Upcoming Events
Assisting Renters: A critical analysis of Manitoba’s Rent Assist in the context of Canada’s National Housing Strategy
Join us to 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.
Date & Time: April 15, 11:00am-12:30pm
Location: Online using Zoom Platform
Cost: The event is free
Register Now
Indigenous Housing Provider Forum 2020
Manitoba’s annual Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing Forum: join urban and rural Indigenous housing providers from across the province to share ideas, discuss challenges, and learn from each other.
Agenda:
- Organizational policies and procedures: dealing with arrears, charge backs, damages, inspections, and more in equitable and effective ways
- Over lunch, we will have updates on the National Housing Strategy and Manitoba Housing’s action plan as it relates to Urban Indigenous housing providers
- Education to support successful tenancies
Date & Time: To Be Determined
Location: CanadInns Polo Park
Cost: The event is free for the first two people from MNPHA member organizations. Additional registrants from member organizations are $35 + GST each. Registrants from organizations that are not MNPHA members are $40 + GST each.
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LUNCH & LEARN: RESPONDING TO THE IMPACT OF DRUG USE IN OUR COMMUNITY
In this two-part workshop, you will learn:
- Crystal Meth: history, effects, symptoms, harms
- Harm Reduction 101: six principles
- Safe Needle Disposal resources
- De-Escalation Techniques – know whether and how to engage tenants/visitors who might be using substances
Part I (May 20, WED): during this session, Joseph and Bryce will take you on a tour of the world of Crystal Meth: its history, effects, consumption behaviour, why people use them, and the harms caused. We will clarify some of the common misconceptions surrounding drug use. Then, we will introduce various harm reduction initiatives and resources available for landlords. You will receive a Fact Sheet on Crystal Meth for family and friends, developed by Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, and six principles of harm reduction.
Part II (May 26, TUE): during this session, Joseph and Bryce will provide trainings on Safe Needle Disposal (Street Connections) and Psychedelic Crisis Intervention in practice. We will present signs of hostility, strategies to communicate to people who use substances and how to respond to challenging situations (de-escalation skills). You will receive corresponding reference handouts developed by resources teams from WRHA.
- May 20, Wednesday, 11:30am-1:30pm (2hr)
- May 26, Tuesday, 11:30am-1:30pm (2hr)
Register Now
Previous Events
Ask Each Other Anything: An Online Discussion of COVID-19 Response for MB Non-Profit Housing Providers
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.
Date & Time: March 26, 10am-11:30am
Location: Online using WebEx Platform
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
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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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