COVID-19 / Coronavirus Resources for Housing Providers

Business Reopening

Posters and Fact Sheets

If you are a housing provider or co-op who is receiving financing or support from CMHC:

• CMHC will work with each of you individually to be able to find the best solution. They have a series of tools and relief measures for housing providers including deferral of loan payment, capitalization, special payment arrangements, advancing flexibilities, and any combination of tools.
• CMHC will ensure that eligible housing providers who have opted-in the Phase 2 of the Federal Community Housing Initiative, and who have federally administered operating agreements expiring in the coming months, continue to receive their current level of financial assistance so that there is no disruption in assistance to households. Additional information will be shared in the coming weeks. Any questions in the interim can be directed to: [email protected].
• On a case-by-case basis, CMHC will consider flexibility for subsidy suspensions for new accounts as a result of a breach in their agreements.

Read CMHC Questions and Answers on their programs and services

Federal Government Resources

The government of Canada’s Economic Response Plan is available here. There is a range of programs available. We have provided details about those more relevant for non-profit housing providers and their staff.

• The Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy is a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deduction required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Apply through your payroll remittance.
• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) supports employers that are hardest hit by the pandemic, and protect the jobs Canadians depend on. The subsidy covers 75% of an employee’s wages – up to $847 per week – for employers of all sizes and across all sectors who have suffered a drop in gross revenues of at least 15% in March, and 30% in April and May.
  • On July 27, 2020, Bill C-20, which extends the CEWS into December, passed through Senate.  One big change to the program is that it will now introduce a sliding scale and some eligibility improvements to be more accessible to a broader range of employers.
    Specific changes include:
    • Extension until December 19, 2020
    • Providing a gradually decreasing base subsidy to all eligible employers that are experiencing a decline in revenue, including those with less than 30% revenue loss
    • Top-up subsidy of up to an additional 25% for employers that have been most adversely affected
    • Provide certainty to employers who have already made business decisions for July and August by ensuring they will not receive a subsidy rate lower than they would have under the previous rules
• The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced. Up to 25% of the loan is non-repayable. Apply through your financial institution.
• The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 16 weeks to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19. It is available to workers who meet all of the following conditions:
  •       – live in Canada and are at least 15 years old
  •       – stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits
  •       – have not voluntarily quit their job
  •       – had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application.

Provincial Government Resources

• Manitoba Back to Work this Summer Program promotes the hiring and re-hiring of employees in the private and non-for-profit sectors. The program covers 50% of wage costs for up to 10 weeks, between June 1 and August 30, 2020, to a maximum of $5,000 per worker:
  • Businesses must not have received support from other government subsidies for the same position
  • Start date must be June 1, 2020 or later
  • Application must be submitted on or before August 31, 2020
  • Program funds up to 5 workers, combined with the Manitoba Summer Student Recovery Jobs Program and Manitoba Back to Work This Summer Program
  • Payments will be made as a lump sum upon proof of payment of wages

Resources for Tenants

• Income Supports for Manitobans (EI, EIA, Emergency Care and Emergency Support, Child Tax, MB Hydro, Student Loans; Compiled by Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba)
• Community Resources Available During COVID-19 Pandemic (Compiled by West Central Women’s Resource Centre)
• COVID-19 Resources for Older People in Manitoba (Compiled by the University of Manitoba Centre on Aging)
• Help Next Door MB – Matching Services for Volunteers and Manitobans who need help
• Seniors Resource Finder – Information and Referral Hub (Winnipeg Reginal Health Authority)
• Guide to Benefit Info in plain language (Compiled by Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor of Political Management, Carleton University, using public information)
• Crisis support line (Klinic)