenure, Raising the Roof has developed many successful and innovative partnerships with the private sector through fundraising and employee engagement initiatives, including its high-profile national Toque Tuesday campaign. The organization has also worked with media and communications partners to strengthen its role in public education on the issue of homelessness.
A native and long-time resident of Toronto, Sean has strong family roots in the West Coast of Newfoundland.
In recent years, the Province of Manitoba has done what many other jurisdictions aim to do; they have significantly increased immigration levels. In fact, over 15,000 immigrants arrived in Manitoba in 2010, and 20,000 arrivals per year over the next 10 years is projected, with many newcomers destined for Winnipeg. This is the highest per capita immigration rate of any province or territory. While the benefits of immigration are many, the housing challenges posed by large numbers of newcomers in a city that hasn’t traditionally attracted many newcomers are significant. Manitoba Housing has worked closely with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM) to develop appropriate transitional housing to support newcomers arriving in Winnipeg, many directly from conflict zones or refugee camps. Our speakers will share the lessons they have learned in how to meet the housing needs of this diverse population group.
speakers:
Dorota Blumczynska is the Executive Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc (IRCOM).
Dorota has a double major in Business Administration and English from the University of Winnipeg and a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Manitoba.
Before becoming the Executive Director, Dorota coordinated IRCOM’s Asset Building Program as well as the Newcomer Literacy Initiative – a neighbourhood adult EAL program. Prior to joining IRCOM in 2007, she spent nearly five years working for one of Canada’s major financial institutions, where she gained invaluable financial management and banking experience.
Dorota serves in a variety of volunteer capacities which have strengthened IRCOM’s partnerships and work towards realizing its strategic objectives, including as the chair of the Downtown Parent-Child Coalition and as a board member of the Manitoba Immigrant and Refugee Settlement Sector Association.
Darrell Jones has worked in the social and affordable housing field since 1981. Starting with Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, Darrell held positions providing him with exposure
to all aspects of housing program delivery, and social and affordable housing management. He was Assistant Deputy Minister of Housing and Central Administration with the Saskatchewan Department of Social Services and President and
CEO of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation from 2001 through to 2008.
In 2008, Darrell moved to Manitoba and is currently the CEO of Manitoba Housing.
Darrell is engaged in renewal of the Housing Corporation, and ensuring the delivery and management of social and affordable housing. Darrell has extensive experience in the development of strong working relationships with community groups, housing authorities, the private sector and other levels of government.
This lunch offers the opportunity to network with colleagues from within your own region.
The resolutions workshop precedes the AGM in order to assist movers of resolutions in crafting appropriate language and calls for action. Resolutions will not be accepted from the floor during the AGM; so, apart from submitting a resolution in advance of Congress, the resolutions workshop is the only other opportunity to submit resolutions for consideration at the AGM. While the resolutions workshop is open to all delegates, only CHRA members can submit resolutions.
Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) and Options Bytown (OB) recently partnered and expanded their vision to convert a social housing building into supportive housing in Ottawa, Ontario. This workshop will discuss what they were trying to accomplish, how they got it done and some of the lessons they learned. Find out how CCOC, a social housing provider, and OB, a supportive housing provider, were able to combine their missions and enhance their core business to help address the need for more supportive housing units, allowing CCOC find a better purpose for a troubled rooming house and for OB to expand its programs and create new opportunities to assist homeless women in their transition into permanent housing and employment. The comprehensive process required to successfully carry out the conversion will be examined, including: agreeing on a shared vision, the partnership agreement, financing and daily operations.
speakers:
Ray Sullivan is the Executive Director of Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC), a mixed-income private non-profit with 1500 units in downtown Ottawa. CCOC tries to recognize what it does best and what work is best left to others; leading it to form partnerships with many community agencies that provide support to many different groups of CCOC tenants.
Lorraine Bentley has a Masters degree in Urban Planning from the University of Waterloo and specializes in housing and social planning. She has both Canadian and international experience in researching, planning and implementing housing and community support services for the most vulnerable populations. She is the Executive Director of Options Bytown Non-Profit Housing Corporation, in Ottawa, an organization that provides housing and on-site support services to men and women with a history of homelessness, addictions and mental illness. Options Bytown serves a population that comes from shelters, institutions, and the streets.
