Louise Jones

Many businesses are beginning to open, which is great news!

Due to the major road construction in front of our office on Kent Street in Simcoe, we will not be opening our doors to the public yet. There are no sidewalks, many construction vehicles, and a lot of digging – getting to our front door is like an episode of Wipeout!

We will continue to serve our residents by telephone, email, and through this handy website.  Our property management team visits our properties on a weekly basis, so a (socially distant) meeting can also be set up at your location if you need to meet with a team member.  Please call, email, or fill out a message on our contact page and we can set something up that works for you.

We have received many Resident Satisfaction Surveys – Thank you!

Even though the deadline was June 30th, we still want to hear from you.  If you have not completed your survey yet, please complete it electronically here.  Your opinion matters to us.  We’ve re-organized, re-aligned, and have been working very hard to improve communication, resident satisfaction, and build stronger communities. We want to hear what is working and what we can do better on.  Talk to us, we’re here to listen!

In the meantime, please continue to follow Health Unit guidelines for safe distancing, washing hands, and wearing masks in public.  We’re getting there, but we’re not there yet.  We’re still all in this together!

Louise Jones
Business Services Supervisor
Continuous Improvement Advocate

Haldimand and Norfolk Counties are now moving into “Stage 2” of the Province’s Pandemic Recovery Plan!  This is great news and an important next step for our community.

What it means for HNHC and our Residents:

• We will be reviewing maintenance requests deferred by the pandemic and we encourage residents to call your Property Management Team if you have any new repair requests.
• We can resume offering vacant units to applicants.

Stage 2 is only the next step, we will continue to practice social distancing measures and encourage our residents to do the same.

When will the office reopen?  

Our Leadership Team has discussed this and we agree that at this point we are unable to safely open the office until we have measures like physical distancing aides in place that will protect you our staff and the general public!   Some of these measures will include:

• Additional signage directing clients to maintain the proper distance and how many clients can enter the lobby at one time.
• Additional hand sanitizer available in the lobby for everyone who enters the office.

Another important reason we are holding off opening the office is due to major road construction on Kent Street, right in front of our office.  At this time it is very difficult to access our office safely.

When we feel clients can safely make it to our door, we will announce the re-opening of our office.  Until then, we ask that you continue to contact us through telephone, email, or through our website.

Rent payments can continue to be made through e-transfer, mailing a cheque, or by setting up Pre-Authorized Debit.

Thank you everyone for all that you’ve done to keep our community safe.  We are all in this together!

**Please remember to return your Resident Satisfaction Surveys, if you have lost your survey you may complete it online by clicking here.”

Hello!

We’ve developed this new site to better communicate with our Residents and Community.  If you reside in one of our homes, thank you for visiting this page!

We need your help!   An important part of our strategic plan is continuous improvement.  In order to do our best, we need to hear from our most important stakeholders;  You, our Residents.

We ask that you please complete our Resident Satisfaction Survey by June 30, 2020.  Paper copies were mailed to you at the end of May with our Spring/Summer newsletter, The Porchlight.  We included self-addressed stamped envelopes for your convenience.   You can also complete your survey online!

It’s fast and it’s easy!

Please click here to start your survey.  When you’ve completed it, just click submit!

To those who have completed their surveys,

Thank you!!  We are reading them and we are listening!

“What Gets Measured, Gets Improved.”
Peter Drucker

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about the surveys or this website, please feel free to contact me.  I am working to make our processes and procedures better so that we can serve you better.

Sincerely,

Louise Jones
Business Services Supervisor
ljones@hnhousing.ca

Dear Residents,

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather we’ve finally been graced with!

We are also seeing some restrictions being lifted with a gradual opening of many retail businesses, garden centers, marinas, golf courses, and private parks and campgrounds.  Our local libraries will also soon be offering curbside pickup!

While we all still need to be careful and continue to practice social distancing and use gloves and masks where necessary, it feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

At HNHC, our office is still closed to the public.  We are following County guidelines and will re-open once the County offices are deemed safe to open, so please continue to reach us by telephone, email, or through this website.  We are here working hard for you!

