Tenant Archives | Calgary Housing

East District Office to Re-Open May 16

editor_user — Thu, 12 May 2022 22:27:05 +0000

East District Office to Re-Open May 16

Other offices remain closed

After more than two years of closure due to COVID-19, Calgary Housing Company will begin re-opening our offices next week.

On Monday, May 16, our East District Office will re-open for appointments from 9:30am – 4:00pm.

Only the East District Office (EDO) located in the Marlborough Mall Professional Building will re-open at this time. All other offices remain closed. The secure drop-boxes at the West District and South District offices remain available – but the offices themselves are not open for applicant or resident services.

Although the EDO will be open for appointments, applicants and residents are reminded of the following important points:

It is strongly recommended that you do not drop-in for service – call to make an appointment. Many staff have moved their work locations or work at properties or remotely – do not assume that a particular person will be available if you drop into the office.
Many services are available online through the Applicant Portal and the Resident Portal. More info on these services and how to access them are available at these links: Online Services for Applicants – Online Services for Residents.

East District Office – Open beginning May 16

Marlborough Mall Professional Building, 320 Marlborough Way NE

NEW Hours of Operation: 9:30am – 4:00pm

To book an appointment, call (587) 390-1200 or call the team member you would like to meet with

West District Office Remains Closed

South District Office – Remains Closed

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Social Work Week: A Tenant Liaison’s Story on Making Residents’ Lives Better

editor_user — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 19:23:33 +0000

Social Work Week: A Tenant Liaison’s Story on Making Residents’ Lives Better

“Always be kind. Always keep trying. Don’t throw someone away because they aren’t doing the right thing right now.”

When Suzanne White first started at Calgary Housing Company (CHC), there were only 4,000 residents; today there are almost 25,000. She was the first Tenant Liaison at CHC. Tenant Liaisons are CHC’s social workers, each of them is registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers. They connect residents to resources, help them get settled in CHC, help keep them housed, and advocate for the residents.

Originally from Toronto, Suzanne started at CHC when she first moved to Calgary. She credits her creativity as a part of what helped her initially succeed in her role. In her first six months she made over 100 connections with agencies across Calgary. “We had issues with tenancy retention. So I started interviewing residents to see where they needed to be and where their supports were.” For one building that meant connecting with the psychiatric nurses who were working with some of the residents. Connecting the residents with external supports helped strengthen the connection between CHC and the resident.

When advocating for residents “maintaining housing is key. I’m creative and work with multiple agencies to keep people housed. There was one resident I connected to an income tax clinic, so she could get her taxes done, get back on AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) and keep her residence.”

In addition to building relationships with different agencies, Suzanne builds strong relationships with residents as well. “At community events adults will come up to me and share memories from when they were a child. They’ll tell me about how I took them to the zoo or somewhere else. And they always give me a hug.”

Suzanne’s ability to engage with young people has been a key strength, “When there are challenges connecting with the parents, reaching out to the kids is a great way to build trust with the family.” One program she has introduced at the CHC Edgemont complex where she is Tenant Liaison is Soccer without Boundaries. It is run by a fellow named Jean Claude and the Edgemont Community Association. Jean works closely with the parents to help the kids succeed. This includes covering fuel costs or ordering taxis when transportation is a barrier to kids participating. This is just one of the many programs Suzanne has helped implement across CHC.

When asked about resident successes, Suzanne shares the story of an elderly resident. She was on oxygen with a long cord and Suzanne would go and visit her once a week to check in. When she eventually moved on to supportive living, her son called to say how much he appreciated those visits, because they had greatly helped cut down his mother’s isolation and had even helped her connect with the family next door.

Suzanne says that while university was very theoretical, on the job she quickly learnt how to connect with people. “Travel taught me about working with different cultures.” And “I’m a good listener, part of that is being okay with silence. I can be calm and listen and wait for people to speak.”

After several decades of experience as a Tenant Liaison with CHC, Suzanne says she has been fortunate to work with so many residents, CHC staff and community partners to help enhance the lives of those who live in affordable housing.

“A lot of people don’t know about affordable housing, they don’t understand what it is. Most people see CHC as low income, but it’s a lot more than that. A lot of agencies don’t even know what affordable housing is.” For many residents, the support and engagement provided by social workers like Suzanne and the rest of CHC’s Tenant Liaison team, an affordable home is the foundation of a better life.