She believes that access to housing and services is a key component of social inclusion for people with special needs. Ms. Bentley serves on many city-wide forums and coalitions that deal with housing and homelessness and is the chair of Housing Plus: The Ottawa Supportive Housing Network.
Come along for an informative tour of new and long standing social housing in Newfoundland’s oldest city, St. John’s. This tour will include visits to housing projects that feature a diverse range of social support options; Marguerite’s Place - a supportive living program for women over 30 who have lived difficult lives; Buckmaster’s Circle Community Centre – a Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation owned community centre in the heart of Newfoundland’s largest social housing neighbourhood; and two recently redeveloped and reconfigured smaller family homes.
Mode of transportation: Bus
Choices for Youth is a non-profit, charitable, community-based agency that provides housing and lifestyle development supports to youth in the St. John’s metro area. The organization was founded in 1990 as a result of an identified need among youth, the community and government to have an empowerment-based program available to youth for whom ‘home’ was not an option. Come and join us for a tour of Choices' programs and facilities. Programming highlights will include information pertaining to seven core program areas: Shelter for Young Men, Transitional Housing Program, Supportive Housing Program, Train for Trades, Moving Forward, Outreach and Youth Engagement, and the Lilly.
Mode of transportation: Bus
Stops on this tour will include the Wiseman Centre and Shawnadithit Shelter (at St. John's Native Friendship Centre) and Iris Kirby House.
The Wiseman Centre and St. John's Native Friendship Centre will share their stories of how they have reformulated their services to include not only emergency housing, but also supportive housing. While once a drop-in centre, the St. John's Native Friendship Centre has successfully transitioned to a community service organization with diverse programming and a social enterprise agenda focusing on the needs of the urban Aboriginal population of St. John’s. While once a 40 bed shelter, the Wiseman Centre was transformed in 2007 through the development of 10 new supportive housing units and program to assist men in achieving independence, in addition to a smaller complement of shelter beds.
Iris Kirby House, operational for 30 years, continues to be a leader in addressing the needs of women and their children who are victims of family violence. They offer 37 emergency shelter beds, as well as 16 second stage housing units, including a communal living property. Their staff will discuss their approach, as well as the growth in demand for their services, and how programming and public awareness has increased as a result.
Mode of transportation: Bus
***please note this will be a moderately challenging walk with a few significant inclines, although the distance and pace will be very reasonable***
This walking tour will take you back in time and guide you through the evolution of public and affordable housing in historic St John’s. Points of interest will include the site of the now long-disappeared central slum, some of the municipal non-profit housing which now occupies some of it, streets of traditional clapboard row housing, a few of the earliest federal-provincial public housing projects in Canada, and some of the sweat equity ‘building’ co-ops which operated in St. John’s for the upwardly mobile middle class in the immediate aftermath of the Second War.
Mode of transportation: Walk
speaker:
Chris Sharpe was born and raised in Ottawa. He is a geographer, with a B.A. (Honours) from Carleton University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He began his teaching career with temporary positions at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario and York University in Toronto. In 1975 he moved to Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s and has been there ever since. In addition to his teaching and research duties, he has served as Head of the Department of Geography (1983-86), Associate and Acting Dean of Graduate Studies (1986-1996) and President of the Canadian Association of Geographers (2004-2006).
He has taught courses from first year to graduate level. His senior undergraduate courses deal with various aspects of historical and contemporary urban geography, and he also teaches the research design and statistics course. His primary research interests are on heritage conservation and the dynamics of townscape change, with primary emphasis on St. John’s.
Join Stella Burry staff for an exciting tour of this organization’s journey from a residential treatment program to a multi-service agency that owns 17 buildings and employs over 125 people. You will follow a path that is symbolic of the journey of recovery that many accessing our programs and services take from counseling, through housing and on to employment. The tour, though the Historic District of old St. John’s, will start at the organization’s flagship residential program, Emmanuel House. From here, you will travel along Military Road to College Square where we will showcase Carew Lodge,our first foray into affordable housing development. From there, you are just a short stroll away from one of the most historic intersections in the City of Legends and our hub of supportive housing units and services located at Rawlins Cross. Once there, you will tour our buildings and get to see first-hand how the organization provides real work opportunities through several of its social enterprises. Learn how training opportunities are made available through the cleaning, renovation and maintenance needs associated with our housing units and buildings. The tour wraps up with a sample of the Hungry Heart Café’s famous scones, part of a menu that has become a favourite among diners in St. John’s as highlighted in Oberon Press’ “Where to Eat in Canada 2011-12”. Finish things off with a tasty treat and tour of our food service training program. Not to be missed!