Although some plans were derailed by COVID-19, we’ve continued many of the projects we had planned for the Spring, including creating a Resident Satisfaction Survey and publishing our resident newsletter, the Porchlight. The newsletters and surveys will be mailed out to you next week.

The surveys are very important to our goal to improve resident satisfaction.  Please be sure to complete a survey, it is short and won’t take long!.  You will find a self-addressed stamped envelope with the mailed surveys, or, to make it easy, we have also posted the survey online which you can complete by clicking here.

The surveys are completely anonymous and we ask that they be completed and returned by June 30, 2020.

The newsletter will also include both a puzzle contest and colouring contest.  Each has a $50 gift card prize, so be sure to complete them and return by June 30, 2020 for your chance to win!  If you can’t wait for the newsletter to arrive in your mailbox, you can read a pdf version here.  You can also print extra contest ballots if more than one member of your family wants to participate.  Click here for the puzzle and click here for the colouring page.

We look forward to hearing what you have to say, so please send in those surveys!!

Warm regards,

Matt Bowen, CEO

Attention All Residents:

Our Spring/Summer newsletter includes a Resident Satisfaction Survey which you can complete and mail in (using the self-addressed stamped envelope we included) or you can fill out the survey online:

To our Residents:

We have had some inquiries about the community gardens at two of our properties.

In Dunnville, a team of residents runs the Thompson Creek Community Garden and in Port Dover, the Port Dover & Woodhouse Horticultural Society plants and maintains 5 raised beds; the proceeds of which are donated to the local Food Bank.

Under the current provincial guidelines, community gardens are permitted subject to a review by the Medical Officer of Health for that municipality.

We are happy to report the message we received from Dr. Nesathurai: “the public health service would be supportive of initiatives that improve access to fresh food.”

Heidy VanDyk-Ellis, the Director of Haldimand Norfolk Social Services and Housing added her recommendation that signage be put up to remind gardeners to maintain appropriate physical distancing.

We have spoken with the organizers of both of our community gardens who are very excited to launch this season’s planting. Both groups will be putting safety measures in place to respect social distancing to keep their gardeners safe.

We ask all residents to also respect these guidelines for the safety of everyone. We will be sending out communications to this effect and encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns.

“To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” Alfred Austin

Dear Residents:

I hope you are healthy and safe!

For all of us, our lives remain uncertain, restrictions are still in place and have been extended. Unfortunately, we still are unable to plan events and activities because we don’t know when things will open up so we can begin the “new normal”.  However, there are some things we can celebrate and be grateful for:

• Your diligence in following the recommendations of the Ontario Health Ministry and the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit are working. We have had no reports of any of our residents or staff being infected by COVID-19.  Please continue to exercise social distancing, it’s working!

• Our janitorial contractors have stepped up and their hard work is also a big part of the reason our residents and staff have stayed healthy.

• Our community – residents in Haldimand and Norfolk have pulled together during the last few weeks and have shown what being part of a community means. Just a few examples are:

• • • Aqua Nails and Dover Apothecary dropped off a jug of hand sanitizer to our office when they found out we were low.
    • Sewing groups have offered and will be making masks for our seniors.
    • Volunteers are helping individuals who are self-isolating get food delivered.

Our Property Management team also has some things our residents can look forward to:

• Our Landscapers are gearing up for Spring clean up – summer contracts start May 1^st
  

• Other Spring projects include:
  • • Sprucing up building entrances and curb appeal
    • Enhancements such as benches & bike racks
    • Common Room and Garbage Room updates
    • More neighbourhood clean-up projects

We are working on our Spring Newsletter and hope to have it out to all residents in Mid-May.  It will include important information, some fun activities with prizes, and a tenant survey which can be completed and mailed back, or filled out on-line. Of course, any time you have feedback you can always use the “Talk to Us” form at the bottom of each website page.

Once again, thank you very much for all your efforts, it’s truly inspiring to see how everyone is working together so that we can all be healthy and safe!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”     Margaret Mead

Warmest regards,
Matt Bowen
CEO

For a list of important telephone numbers and helpful links, please click here.

