News
CHRA Indigenous Caucus Releases National Polling Results on URN Indigenous Housing
CHRA Indigenous Caucus Releases National Polling Results on URN Indigenous Housing Today, the CHRA Indigenous Caucus releases the results of a national public opinion poll undertaken by Abacus Data designed to better understand the views and beliefs that Canadians have on urban, rural and northern (URN) Indigenous housing. The survey was conducted with…
CHRA National Congress on Housing and Homelessness is Going Virtual for 2021
Having closely monitored the current COVID-19 pandemic and taking into consideration the public health guidelines and advice, CHRA has decided to organize its first-ever “virtual” Congress on Housing and Homelessness. Taking place April 27-29, 2021, CHRA is excited to welcome you to three virtual days of learning, networking and celebrating our…
CHRA’s Indigenous Caucus Launches “For Indigenous By Indigenous” Advocacy Campaign
For many years, CHRA and the CHRA Indigenous Caucus have called on the federal government to introduce a dedicated strategy focused on urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing. However, to date, there has been no release of a dedicated strategy that addresses the housing gaps faced by the 80% of Indigenous…
CHRA Advocates to Expand the Rapid Housing Initiative
On October 27, CMHC released details on the new $1 billion Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI). Details of the program include: $500 million will be set aside for Canada’s 15 largest cities, and $500 million will be available to other organizations, including non-profit and Indigenous housing providers, via an application process.…
The Housing Professionals Mentorship Program Launches New Website
The Housing Professionals Mentorship Program is now receiving applications for the 2021 cohort! Since 2018, HPMP has matched experienced housing leaders with those who are just starting out to build networks, develop leadership skills and share discoveries about community housing and homelessness. This year, HPMP has launched a brand new website that shares all the…
Congratulations to the 2020 CHRA National Award Recipients!
On September 8, CHRA was very proud to honour the recipients of the 2020 CHRA National Awards. In response to having CHRA’s National Congress on Housing and Homelessness cancelled due to COVID-19, CHRA held its Annual Awards Ceremony for the first time ever in virtual format. Congratulations to our following…
Submission to the House of Commons Finance Committee 2021 Pre-Budget Consultation
CHRA has submitted a brief to the House of Commons Finance Committee as part of the Committee’s annual pre-budget consultation process in advance of the 2021 federal budget. CHRA’s overlying theme is that investments in affordable housing should be the key focus of a post-pandemic economic stimulus package. Specifically, CHRA…
Register for CHRA’s Virtual Housing on the Hill: September 29
CHRA is happy to announce that registration for the annual Housing on the Hill Day is now open. Taking place on September 29, the 2020 version of Housing on the Hill Day will be in a virtual format due to the ongoing pandemic. Housing on the Hill Day is an annual event where registrants have…
Statement by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
The tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of American police officers has rightfully raised the issue of racism in our society, regardless of borders. The community housing sector exists to provide shelter and services to all people in need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age,…
CHRA Shares its Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Visions for Housing with Federal Minister
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, CHRA has shared a number of concerns and recommendations raised by CHRA members with CMHC and the federal government. However, in order to capture the full scope of short and long-term recommendations, CHRA has prepared a letter to the federal Minister responsible for…
COVID-19: Updates for those in the Community Housing and Homelessness Sector
COVID-19 Response Page UPDATED April 8, 2020 CHRA has been working closely with government officials, its provincial counterpart associations and its members to provide the most relevant and timely information for those in the Community Housing and Homelessness Sector who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On this page you…
CANCELLED: CHRA Congress 2020
A few days ago, we informed you that the CHRA Annual Congress in April 2020 could not proceed in light of COVID-19 developments. Since then, we have been working internally and with venues in Saskatoon to determine if Congress could be scheduled to another date later in the year. Given…
CHRA Releases 2020 Pre-Budget Submission
In advance of the 2020 federal Budget, the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) today issued its submission to the federal government outlining its key budgetary recommendations. CHRA has called for 3 policies to be included in Budget 2020: Develop and implement an urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing strategy,…
CHRA Board of Directors Approves New 4 Year Strategic Plan
On November 13, the CHRA Board of Directors approved a new 4-year Strategic Plan (PDF) to guide the organization between 2020 and 2024. The Plan was developed with the input of members, the CHRA Board of Directors, and staff. It contains five Key Result Areas – Advocacy, Policy and Research, Member Services,…
Watch the 2019 National Housing Debate
On October 6, CHRA worked with a coalition of housing organizations to host the first ever National Housing Debate in Ottawa. Adam Vaughan (Liberal), Pierre Poilievre (Conservative), Angella MacEwan (NDP), Geneviève Nadeau (Bloc Quebecois), and Angela Keller-Herzog (Green Party) discussed a range of issues related to housing. The debate was…
Updated Rental Housing Index Launched
An updated version of the Canadian Rental Housing Index (RHI) was unveiled today at a press conference held in Toronto. The RHI is an invaluable online tool that uses census data to provide detailed information on rental housing conditions across Canada. The updated version contains rental housing data broken down…
CHRA Indigenous Caucus Releases Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Report
Download the PDF version In late 2018, the CHRA Indigenous Caucus commissioned a report and survey that looks at the state of urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing in Canada, and provides recommendations on a path forward to improve its state. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services…
Update on Phase 2 of Federal Community Housing Initiative
CMHC has been working closely with key housing associations over the summer to finalize details for Phase 2 of the Federal Community Housing Initiative (FCHI). This is a new rental assistance program for community housing providers reaching the end of their operating agreements. FCHI will be available from April 1,…
CHRA and Coalition of Housing and Homelessness Organizations Release Open Letter to Leaders of Political Parties
At a press conference held today on Parliament Hill, CHRA and a coalition of community housing and homelessness organizations announced they have sent a joint letter to the leaders of the major political parties outlining several election platform recommendations in advance of the 2019 federal election.
CHRA Releases Response to “National Housing Strategy Act” and Canada Housing Benefit
Today, CHRA publicly released two documents related to the National Housing Strategy. The first is a response to the “National Housing Strategy Act” contained in Bill C-97, and the second includes key principles to help inform the development of the ‘Canada Housing Benefit’ drafted by The Canadian Alliance of Non-Profit Housing Associations (CANPHA).
Budget 2019: New Investments in Private Housing Affordability, But A Lack of Investment in Community Housing
The 2019 federal Budget unveiled today by Finance Minister Bill Morneau contained new measures to assist first time home buyers pay the costs associated with home ownership, and increased support for the supply of affordable rental housing. However, the Budget contained very few new investments to support community housing.