Mode of transportation: Walk
This tour will focus on a new affordable housing and social enterprise development, as well as innovative supportive housing for persons living with HIV/AIDS in St John’s,
Details to come.
The President of CHRA welcomes all delegates. Catch up with old friends and make new ones while enjoying food and drink. The event that officially kicks off Congress, the President's Reception, is an ideal opportunity to mix and mingle with the movers and shakers of our sector in a positive, lively atmosphere.
St. John’s has more bars and pubs per capita than any other city in Canada and most of them are located on the infamous George Street. Come experience the famous nightlife of downtown St. John’s through a guided pub-crawl, along with a traditional fish n’ chips dinner and Newfoundland entertainment.
Delegates will be transported to the Sundance Saloon/Club One where the traditional Fish n’ Chips dinner that has made St. John’s so famous will be provided while a local act entertains.
Following, the pub-crawl across George Street begins. In three different groups, delegates will travel to 3 different pubs with musicians leading the group to each venue. Entertainment at the pubs will include an Irish Step Dance lesson from local dancer Martin Vallee, a Newfoundland Sing-a-Long with song sheets, and a Newfoundland Screech-In with the infamous Ruby Brace.
Once each group has visited all 3 venues, everyone will meet at Dusk Ultra Lounge for some final entertainment.
Your $75 ticket includes transportation to George Street, Fish n’ Chips pub dinner, entrance to pubs, 2 beverages, Screech-In ceremony, custom Rally bandanas, guides, entertainment on pub-crawl, and local band.
Note: An alternative to fish and chips can be provided upon request.
David Cowans is Group Chief Executive of Places for People, an organisation committed to working to provide aspirational homes and inspirational places in the UK. David has led the transformation of Places for People from a traditional Housing Association into a diverse business which provides a range of products and services to build and manage communities that can prosper and be sustainable in the long term. This includes regeneration services, financial services, affordable childcare, care and support services and a range of options to enable people to access a home whether through outright sale, affordable rent or sale or market rent.
David is a Fellow of the Institute of Housing, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Chartered Director of the Institute of Directors and has an MBA from Birmingham University. He is also an Academician of The Academy of Urbanism and a Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Housing. David is a regular speaker and writer on housing and regeneration issues.
Social housing operating agreements are beginning to expire all across Canada. With over 600,000 households living in social housing, the end of the federal funding associated with the expiry of the agreements necessitates that we understand the exact nature of this challenge and how it can be met. This session will offer two things. First, by highlighting the latest research and unveiling a new assessment tool that social housing providers can use to understand what their situation will be once their agreements expire, the session will enable a more detailed understanding of the challenge. Second, by examining the political context and the roles of all those involved – from different levels of government to the range of social housing providers - this session will hone in on what exactly is needed to ensure that the social housing that supports so many Canadians can continue to do so for generations to come.
speakers:
Shayne Ramsay has been the CEO of BC Housing since May 2000. Shayne was responsible for setting up the Homeowner Protection Office in 1998 and also served as its first CEO. The Homeowner Protection Office has been a branch of BC Housing since April 2010.
Prior to becoming the CEO, Shayne was the Director of Development Services for BC Housing, and the Director of Housing Policy and Program Development with the former Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in B.C.
In addition to his work as CEO, Shayne serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Crown Corporation Employer's Association, an agency that represents human resource issues for the provincial crown corporations in British Columbia.
Shayne has a graduate degree in urban planning from the University of Toronto.
Steve Pomeroy is a housing policy research consultant, based in Ottawa, Canada. After working in municipal and federal government he established Focus Consulting in 1994.
Widely acknowledged as one of the leading housing policy experts in Canada, Steve has over 30 years of experience in housing policy analysis has completed over 100 reports and studies covering issues of socio-economic analysis, homelessness, housing policy and affordable housing financing. He has published in Housing Policy Debate and is the Former Editor of Canadian Housing.
In January 2007 he was appointed as a Senior Research Fellow with the university of Ottawa Centre on Governance and in the Spring of 2010 initiated a new professional development program in the Fundamentals of Housing Policy and Governance through the University of Ottawa Centre for Continuing Education.
