TORONTO, May 14, 2024
/CNW/ - The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) was
recently awarded $1 million of grant
funding by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to support
their Sector Transformation Enterprise Program (STEP) which offers
guidance to community housing providers as they approach their
End-of-Mortgage and/or End-of-Operating Agreements. STEP is
designed to provide Ontario's
community housing providers with access to the expertise and data
they need to adequately optimize their business models and navigate
the sector transformation efforts ahead of them.
"ONPHA is pleased to receive this funding and put it towards a
grant to help housing providers renegotiate their funding
agreements with their Service Manager and the Province", said
Marlene Coffey, Chief Executive
Officer of ONPHA. "The Grant will help housing providers access
immediate capacity, better prepare for the transition ahead, and
will establish best practices that will be used to develop
initiatives for the rest of the sector".
ONPHA's STEP program aims to connect community housing providers
with pre-vetted professional services to assist them in preparing
for negotiations with their service managers. The grant will allow
ONPHA to extend financial support of up to $15,000 for one community housing provider in
each service manager area and aims to help ease the financial cost
of working with external consulting experts.
In light of the pressing challenges facing the community
housing sector after the changes to the Housing Services Act in
2022, this grant will empower providers to approach negotiations
from a position of readiness and expertise, ensuring effective
preparation for the transformation ahead.
More information about ONPHA's Sector Transformation
Enterprise Program visit
www.onpha.on.ca/STEP.
About ONPHA's Sector Transformation Community
Initiative
On July 1, 2022, changes to the
Housing Services Act came into effect as part of the Province's
Community Housing Renewal Framework Initiative. It introduced
significant changes to the operating environment for community
housing, especially for providers entering new funding agreements.
ONPHA's Initiative helps organizations understand and interpret the
impacts of this legislation.
About ONPHA
Founded in 1988, ONPHA is an independent association funded and
directed by its members, representing Ontario's non-profit housing providers. ONPHA
leads, supports and advocates for the non-profit housing sector to
deliver sustainable, equitable housing and create communities where
all people can thrive.
SOURCE Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA)