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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.

Each December the Salvation Army provides food hampers for Individuals and Families to help them enjoy the holidays.  For families, the hampers include toys for children aged 14 years and under.  The 2021 hampers will be available starting on December 16th (by appointment only) but you need to register as soon as possible to ensure there are enough hampers to go around.

To register:

In Simcoe

• Call the Simcoe Salvation Army at (519) 426-3640 or (226)567-0255
• Email famserv.simcoe@eastlink.ca
• Visit salvationarmysimcoe.ca or their facebook page
• Complete an online form 

In Dunnville

• Call the Dunnville Salvation Army at (905) 774-4251
• Email lisagibb@haldimand-norfolksalvation.org
• Visit salvationarmysimcoe.ca/familyservicesdunnville.html#

Have you had a maintenance or repair visit recently?  HNHC needs your feedback!

In April, staff began reaching out to residents for feedback on their maintenance and repair visits.  We received valuable feedback and decided to make this an ongoing process.  We also decided we needed to thank our residents for their time and helpful comments.  Starting this month, we have begun a draw on the last day of each month.  All residents who completed a maintenance & repair survey in that month will be eligible to win a Tim Horton’s gift card.

There are three ways to win.  Staff will reach out to as many residents as possible for a phone survey.  Residents can also fill out the survey online by visiting https://hnhousing.ca/repair-maintenance-survey/  or clicking here.  And soon we will be installing survey boxes in the lobbies of our buildings where residents can complete a survey card and just drop it in the box.  Keep an eye out for these!

The surveys can be anonymous, but we can only enter you in the draw if you include your name.

Today we pulled the first winners from participants from April through July.  They’ll be receiving their cards by mail in the next few days.  Maybe you can be a winner too!

Dunnville Non-Profit Housing Corporation Requests Applications for Volunteer Board Members

The Dunnville Non-Profit Housing Corporation is seeking applications from residents in Dunnville or the surrounding area who are interested in joining our Board of Directors.   The organization was created in 1988 by local community members with an interest in providing affordable housing to families in the community.  The Corporation is the owner of 60 family townhouses in Dunnville, Ontario locally known as Thompson Creek Court.  The Corporation operates its business under the Housing Services Act, Residential Tenancies Act, local municipal directives, and other sector-related legislation.  There is flexibility; however, for the Corporation to develop local policies as required.

The Board of Directors is composed of community-minded individuals with an interest and commitment to affordable housing.  The corporation is primarily a governance board with the responsibility of ensuring that it meets its financial and regulatory obligations to the local municipality and province of Ontario.  Applicants who are interested in learning about community housing will find this volunteer experience rewarding.

We are currently seeking board members to serve for a term of three years starting September 27, 2021.  Meetings are held in Dunnville, for approximately 2 hours at 1:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the following months:  February, April, June, September, and November.  A professional board package is mailed in advance to all board members for their review prior to each meeting.

Board members are required to have internet access and email.  Interested applicants can request an application by emailing hnhc@hnhousing.ca.

An application can also be downloaded here.

We thank you for considering this local volunteer opportunity.

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

“Based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), the guideline on rent increases for 2022 in Ontario is 1.2%.”

Further stating that;

“The rent increase guideline is the maximum most landlords can raise a tenant’s rent without the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). It is applicable to most rent increases between January 1 and December 31, 2022.”

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 at least 12 months after the first day of tenancy or last rent increase.

The 2021 rent increase freeze will end December 31. Landlords can send a rent increase notice that takes effect in 2022 before the freeze is lifted (i.e., 90 days).

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.