Sylvia Patterson, as part of the Senior Management Team for the Community and Health Services Department at the Region, leads the Housing and Long Term Care Branch and is the Assistant General Manager of Housing York Inc., the Region’s non-profit housing corporation.
Responsible for an annual budget exceeding $100 million and over 6000 units of social housing, 2 Long Term Care Homes and a number of community based programs that support and enhance the lives of the most vulnerable in our community.
Sylvia led the development of York’s Housing Supply programs, the development and construction of three (3) emergency shelters, a number of new housing communities and the expansion of community programs to prevent homelessness.
Sylvia is the President of the Board of Directors for ONPHA (Ontario Non-profit Housing Association) and a member of the Board of GLOBE (Green Light on a Better Environment).
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Building great cities and communities relies on good housing policy to address a spectrum of needs and use a variety of tools. Homeownership is one of these tools. Homeownership can help to build healthy neighbourhoods and free up rental units for low income households by creating opportunities for some moderate income households to move out of the rental market into homeownership. Two distinct approaches to affordable homeownership in different markets – Calgary and various cities in Ontario - will be presented, with particular emphasis being placed on achieving sustainability.
speaker:
Joe Deschênes Smith, the Vice President Partnerships at Home Ownership Alternatives (HOA), has the primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining relationships with governments, private and non-profit partners, and managing corporate communications. Joe is moving forward HOA’s strategy to expand both geographically, with new financing structures and with new development partners.
Joe brings experience to HOA from the public and private sectors with policy, operations and financial experience. Most recently Joe was Chief of Staff to the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing where he had a hand in the development of several recent policy initiatives. Joe was previously Director of Research Operations at St Michael’s Hospital and Director of Finance at the Hugh MacMillan Rehab Centre.
Tara Cooney, Sales Lead/Manager
Attainable Homes Calgary Corporation
Youth are one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. This is largely due to uncoordinated systems, including the child welfare and juvenile corrections systems, which lack proactive, linked interventions. As a result, they are systems that often exit young people into homelessness. Inadequate funding for the development of appropriate housing options also factors significantly.
Specific responses for young people who are homeless are essential because the causes and conditions of homelessness for youth are often distinct from those that define adult homelessness. Interventions must recognize the vulnerability of young people while they are homeless, as they are more likely to experience abuse and exploitation.
This session will examine the current state of knowledge on youth homelessness, as well as the promising practices and partnerships linking housing and homelessness that point to the way forward. While both the Canadian and Australian experiences will be shared, the Australian successes to-date may provide some new ideas for those currently working to close the door on youth homelessness in their communities.
speakers:
Stephen Gaetz is a Canadian researcher committed to making research on homelessness relevant to policy and program development. His research on homeless youth has focused on their economic strategies, health, education and legal and justice issues, and more recently, he has focused his attention on the Canadian response to homelessness. He led Canada’s first national research conference on homelessness at York University in 2005. Professor Gaetz is the director of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network and the Homeless Hub (http://www.homelesshub.ca) a clearing house for homelessness research.
Rachel Gray is the Director of National Initiatives Program at Eva’s Initiatives. The National Initiatives Program supportscommunity agencies working with homeless and at-risk youth in Canada by sharing program materials and experience; and by working collaboratively with partners in the sector.
Narelle Clay is from New South Wales (NSW) in Australia and has been a service provider and advocate in the community services industry including the homelessness area for twenty seven years.
She is the National Chairperson of Homelessness Australia, a Member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness and the Chief Executive Officer of Southern Youth and Family Services which provides services in the Southern and Central Southern part of NSW as well as one National Program.
She is also the President of the Australian Services Union (ASU) NSW and has been actively involved in the recent successful legal case to win pay equity for women in the community services industry.
Narelle is well known in her field and more broadly for her activism and commitment to seek social justice, and her endless energy to challenge but also work with all sides of Government to make changes. She is best known to most as people strong, passionate and committed.
Narelle's Member to the Order of Australia Award (AM) is for "Distinguished service to the community through social justice advocacy and the provision of accommodation, housing and support for homeless people especially young people."
Narelle has a long and credible history in community development, advocacy, lobbying and representing the views of the community. She was the first Independent Chairperson of the Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisations (AFHO now HA), and was formerly the Chairperson of the National Youth Coalition of Housing (NYCH) and a Member of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Homelessness (CACH) and on Housing (MACHA), among others.
