Why belong?

Find out what membership in your local federation of housing co-ops can do for you.

Staff from Peel Halton CHF Sophie Taylor Donalds, Central Ontario CHF Mark Paul, CHASEO Olga Tasci, Golden Horseshoe CHF  Dave Smart, at the CHFC AGM in Quebec City

Help and advice is available when you need it.  Assistance is a phone call away.  Help is available to come to your co-op. 

Resources and Training are available for members, Boards, committees and staff.  Volunteer based organizations need to have access to resources and training. 

“Member Education” is one of the Co-operatives Principles. 

Services that are designed for housing co-ops are delivered by people who understand co-ops and who live in your area.  Most services are free for members. 

Co-ops working and acting together for better co-ops  networking, joint action, purchasing power. 

“Co-operation Among Co-operatives” – another one of the Co-operative Principles. 

Value – sector membership saves your co-op money in operating costs and good management practices. 

Member Control – Federations are co-operatives that are democratically controlled by the housing co-ops in your area. 

Your Sector Organizations working together:

National – CHF Canada

Provincial – CHF Canada Ontario Region

Local – your regional federation

CHF Canada and CHF Ontario Region do not deliver local services to co-ops where  co-ops have established and supported a regional federation.  The federations in this brochure offer your co-op a range of services (described here) that are best delivered locally by people knowledgeable about their region’s co-ops.  

Your federation’s office will respond quickly and appropriately when your co-op needs assistance.  Locally based federation staff, consultants and instructors understand the issues facing co-ops in your area.  

Your federation is a member-based, democratic, non-profit organization which acts as a collective voice for housing co-ops and associated organizations in your area.  Your federation is incorporated as a co-operative whose members are co-operatives.  As in a housing co-op, the federation takes direction from its membership and has a Board of Directors elected by its membership. Your federation, like your co-op, is a member of  CHF Canada and is a separate organization from CHF Canada. 

CHF Canada, CHF Ontario Region, and your local federation work together to provide a complete range of services for your co-op.  The regional federations also work together where delivering services co-operatively makes sense.

Your local federation provides the forum for members from different co-ops in your area to network and share common concerns.  Your local federation provides a common voice for area co-ops to government, politicians and local housing networks. 

Services provided to housing co-ops from your local federation 

Education for Boards, Committees and Staff 

Scheduled Workshops designed to help members manage their co-ops more efficiently and get the basic training they need.  

Special Custom (Portable) Workshops can also be set up for individual co-ops with specific needs and scheduled at the convenience of the participants.  

Forums - more informal sessions that allow members to discuss current issues affecting co-ops.  

One-Day Conferences - one-day education events that features a range of special workshops and informal interaction with members of other co-ops. 

The local source for co-op housing expertise, advice  and resources 

Telephone Consultation - Expert advice on co-op-related issues is a free phone call away for member co-ops:

interpreting by-laws and the Co-operative Corporations Act

interpreting funding program requirements

help with community problems

help with governance problems

other resources in the community

Meeting Support - Experienced people are available to assist and advise at your co-op’s meetings including:

neutral chairs for difficult meetings

advice on co-op by-laws including evictions

help with elections

information on co-op roles and responsibilities

assistance with hiring

community development 

Special Consulting - This service is available to help address any special operating concerns that co-ops run into from time to time. Your federation can work with your co-op to find an acceptable solution to financial or management issues. 

Saving money using co-op group purchasing power 

Buying Programs for Housing Co-ops - Your Ontario federations have worked together to set up and administer the Co-op Cost Cutters buying programs.  Federation member co-ops get substantial discounts on quality products and services for co-ops including:

appliances

carpet and flooring

building maintenance supplies

paint

photocopiers and fax machines

coin laundry

credit bureau and rental history reports

office supplies

digital satellite TV 

Co-op Housing Investment Program (CHIP) - This program, offered in partnership with a local Credit Union, allows housing co-ops to earn excellent interest rates on their operating accounts.  The interest rates co-ops can earn on their accounts is comparable to some longer term investments.   

A united voice for housing co-ops in your region 

Representation \ Advocacy - Your local federation acts to defend the rights and interests of housing co-ops.  Co-ops are represented by your federation at:

local housing networks;

municipal government and government agencies;

co-op housing sector and other groups where appropriate.  

Your federation also works hand-in-hand with CHF Canada and CHF Ontario Region to lobby at all levels of government and provide assistance in dealing with CMHC and other funding bodies.