COVID-19 / Coronavirus Resources for Housing Providers

The March 30 Public Health Act order requires all businesses not listed on its schedule of critical services to close. Businesses that provide “support and maintenance services, including urgent repair, to maintain the safety, security, sanitation and essential operation of institutional, commercial, industrial and residential properties” can remain open, however, the operator of the business must implement measures to ensure that persons attending the place of business are reasonably able to maintain a separation of at least two metres from other persons who are attending the business. The full Public Health Act order is available here. Clarification on details and exemptions in the public health order are available here.

Restoring Safe Services: Manitoba’s Pandemic Economic Recovery Roadmap provides details on the first phase of economic recovery, including requirements for businesses. Engage.mb.ca has a Q & A for businesses, employers, and employees.

Government of Canada fact sheets

• About Non-Medical Masks and Face Coverings
• Be Prepared fact sheet
• Vulnerable Populations fact sheet

Signage for Staff and Tenants

• Know the facts poster  (multiple languages available)
• Hand Hygiene Poster (MB Shared Health, multiple languages available)
• Cough etiquette (MB Shared Health, multiple languages available)
• STOP 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (BC)
• Sign for Visitors (for front door)
• Do not Enter Door Sign (For travelers, people with symptoms, English)
• Do not Enter Door Sign (For travelers, people with symptoms,French)
• Social Distancing Infographic (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• Know the Difference: self-monitoring, self-isolation, isolation (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Other Resources

• How to self-isolate (BC Centre for Disease Control)
• Safer Drug Use During COVID-19 (Harm reduction coalition)
• Organizational Risk Planning (Marsh Insurance)
• BC Housing developed a COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Housing & Service Providers
• Provincial PPE Guidelines (Shared Health)
• Provincial PPE Guidelines for In Home Care (Shared Health)
• Sample Policy for Common Area Closures (SAM Management)

Annual General Meetings for Non-Profit Corporations and Cooperatives

Other Resources:

• AGM Options for Housing Providers during COVID-19 (MNPHA)
• CHF Canada – Manitoba Resource Page for cooperatives

Response Planning

• Pandemic Planning
• Safety, Security, and and Emergency Preparedness Guide

ONPHA has published similar resources on Pandemic Planning.

Resources for Employers

• A simple, easy to read poster for tenants or staff (COVID-19, What you Need to Know)
• A preparation guide for employers
• COVID-19 Resource Page for members of MNPHA’s Group Benefits plan, including simplified disability claims, and employee assistance program information

Residential Tenancies Branch Information

Manitoba to Postpone Eviction Hearings and Freeze Rent Increases:

• Media Release
• Q & A Documents for Tenants and Landlords are on the RTB Website
• Bill 58 amends The Residential Tenancies Act. It is in place until repealed.
  • Rent is frozen at the amount payable immediately before April 1, 2020
  • Evictions are limited to specific circumstances that infringe, interfere with or adversely affect the security, safety, health or well-being of other tenants, such as engaging in unlawful activity. This amendment is effective as of March 24, 2020
  • Late fees for failure to pay rent are prohibited.

From our communications with RTB, this means:

•   –  All currently scheduled eviction hearings are postponed. Hearings will resume after the Emergency Measures Order is lifted, June 30.
  
•   –  Any breach in a mediated agreement that would lead to an automatic eviction without a hearing will NOT be granted OP (order of possession) papers until after the pandemic
•   –  No mediated agreements that might result in an eviction (e.g. having to pay rent on time or having to stick to a payment plan) will be scheduled
•   –  Mediated agreements that do not involve a potential eviction (such as mediated move outs) will continue to be conducted
•   –  For tenants who have given notice to move but choose not to move, no eviction hearings will be conducted during this period
•   –  For tenants whose landlords were granted OPs from hearings prior to today, the RTB no longer has jurisdiction and it’s up to the Sheriff’s office to enforce the OP
•   –  Any rent increases set for April 1 must be cancelled immediately or rebated.  Housing providers can still document rent increases and register/notify tenants of changes as usual, but give tenants notice that they are postponed/increases will not occur until the freeze is lifted.

Rent Increase Information for Non-Profits Exempt from RTB Guidelines

No housing provider is exempt from the rent increase freeze announcement, whether or not they are regulated by the Residential Tenancies Act.

The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada has advised co-ops to follow the spirit of the announcement and not increase housing charges or terminate any memberships at this time.

For organizations with an agreement with Manitoba Housing, Manitoba Housing will delay anticipated changes in program income limits and utility rates for the social and affordable housing programs and continue using the rates from 2019. Fixed shelter (EIA, affordable, market and rent supplements) rates will remain unchanged until further notice. Contact your Portfolio Manager if you have any questions.

CMHC Information for Housing Providers

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has sent communications stating that: “we expect any housing provider who has received financing or support from CMHC, directly or via provinces and territories, to act compassionately and refrain from eviction.”