Upcoming Events
Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit Information Session
The Canada-Manitoba Housing Benefit was recently announced, and will be providing a portable benefit to designated groups: young adults transitioning or who recently aged out of care of the child welfare system, people living with mental health or addictions issues living in designated supportive housing buildings, and people at risk of homelessness. Learn more and get your questions answered in this session.
Property Assessment & Property Tax Information Session
As property tax represents one of the largest annual operating expenses, prudent management of property assessment and property tax issues is crucial for non-profit providers – and saves money!
Altus Group will explore a number of assessment and tax management strategies that have been beneficial for non-profit providers, including the critical importance of preparing and sending replies to the Assessor’s annual requests for information, assessment review strategies, and the impact of the recently announced Education Property Tax Rebate.
Accessible Customer Service Standard Course – Spring 2021 Intake
MNPHA is offering the Accessible Customer Service Standard Course for our members, as a self-directed course.
The Accessibility for Manitobans Act became law in Manitoba in December 2013. It establishes a process to remove barriers affecting persons with disabilities and many other citizens. The government has worked with public and private sector organizations to develop accessibility standards. One of the accessibility standards is about Customer Service, which includes all types of programs and services that can be accessed by the public. This course covers foundational knowledge for all staff and volunteers of the housing sector to understand the Customer Service Standard.
In this 7-module course, you will learn how to:
- -interact and communicate with persons with disabilities facing barriers;
- -recognize and respect the various supports that people with disabilities may use such as assistive devices, support person, or service animal;
- -provide support to a person with a disability who is having difficulty accessing a product or service.
This course should take 45 to 90 minutes to complete. When it is completed, you will receive a participation certificate from Manitoba Possible, which is where the $6 fee applies ($6 includes GST). We are planning to host the course quarterly. You will have a month to complete the course.
Previous Events
COVID Vaccine Q & A for Housing Providers
Coordinated Access in Winnipeg
Post-85 Agreements Discussion
Social housing agreements are ending or have been temporarily extended. Post-85 agreements typically have 100% RGI units, and therefore higher vulnerability post- agreement without ongoing rent or operating subsidies compared with other agreements; additionally, there is funding in the National Housing Strategy to continue subsidies until 2028, but what happens afterwards is not clear, leading to hesitation in establishing long-term programs or agreements at the provincial level.
Post-85 agreement holders as we discussed:
1. What does the National Housing Strategy and Bilateral agreement say about these agreements?
2. End of Operating Agreement planning process (determining viability and options)
3. What do you need, and what are your concerns?
4. Next steps
Building Boards Program – Online Training Level 1
Calling all Board Members! MNPHA has designed a board training program, tailored to board members serving the non-profit housing sector. Whether you’re new to non-profit board governance, new to a housing-focused organization, or experienced in both, this custom-designed training for the non-profit housing sector in Manitoba is for you.
This training program consists of two courses – Level 1 and Level 2 – and each course is composed of 3 modules. Each module covers a foundational topic of board governance and includes tools which participants can immediately bring back to use in their organization. The course is designed for both new and experienced Board members of housing organizations. We encourage all new members of boards of directors to join this training program, and each organization to have a minimum of two members who have completed both levels.
- Differentiate governance from management, and know the core requirements of a housing governance board
- Organize meetings, annual meetings, and board communications to be effective and efficient
- Understand their role and have tools to assist in hiring and overseeing an ED/Manager/Property Management Company
The Building Boards Program is offered with the financial support from the Winnipeg Foundation and Assiniboine Credit Union.
Ask Each Other Anything, September 23 2020
An online discussion of COVID-19 response for non-profit housing providers in Manitoba. Hear from your colleagues in the sector and share your experience/challenges/successes.
Ask Each Other Anything, August 27 2020
An online discussion of COVID-19 response for non-profit housing providers in Manitoba. Hear from your colleagues in the sector and share your experience/challenges/successes.
Energy Retrofit Basics (and New Funding!), August 26 2020
In the first half of this virtual Lunch and Learn session, Dawn Fraser (Sustainable Building MB) provided a basic overview of Energy Retrofit, including basic terminologies and principles of Energy Retrofits. Jim Nostedt (SEEFAR Building Analytics) explained the concept of the total cost of building ownership to illustrate a holistic way of looking at energy retrofitting, rather than the traditional piecemeal approach. Jana Brunel (Efficiency Manitoba) provided a quick introduction of their residential and commercial programs, migrated from MB Hydro Affordable Energy Department. In the latter half of the webinar, Ben Koczwarski (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) presented everything you need to know about their new Green Municipal Fund for Sustainable Affordable Housing – in particular, its eligibility and application process.
Webinar recording and documents (presentation file, additional resources) used in the presentation are available upon request at no cost for MNPHA members.
Panel Discussion: Social Housing Transformation in Manitoba, June 26 2020
This past year we have talked a lot about sector transformation. But what are we transforming into? What can and should the social housing sector in Manitoba become, and how do we get there? Panelists discussed the core issues impacting non-profit housing providers in the province: evolving relationships with government, new financial and funding models, and partnerships and collaboration.
Ask Each Other Anything: An Online Discussion of COVID-19 Response for MB Non-Profit Housing Providers, June 10 2020
An online discussion of COVID-19 response for non-profit housing providers in Manitoba.
Financial Management and Accessing Financial Support in Uncertain Times, June 3 2020
While the Covid-19 pandemic has made predictable budgeting more difficult than usual, it is also more critical than ever to be reviewing and adjusting your financial forecast on a regular basis. Learn tips on forecasting and details of governments programs to support non-profits, charities, and co-ops that most housing providers can access.
Cheryl Baldwin with BCP Consulting provided an overview of how to track and analyze changes in revenue and expenses to plan for the short and longer-terms as Part 1 of the presentation. In Part 2, she discussed the various financial programs that most housing providers will qualify for: eligibility, how to apply, and how to appropriately account for them. This includes the CERB program for employees; the 10% and 75% wage subsidy programs; the CEBA loan program; tax deferral options, the provincial loan for those who don’t qualify for federal supports, and the new MB Risk Recognition Program. Combined, these programs could provide thousands of dollars in additional revenue to support adjustments to operations, additional programming or tenant resources, and cover additional costs or reduced revenues.
Webinar recording and documents (presentation file, templates) used in the presentation are available upon request for the following cost:
- $20 + GST/organization for CHF Canada or MNPHA Member
- $40 + GST/person for non-members
Questions and Answers with Residential Tenancies Branch, May 13 2020
Michelle Corrigal, A/Director, and Michelle Reynolds, Client Services Coordinator of the Residential Tenancies Branch joined us via WebEx for a Q&A on RTB during COVID-19.
Watch the video of the discussion
Read the Q & A from the discussion
Questions and Answers on Personal Protective Equipment, May 6 2020
Chantelle Riddle-Yarycky, Infection Prevention and Control Specialist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority joined us via WebEx for a Q&A on PPE during COVID-19.
Watch the video of the discussion
Read the Q & A from the discussion
Ask Each Other Anything: An Online Discussion of COVID-19 Response for MB Non-Profit Housing Providers, April 30 2020
An online discussion of COVID-19 response for non-profit housing providers in Manitoba.
Assisting Renters: Manitoba’s Rent Assist in the context of Canada’s National Housing Strategy, April 15 2020
Hear the results of the Assisting Renters research report. For the past year, MNPHA, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Manitoba (CCPA) and the University of Manitoba have been working together to get a better understanding of the impact of Manitoba’s Rent Assist program on tenants and landlords.
Download the Full Report
Watch the video from the launch
Ask Each Other Anything: An Online Discussion of COVID-19 Response for MB Non-Profit Housing Providers, March 26 2020
An online discussion of COVID-19 response for non-profit housing providers in Manitoba.
Dealing Effectively with Pests: Beyond Spraying, February 26 2020
When it comes to pest control, our sector has been traditionally relying on spraying. But spraying alone is not effective, and constant spraying leaves tenants and property managers exhausted. The key is tenant education and support, so they become part of the pest prevention and intervention team too. Jill Hisco from Purpose Construction provided tips on how to make it easy for tenants to collaborate with you, as well as various tools available for tenants. She also explained the differences between bed bugs and cockroaches, and prevention and intervention techniques, beyond spraying.
Click here to access the free Bug N Scrub program for bed bug treatment
Click here for a close-up picture of a pest prevention kit for tenants, recommended by Jill
Below is the video summary of the session:
Board Member Mixer, Feb 19 2020
The Board Member Mixer is an informal networking gathering where you can talk to other boards about common challenges. We had guests from ACU’s community finance centre, Volunteer Manitoba – Board Connect Program, and the Springfield Senior Non-Profit Housing Co-op who are actively engaged with new development projects. We discussed capital planning, organizational growth, board succession planning, and wrapped up with an immersive introduction of universal design/accessibility design at Ten Ten Sinclair Housing.
Download the one-bedroom floor plan at Ten Ten Sinclair
Learn more about Place La Charette, Ten Ten Sinclair Housing’s newest project (occupancy in 2012), and compare it with the unit design at 1010 Sinclair Street (in 1975) to see the enhancements and similarities in universally-accessible design.