Michael Coffrey has been an advocate and activist for young people experiencing homelessness in Australia for more than twenty plus years. He has worked in public policy, campaigns, research and at a practical level has managed a number of youth homelessness services through Yfoundations. For the last ten years Michael has been the Chief Executive Officer of the youth homelessness peak in New South Wales (NSW), Yfoundations. He is also the Chair of the National Youth Coalition for Housing, the Secretary of Homelessness Australia and on the Board of NCOSS, as well as countless other working groups and committees related to youth homelessness. Michael has been invited to present at a number of international forums including the National Alliance for Ending Homelessness Conference in Washington DC in 2011. As well as his work with Yfoundations, he has worked for Shelter NSW the Australian Services Union and as a lecturer at UTS and Macquarie University. Using his spare time, Michael has just completed his PhD and is an internationally renowned musician/artist.
CHRA is Canada’s connection to the housing world beyond the Canadian borders. In this session, you’ll hear from housing leaders from the United States and the Netherlands who will discuss the nature of the housing challenges in their respective countries, as well as the innovative solutions being spearheaded in response. In the United States, while much is known about the housing crisis which has led to significant rates of foreclosure, less is known about the efforts being spearheaded by the affordable housing sector to mitigate the negative impacts of the crisis. The connection of the affordable housing sector to the broader housing crisis in the U.S will be discussed, as will the changing landscape of American social housing and funding programs. In the Netherlands, social housing represents a far larger proportion of all housing than it does in Canada or the United States. We will hear how this came to be, and how the social housing sector is faring in the wake of the European financial crisis.
speakers:
Elizabeth “Betsy” Morris is principal of E.M.Advisors. She brings more than 30 years of experience to her nonprofit and government clients, consulting in housing policy, community development program design, and organization development. For 14 years, she was President and CEO of the San Diego Housing Commission, an innovative public agency with a portfolio of complex housing finance and policy programs that yielded development of more than 20,000 housing opportunities. Ms. Morris has been an active leader in the (U.S.) National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, received numerous honors recognizing her service and serves on several local nonprofit boards.
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Gerrit Teunis studied Housing at the Technical University of Delft and Politics at the Free University of Amsterdam. He is Chief Executive at Housing Association Beter Wonen Vechtdal in Hardenberg, which owns about 3,700 properties. Through the years this housing association hosted network meetings with British and German Housing Associations.
Gerrit is focused on achieving positive changes in society. He is the chairman of the board of commissioners of non-profit organisations: SURPLUS (provides work and education to homeless and low-income people at the city of Enschede) and WINNERS (improving living conditions of underprivileged inhabitants of the city of Zwolle).
During his career Gerrit was employed at the Council of the cities of Zwolle and Almere, at the Dutch equivalent of NAHRO and at Housing Associations in the cities Enschede and in Zandvoort. He also was an elected member of the council of his hometown, the city of Zwolle and wrote a book in 2010 on his experiences in council, ‘Dreams, ambitions, politics’. Gerrit also recently finished another book ‘Ghosts don’t live in houses’.
The CMHC Awards Luncheon honours the tremendous contributions made by those who work in affordable housing and homelessness toward the improvement of their own communities and Canada as a whole.
In recent years we have seen a renewed interest in poverty reduction both within Canada and internationally. The emergence of a renewed focus on poverty reflects the reality of consistently high levels of poverty and the widening income gap between those with the highest and lowest income levels. Within Canada, several provinces and territories have adopted and had some success with poverty reduction strategies. They reflect a new view of poverty which is not framed by one sector and not only related to income, but, rather, view the reasons for and consequences of poverty as multi-faceted and connected. In this way, housing and homelessness factor into these different strategies in unique and important ways, acknowledging that housing is a necessary foundation from which other issues linked to poverty, such as educational attainment, employment and improved health, can be addressed.
This session will look at the housing and homelessness components of provincial poverty reduction strategies in Newfoundland & Labrador, Québec and New Brunswick.
speakers
Bill MacKenzie is the Executive Director of Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance for the New Brunswick Department of Social Development. He has worked for the New Brunswick government for 26 years, the last 12 years with Social Development. The Department of Social Development has responsibility for housing, social assistance, child welfare, long-term care and nursing homes.
