Louise Jones

A recent bulletin posted by Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, states that;

“Ontario’s rent increase guideline for 2023 is 2.5 per cent, below current rates of inflation.”

Further stating that;

“The rent increase guideline is the maximum amount a landlord can increase rent during the year for most tenants without the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board.”

This guideline does not apply to Rent-Geared-to-Income units, except where tenants are paying market rent.

It’s important to know that to increase rents, landlords must give at least 90 days’ written notice, and any increase must be at least 12 months after the first day of tenancy or the last rent increase.

The Boards of Directors of HNHC, Long Point Area Non-Profit Housing, Dunnville Non-Profit Housing, South & Metcalfe Non-Profit Housing, and Del-Gold Villa Non-Profit approved a 2.5% rent increase effective January 1, 2023.  This rent increase will not affect the majority of our tenants who pay rent-geared-to-income.  It will only affect tenants who pay market rent (approximately 7% of our tenants).  Notices to all affected tenants are currently being sent out to ensure that they will have 90 days’ notice.

To learn more about the rules for residential rent increases visit Ontario’s website.

To learn more about Landlord and Tenant rights, visit the Landlord and Tenant Board website.  A guide to the Residential Tenancies Act is also available and provides valuable information all Landlords and Tenants should know.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/community-housing-renewal-strategy

Care Haven Healthcare, Liver Care Canada, and the AIDS network have partnered to provide mobile services throughout our community.

Care Haven Healthcare and Liver Care Canada provide mobile rapid Hepatitis C testing and education. A simple test can determine if someone has Hepatitis C, a treatable disease of the liver caused by contact with the blood of an infected person.

The AIDS Network provides mobile support, education, and harm reduction for individuals who are HIV positive or suffering from AIDS.

Working together, these organizations have visited three of our buildings recently.  Residents who wished to participate or learn more about the organizations were able to meet with Suzanne of Liver Care Canada and Jamie with the AIDS Network (pictured below).

HNHC values partnerships such as these in support of our residents and the community at large.

“Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much.”  Helen Keller

The Haldimand, Norfolk & Brant Counties Shoebox Project is holding their annual drive until December 10, 2021.  “This year, we will not be collecting physical shoeboxes, instead, we will be accepting $50 gift cards and handwritten notes,” reports local coordinator Kylie Vandendool.

The Shoebox Project was founded in 2011 in Toronto by four sisters.  The first holiday season their goal was to collect 156 Shoeboxes with gifts for women impacted by homelessness and living in a local Toronto shelter.  They ended up with 400 shoeboxes that year.

The organization has grown and while their primary focus is still working with local shelters they deliver gifts and donations to any community service agency that serves women who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.  In 2020, local chapters in Canada distributed over $1million in gifts.

This organization has been providing gifts to the residents of Quetzal Family Homes (our Transitional Housing building in Simcoe for women and their children who are escaping domestic abuse) for several years now and will be dropping off gifts for the current residents the week of December 13, 2021.

If you would like more information regarding this great organization or would like to make a donation, please visit their website:

https://www.shoeboxproject.ca/chapters/haldimand-norfolk-brant-counties

The Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation houses upwards of 1000 community members across Haldimand County and Norfolk County, including seniors, families, and individuals, many of whom are considered part of our vulnerable population.  As important as providing affordable and quality housing, it is vitally important that we provide safe housing.

As such, in an effort to protect our residents and staff, the HNHC Board of Directors approved a Vaccination Policy effective November 17, 2021.  This policy requires that all Board Members, Staff Members, and Contractors be double vaccinated against COVID-19.

Additionally, any new employees will be required to provide proof of vaccination before they are approved to start employment with HNHC.