Here are some helpful phone numbers and links we found on the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit webpage:

(anything this color is a link, click it for more information)

Telehealth Ontario – For medical advice, you may contact Telehealth Ontario, a free, confidential service. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 1-866-797-0000

Feeling Ill – If you feel ill, please consult your primary care provider

HNHU COVID-19 Hotline – For general inquiries regarding COVID-19, please call the HNHU COVID-19 hotline 519-426-6170 ext. 9999

Environmental Health Team hotline – For all COVID-19 inquiries related to or regarding Food Premises, Migrant Farms, Special Events, Personal Service Settings, Child Care Centers or Workplaces (non-health care setting) 519-426-6128

Telemedicine – In following social distancing recommendations in light of COVID-19, visits are available from the comfort of your own home at telemedinnovations.ca

Enforcement Hotline – Help enforce public health orders meant to help contain the spread of COVID-19 519-428-8019

For urgent situations requiring immediate medical care, call 911

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How to keep healthy – both mentally and physically

As COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold and new information is being quickly it might feel hard to keep up. It’s important to take a step back and focus on what you can control to best support you and your family’s mental health. Here are some resources that might be helpful. (click to link)

Coping with stress and anxiety (CAMH)

Talking to children about COVID-19 and its impact (CAMH)

Helping children cope with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak (World Health Organization)

Coping with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak (World Health Organization)

“Physical activity is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety and improve our mood and overall health. If you are self-isolated, find ways to exercise in your home. For example, use your stairs or follow an exercise video on YouTube.” – CAMH

“Eating healthily can help us feel better. When we are stressed, many people might choose comfort foods that are not actually good for stress and overall health. As much as is possible, choose more fruits and vegetables, and drink lots of water.” – CAMH

To Our Residents:

As many of you know, the Ontario government has extended the Declaration of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for an additional 28 days – to May 12, 2020.

HNHC continues to be deemed an essential service and we continue to be operating under the Emergency guidelines:

• Our office remains closed to the public, but staff continues to work supporting our residents by telephone, email, or through our website.
• All common rooms/areas at our apartment buildings continue to be closed and we encourage our residents to please follow physical distancing guidelines – please self-isolate; do not congregate in hallways, inside or outside the building; if you have to leave your apartment, wash your hands before leaving and immediately upon return, and don’t touch your face until your hands have been properly washed.
• To limit tenant and contractor exposure, we continue to issue only urgent repairs related to safety, security, or sanitation.

We are continuing our Resident Wellness Checks.  We have spoken with almost all of our senior residents and are continuing with residents of our apartment buildings who live alone.  If we weren’t able to reach you yet, and you have any questions or concerns, please call us!  We are in the office. We have lists of resources that can help you.

Our community is going through a very difficult and stressful time right now.  We recognize that many people are experiencing a heightened level of anxiety and we want to reassure you that this is perfectly normal.  Please call us or reach out to friends or family (by telephone, email, text).  Please remember to respect other people’s space – people are not ignoring or pulling away from you to be mean, they are distancing themselves for your safety and theirs.

We would like to remind you of some of the resources available to you:

• If you have lost your job, please contact Canada EI Services.
• If EI doesn’t apply to you, but you have lost income, visit the CERB website (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) to see if you qualify.
• If you are experiencing any symptoms or have concerns about a health issue, call your family doctor or Telehealth Ontario at 1-800-461-4319.
• If you have problems accessing food, contact the Community Food Hotline at 519-426-6170, or 905-318-6623, ext. 3793 (please leave a message, they will call you back).
• If you are having trouble paying your rent, call us at 519-426-7792 or 1-800-265-2819 (ext. 116 for Norfolk residents and ext. 113 for Haldimand residents). We can direct you to additional resources that may be able to help.
• You can make rental payments through e-transfer (click for instructions).

Finally, we want to thank you.  Our residents have been handling the current situation extremely well.  You have been patient and understanding.  This pandemic has defined us as a community and we here at HNHC could not be prouder of the community we are a part of.

On behalf of the Board and Staff of HNHC,

Thank you.

Matt Bowen
CEO