Nathalie Mallard
Director of Planning, Research and Development, Societé d’Habitation du Québec
Donna O’Brien
Director of Income Support, Department of Advanced Education and Skills, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
This session will provide a look at what makes a successful ‘whole-of-community’ response to an unprecedented housing situation. The case of St. John’s, Newfoundland will be presented, and will detail the extent to which the economic circumstance – and previously moderate housing market – changed dramatically in a short period of time. The speakers representing various sectors within the community will discuss how the community came together to respond to the housing crunch. The different initiatives that together form the approach that is already supporting many in St John’s to attain or keep housing will be described.
speakers:
Marie Ryan (White) is a Principal with Goss Gilroy Inc. in St. John’s NL. She has extensive experience in conducting evaluation and research, as well as facilitating workshops, conferences and strategic planning sessions for local, provincial and national non-profit and voluntary organizations, and for the public sector. Marie has worked extensively with populations who have many and diverse challenges and barriers including at-risk youth, single parents, persons with disabilities, individuals who are at risk of/experiencing homelessness and seniors.
She is active in the areas of homelessness and housing and has co-chaired the St. John’s Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness since its inception in 2000. Marie served as a Council member and then the Deputy Mayor of St. John’s for a total of eight years. During that period she created and chaired the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Housing for the City.
She has chaired two Industrial Adjustment Service (IAS) initiatives on NL’s Supportive Housing and Homelessness Services sector over the 2008-2010 period, which have informed a comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy for this sector.
Marie has a degree in Education and taught elementary and junior high school for several years.
Shannie Duff has been engaged in Municipal politics for over thirty years and has served as Mayor, Deputy Mayor and a Councillor at Large. She has also served as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Throughout her career she has been a strong supporter of affordable housing. She was involved with the development of the City's Non-Profit housing project, Urban Living, she chaired the steering committee for a major study on the Municipal Role in Affordable Housing which resulted in the establishment of the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Affordable Housing and the hiring of a municipal Affordable Housing Coordinator. Shannie is currently a member of the Board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and serves on the FCM Social Policy Committee.
Among many other volunteer activities, she was the founding chair of Cabot Habitat for Humanity and the Cabot Habitat ReStore and was Habitat for Humanity National Volunteer of the Year in 2000. In 2003 she was awarded the Order of Canada for outstanding community service.
Victoria Belbin's background is in strategic planning, governance and communications and she has worked with a variety of government boards and commissions and non-profit associations in Newfoundland & Labrador and Alberta. Victoria began working with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association for Newfoundland and Labrador (CHBA NL) in 2011 and currently serves on a variety of boards such as Habitat for Humanity NL, Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Housing Affordability (City of St. John’s) and Skills Canada. Victoria holds a graduate degree from Memorial University focused on industry governance. She lives in St. John’s with her husband Bruce and three children.
This workshop will explore the benefits to landlords in partnering formally with support agencies to address complex housing issues related to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized tenants, those most likely to be at risk of homelessness due to behaviours related to untreated mental illness and addictions.
In 2009 the City of Ottawa pledged long-term funding to a diverse group of community agencies to support homeless individuals to become stably housed, as well as prevent tenants at risk of homelessness from losing their housing and falling into the shelter system.
Ottawa Salus, a leader in supportive housing and support services for adults living with mental illness, partnered with Ottawa Community Housing to create a program that would assist this vulnerable population in maintaining their tenancies. The resulting partnership provides individualized and flexible supports based on tenant need, engaging staff from both organizations in a collaborative model of service. Services include intensive case management, on-site community development and housing support, along with specialized addictions and physical health services as necessary.
speaker:
Tamara Chipperfield holds a BA in Psychology and Fine Arts from UBC and completed studies in Art Therapy at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. The early part of her working life was spent in the realm of non-formal education and community development. Upon moving to Ottawa in 2004 Tamara worked at the Canadian Mental Health Association as a Mental Health and Addictions worker and in 2007 Tamara joined the management team at Ottawa Salus, overseeing the community development and supports to social housing programs.
Valerie Jean-Louis, a Tenant Service Manager, has been with Ottawa Community Housing for 3 years. Valerie has worked in the Ottawa non-profit sector for the last 15 years. Previous to joining OCH, she worked with individuals living with mental health issues in a supportive housing environment at Ottawa Salus. Prior to this, she worked as a brain injury rehab therapist supporting clients in achieving independent living.