ED/Manager Mixer, Feb 18 2020
The ED/Manager Mixer allows attendees to further connect with colleagues and learn a bit more about the host organization – Ten Ten Sinclair Housing Inc. – and accessible design in affordable housing. To recap some of the issues mentioned, we heard that EDs who have served their organizations long-term are challenged to pass down their knowledge to a successor with the lack of dedicated resources; we heard that there is a need for quality administration support to coordinate legislation compliance and miscellaneous tasks; there is an ongoing challenge to support successful tenancies. We had guests from Recycle Everywhere – Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association, ACU, Kinew Housing, Jubilee Fund, Winnipeg Housing Renewal Corp, Univ. of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation, and New Journey Housing. The complimentary hot breakfast was sponsored by ACU.
Manitoba Life Lease Forum: Key Issues and Educational Needs, Feb 6 2020
MNPHA and Manitoba Life Lease Occupants Association (MLLOA) co-sponsored the MB Life Lease Forum inviting Board members, EDs, managers and tenant representatives from 15 Life Leases to discuss key issues unique to Life Leases in Manitoba and provide input for a training package for stakeholders in the sector. The training package may become part of the MNPHA’s educational workshop series, conference, webinars, or online/printed materials.
Board Governance Series
Aimed at members of the Boards of Directors of our members, this new annual workshop series provides board members the foundation they need, along with a network of other board members, to serve their organization for years to come.
Aimed at new board members, or those who wanted a refresher on the roles and responsibilities of being on a board, this session covered the following fundamentals: Board members have a key responsibility of ensuring non-profit organizations are financially viable and are meeting their financial obligations. They therefore need to understand and be able to ask the right questions about their financial statements. This session was for those new to boards and/or the housing sector who want to improve their financial literacy, and understanding financial statements and auditors’ report better. Part 1: Understanding Financial Statements Download the Understanding Financial Statements presentation Part 2: Understanding Auditors’ Report Download the What is an Audit presentation Download the handout for a sample Independent Auditors’ Report Increasing team building knowledge and skills is essential to stepping up to any leadership position in the not-for-profit world. By implementing the 5 fundamental steps: motivation, communication, support, positive politics, and negotiation, you will be building teams where everyone will not only succeed: they will enjoy their experience on the Board. Non-Profit Housing providers in Manitoba each manage their applications and wait lists independently. Direct service staff who work with people in housing need have found various ways to support people to apply for housing, but find the process frustrating, confusing, and full of barriers for potential tenants. As social housing is increasingly provided by non-profits, there is concern that the housing search and application process will become more fragmented. Manitoba Housing changed its application process relatively recently. While there have been a number of successes in its approach, there are opportunities to make adjustments so that it works better for tenants and for communities. In Ottawa, The Registry was started by a consortium of non-profit housing providers to create a shared, consistent, and centralized application for their units. This resource is an example of sector collaboration that can create greater efficiency in Manitoba. Ishbel Solvason-Wiebe presented on The Registry. Her power point slides and a video of her presentation are available with details about The Registry’s operations. Harold Smith presented on Manitoba Housing’s application process for its direct managed units, including sharing some lessons learned and current challenges. Carolyn Ryan, A/CEO of Manitoba Housing spoke over lunch on the Transformation of Manitoba Housing and non-profit housing that will take place over the next decade. Read the Notes from Carolyn Ryan’s Presentation and the group brainstorm afterwards Watch the Video of Ishbel’s Presentation on The Registry 1a.Strong and Engaged Boards: Now and into the Future (Panel): An engaged board of directors is the foundation of a successful non-profit organization. Participants heard from experienced board members what keeps them active and involved in ‘keeping the vision’ of non-profit housing, and from new board members what attracted them to joining a housing board, and what they need to be successful. Download a Summary of the Strong and Engaged Boards Panel Download an Audio Recording from the panel 1b. Respectful Workplaces: Human Resources made headlines this year in Manitoba, causing many Board members and managers to question if they have the proper policies and training in place. The best place to start is with Respectful Workplaces training, provided by People First HR. 2A Year-in-Review of the National Housing Strategy A year in to the National Housing Strategy we heard from housing policy leaders about what the Strategy has meant for community housing in Canada and Manitoba: Featuring: David Hulchanski (via Skype from Toronto); Tom Carter; Sarah Cooper; Moderated by Mary-Agnes Welsh Download a Summary of the Year-in-Review of the National Housing Strategy Panel Watch the Video Summary of the session: This in-depth course is designed for those looking to dive into the world of non-profit housing development and redevelopment and succeed in the modernized social housing landscape. Perfect for housing providers – including board members and senior leaders – and those approaching or past the end of their operating agreements or mortgages. The course included 6-10 hours of online, self-study including reading, online discussions, and assignments. This was followed by a one-day, in-person session. Sponsored by CMHC with support from BCNPHA and CHF Prairies The AGM is an opportunity to celebrate your organization, its people, and its achievements over the past year. This workshop prepared Boards of Directors for a well-designed, engaging AGM that they can look forward to. Attendees left the workshop with templates for agendas, minutes, and speaking notes that will keep their AGMs quick and fun for years to come. The course covered: AGM Basics Reviewing your by-laws in preparation of your AGM; Notice requirements for your AGM; Preparing the agenda; Motions; Voting; Bylaw changes; Approving Audited financial statements; Minutes and documentation Succession Planning Basics Recruiting new Board Members; Election of Board members and terms Effective partnerships require an investment in their development and growth. When established and maintained in a purposeful and formal way, partnerships benefit housing providers, support organizations, and the tenants they both serve. This session highlighted the partnership between New Journey Housing and the Downtown Commons. Download the Presentation from the Session The forum was an opportunity for Indigenous housing providers to share information and ideas with each other, learn about upcoming or changing programs/strategies of government, and provide feedback to partners at MB Housing and CMHC. This year, we also had a workshop on Governance for managers and board members as part of the Indigenous Housing Provider Support Project. Who: The forum was open to employees or Board members of Indigenous organizations who provide affordable and non-profit housing. Date: October 15-16, 2018 Tristan is a distinguished speaker and workshop facilitator with experience in various cities across the country. He has devoted his life and career to reforming planning, so that building communities that support the basic needs of human health becomes the new minimum standard. He is an urban planner with Happy City, a company that uses lessons from Considering new development? Need to make capital repairs? An in-depth discussion of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Co-Investment Fund. The session focused on the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) New Construction and Repair and Renewal streams and highlight the program design, requirements and application process. MNPHA held education sessions, our AGM, and provided an opportunity for to networking among members and partners in the Non-Profit Housing Sector. What: A choice of two morning workshops: a. Panel on the End of Operating Agreements and Beyond b. Respectful Workplaces Plenary session at 11:30am with an update on the National Housing Strategy, then MNPHA’s AGM Download a PDF of CMHC Presentation on the National Housing Strategy This half-day workshop was offered in Brandon (March 7) and Winnipeg (March 8). Derek Vandel, Exchange Group Professional Accountants, led the first part of the workshop on how to read and gain a greater understanding of what balance sheets and income statements are saying. The second part of the workshop featured a presentation on financing options available through Sector Bank/Housing Investment Corporation. Housing Investment Corporation is a dedicated, pooled lending institution for the affordable and non-profit housing sector. Its purpose is to help providers identify new opportunities to leverage their assets to effectively meet the affordable housing demands in their communities by offering them low financing costs that are customized to the social housing market. Download a PDF of the Sector Bank presentation Download a PowerPoint Show version of the Sector Bank presentation Manitoba Housing has delivered an afternoon of Lean 101 training to MNPHA members who are interested in learning more about the implementation of continuous improvement practices within their organizations. Here are the details:Board Basics, October 19 2019
Understanding Financial Statements, morning session, January 25 2020
Deepening Board Engagement, afternoon session, January 25 2020
GST Exemptions, December 4 2019
Elderly and Infirm Persons Housing License, October 30 2019
Housing Applications and Waitlists: Lessons Learned from The Registry and Manitoba Housing
&
Lunch with Carolyn Ryan: Transformation of Manitoba Housing Updates, Oct 17 2019
Download The Registry Powerpoint Slides
AGM and Spring Workshops, June 14 2019
Building Security Brainstorm and Discussion, May 1 2019
Ready, Set, (Re)Build!, April 12, 13 2019
Preparing Well for a Quick and Fun AGM, April 16 2019
Building Effective Partnerships for Housing and Support, January 29 2019
Indigenous Housing Provider Forum, November 27 2018
6th Annual Building Partnerships Conference
Speaker Tristan Cleveland: Designing a Happy City, October 15 2018
psychology and public health to design happiness into neighborhoods and cities around the world.
Educational Session on the National Co-Investment Fund: New Development and Repair and Renewal Streams, June 25 2018
Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association Annual General Meeting and Educational Workshops, June 22 2018
Understanding Financial Statements / Financing Options with Sector Bank – Housing Investment Corporation.
Lean 101 Workshop, January 23 2018
What: Lean 101 Training. Learning about core Lean principles and how to apply them in our work.
Webinar: 5 Step to Simpler, Easier Workplace Safety
We’re in the process of planning education events and opportunities for 2019.
Details will be announced in the MNPHA Newsletter as they become available.
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