In 2007, the Alberta government embarked on a ten year initiative to address homelessness in the province. The initiative - Alberta’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness - outlines a comprehensive and coordinated approach to ending homelessness, and includes strategies, timelines and financial requirements. Importantly, the plan prioritized and facilitated partnership with municipalities and communities throughout Alberta, in order to support the development of local community plans for action on homelessness. This session will describe the key components of Alberta’s 10 Year Plan, with a focus on the successes and challenges from the perspective of the different groups that have been integral to the Plan’s implementation, including local funders, service providers and the provincial government through Alberta Human Services.
speakers:
Susan Taylor
Assistant Deputy Minister
Family Violence Prevention and Homeless Supports Division, Ministry of Human Services, Government of Alberta
Tim Richter is the President & CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, charged with leading the implementation of Calgary's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Since the launch of the 10 Year Plan, more than 3,000* men, women and children have received housing with the support they need, 3,582* units of affordable housing have been funded, and emergency shelter use is declining.
Under Tim’s leadership, the CHF has:
- built and sustained public, agency and political support for action on homelessness;
- invested over $100 million in Federal and Provincial government funding for programs and housing;
- assumed administration of $12 million in Government of Canada funding for homelessness over two years and in 2011 renewed the contract at $31 million over three years;
- introduced Project Homeless Connect to Canada;
- initiated the development and implementation of several Housing First programs, including Pathways to Housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness and mental illness, Canada’s first Housing First response to domestic violence, and Housing First programs in six of seven provincially funded shelters;
- worked with youth agencies to create Canada’s first Plan to End Youth Homelessness;
- helped develop the “Working with Homeless Populations” certificate program at the University of Calgary;
- initiated the development of a three year research agenda on homelessness and the creation of a research network, positioning the CHF as a national leader on housing and homelessness research and public policy;
- introduced Canada's first Homeless Management Information System to aid in meaningful data collection and homeless services navigation;
- led the creation of an international research and practice partnership between homelessness leaders in Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States and Australia; and
- led the creation of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness whose mission is to create a national movement to prevent and end homelessness in Canada through the development of 10 Year Plans in communities across the country.
- Prior to joining the Calgary Homeless Foundation, Tim was Director of Government Relations at TransAlta Corporation. He has also worked as a political staffer in Ottawa and has served seven years in the Canadian Forces Army Reserve.
Tim Richter joined the effort to end homelessness in Calgary early on, when he took the role of project manager for the Calgary Committee to End Homelessness and led the development of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. The 10 Year Plan was launched January 29, 2008, and the Committee chose the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) to lead the plan. In April 2008, Tim succeeded Wayne Stewart as President & CEO of the CHF.
Tim received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Carleton University in Ottawa, and a Bachelor of Applied Communications (Public Relations) from Mount Royal College in Calgary. In 2006 Tim was recognized as one of Calgary’s Top 40 under 40 by CalgaryInc. (Avenue) Magazine.
*January 29, 2008 - October 1, 2011
On Parliament Hill, CHRA is the only national voice representing the full spectrum of housing to decision-makers in Ottawa. CHRA regularly meets with federal political leaders, their staff and key government departments to advocate for the funds and policies that will ensure all Canadians can access and afford the type of housing they need.
But the landscape – political, social and economic – has shifted significantly since the current federal programs were introduced. At the same time, housing needs have only grown in numbers and in complexity. And so CHRA looks to the sector itself to come together and craft the story of what Canada can do to adequately house its citizens. In this interactive session using state-of-the-art engagement tools, we’ll seek your input to help CHRA prioritize and strategize the way forward. Come and add your voice as we collectively plan for the future.
Join us at The Rooms, Newfoundland and Labrador's largest public cultural space, for our closing ceremonies and reception. The Rooms is the place where it all comes together - the history, heritage and artistic expression of the province. The Rooms unites the Provincial Archives, Art Gallery and Museum.
Come along for an informative tour of new and long standing social housing in Newfoundland’s oldest city, St. John’s. This tour will include visits to housing projects that feature a diverse range of social support options; Marguerite’s Place - a supportive living program for women over 30 who have lived difficult lives; Buckmaster’s Circle Community Centre – a Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation owned community centre in the heart of Newfoundland’s largest social housing neighbourhood; and two recently redeveloped and reconfigured smaller family homes.
Mode of transportation: Bus
Choices for Youth is a non-profit, charitable, community-based agency that provides housing and lifestyle development supports to youth in the St. John’s metro area. The organization was founded in 1990 as a result of an identified need among youth, the community and government to have an empowerment-based program available to youth for whom ‘home’ was not an option. Come and join us for a tour of Choices' programs and facilities. Programming highlights will include information pertaining to seven core program areas: Shelter for Young Men, Transitional Housing Program, Supportive Housing Program, Train for Trades, Moving Forward, Outreach and Youth Engagement, and the Lilly.
Mode of transportation: Bus
Stops on this tour will include the Wiseman Centre and Shawnadithit Shelter (at St. John's Native Friendship Centre) and Iris Kirby House.
The Wiseman Centre and St. John's Native Friendship Centre will share their stories of how they have reformulated their services to include not only emergency housing, but also supportive housing. While once a drop-in centre, the St. John's Native Friendship Centre has successfully transitioned to a community service organization with diverse programming and a social enterprise agenda focusing on the needs of the urban Aboriginal population of St. John’s. While once a 40 bed shelter, the Wiseman Centre was transformed in 2007 through the development of 10 new supportive housing units and program to assist men in achieving independence, in addition to a smaller complement of shelter beds.
Iris Kirby House, operational for 30 years, continues to be a leader in addressing the needs of women and their children who are victims of family violence. They offer 37 emergency shelter beds, as well as 16 second stage housing units, including a communal living property. Their staff will discuss their approach, as well as the growth in demand for their services, and how programming and public awareness has increased as a result.
Mode of transportation: Bus
Join Stella Burry staff for an exciting tour of this organization’s journey from a residential treatment program to a multi-service agency that owns 17 buildings and employs over 125 people. You will follow a path that is symbolic of the journey of recovery that many accessing our programs and services take from counseling, through housing and on to employment. The tour, though the Historic District of old St. John’s, will start at the organization’s flagship residential program, Emmanuel House. From here, you will travel along Military Road to College Square where we will showcase Carew Lodge, our first foray into affordable housing development. From there, you are just a short stroll away from one of the most historic intersections in the City of Legends and our hub of supportive housing units and services located at Rawlins Cross. Once there, you will tour our buildings and get to see first-hand how the organization provides real work opportunities through several of its social enterprises. Learn how training opportunities are made available through the cleaning, renovation and maintenance needs associated with our housing units and buildings. The tour wraps up with a sample of the Hungry Heart Café’s famous scones, part of a menu that has become a favourite among diners in St. John’s as highlighted in Oberon Press’ “Where to Eat in Canada 2011-12”. Finish things off with a tasty treat and tour of our food service training program. Not to be missed!
Mode of transportation: Walk
This tour will focus on a new affordable housing and social enterprise development, as well as innovative supportive housing for persons living with HIV/AIDS in St John’s,
***please note this will be a moderately challenging walk with a few significant inclines, although the distance and pace will be very reasonable***
This walking tour will take you back in time and guide you through the evolution of public and affordable housing in historic St John’s. Points of interest will include the site of the now long-disappeared central slum, some of the municipal non-profit housing which now occupies some of it, streets of traditional clapboard row housing, a few of the earliest federal-provincial public housing projects in Canada, and some of the sweat equity ‘building’ co-ops which operated in St. John’s for the upwardly mobile middle class in the immediate aftermath of the Second War.
Mode of transportation: Walk
speaker:
Chris Sharpe was born and raised in Ottawa. He is a geographer, with a B.A. (Honours) from Carleton University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He began his teaching career with temporary positions at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario and York University in Toronto. In 1975 he moved to Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s and has been there ever since. In addition to his teaching and research duties, he has served as Head of the Department of Geography (1983-86), Associate and Acting Dean of Graduate Studies (1986-1996) and President of the Canadian Association of Geographers (2004-2006).
He has taught courses from first year to graduate level. His senior undergraduate courses deal with various aspects of historical and contemporary urban geography, and he also teaches the research design and statistics course. His primary research interests are on heritage conservation and the dynamics of townscape change, with primary emphasis on St. John’s.
More details to come.