Suzanne is the Tenant Liaison at CHC’s Edgemont building, which has 84 units of provincially regulated social housing. It was built in 1982 and houses families in two to five bedroom units. Tenant Liaison’s at CHC do an incredible range of work for residents and in developing the community at each site. While Social Work Week (March 7 to 13) is an opportunity to recognize their contributions, we greatly appreciate the work they do year round and the impact they have for our residents.

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COVID-19 Update – Restrictions Ending

editor_user — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 15:45:44 +0000

COVID-19 Update

On Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 the Government of Alberta announced its decision to proceed to Step 2 of its Return to Normal plan on March 1 (Alberta to lift almost all remaining health restrictions | alberta.ca).

Effective March 1, 2022 the following changes to CHC’s business operations will be implemented:

Face coverings are no longer required in common areas and hallways of CHC managed properties.

Scheduled maintenance in occupied units will commence on March 1, 2022.
Common areas to open at full occupancy.
Programs and events are permitted on all CHC managed sites.
Outdoor patios will open, weather permitting.
Indoor and outdoor social gatherings are permitted.

Front counters will remain closed. Please continue to use our online and telephone contact options.

As self-isolation is still required for those with COVID-19 in order to prevent transmission, CHC will maintain the following until the Government of Alberta moves to Step 3:

Residents are to continue reporting COVID-19 infections to their Property Manager and Tenant Liaison. CHC keeps this information confidential and uses it to provide residents with support during self-isolation and monitors our properties to prevent an outbreak on a CHC site.
CHC will continue to as screening questions for COVID-19 prior to scheduling maintenance work. If a person in the household has COVID-19, the work will be scheduled after their self-isolation is complete. If the work is an emergency, the work will proceed with staff using the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
Hygiene protocols and social distancing will continue to minimize transmission as we “Return to Normal”

For detailed, current information on Provincial restrictions and guidance, please visit the Government of Alberta site: COVID-19 Public Health Actions

Click here to view March 1 Government of Alberta Information Release on Restriction Changes

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Residents May See Staff Changes as CHC Transforms to Improve Service

editor_user — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:20:32 +0000

Residents May See Staff Changes as CHC Transforms to Improve Service

As 2022 kicks off, Calgary Housing Company residents can expect to see some changes in our organization and in the staff supporting our operations.

Over the past couple of years, CHC has gone through a process we call Transform Calgary Housing – an effort to develop the organization to better serve our customers, to work more effectively with government, and to make sure we will be sustainable to keep providing service for years to come.

The results of this effort are now being put in place including some changes in how staff are organized to provide the best possible service.

What does this mean for our residents?

A primary goal of our transformation is to improve customer service and the experiences of our residents. As a result, there has been a re-organization of our Customer Experience department and some changes to staff roles.

At some of our properties, this will result in staff changes such as new Property Managers, Housing Administrators and Tenant Liaisons. Where such changes are happening, residents will receive letters with details of any changes and contact information. Click here to download the “Who to Call” brochure.

Thank you for your patience throughout this transition – we look forward to continuing to offer you a great place to live and call home!

The post Residents May See Staff Changes as CHC Transforms to Improve Service appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Province Provides Highlights of Affordable Housing Strategy for Residents

editor_user — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:50:20 +0000

Province Provides Highlights of Affordable Housing Strategy for Residents

On November 1, the Government of Alberta released Stronger Foundations: Alberta’s 10-year strategy to improve and expand affordable housing.

Key highlights of the announcement from the government that may be of interest to residents:

Over the next 10 years, the province will take bold action to build an affordable housing system that is flexible and adaptable to local needs, fair, inclusive and sustainable, and provide more affordable housing options that meet the needs of Albertans with low income. The strategy outlines how the province has set a target to serve 82,000 households – an increase of more than 40 per cent over 10 years – through five key action areas:

- Support Albertans most in need,
- Improve access,
- Increase governance and planning,
- Enhance sustainability and efficiency, and
- Enable growth and investment.

Of special note for residents, actions under the strategy intend to make it simpler for residents to access and navigate housing supports, and make sure there are more options and more flexibility in how residents meet their individual needs. This includes helping residents improve their personal situations as they work toward housing independence where possible.

Initiatives that may be of interest to residents include:

- The Government of Alberta will make it easier for Albertans to find housing options, understand the eligibility criteria, and connect with a housing provider. This includes continued investment in the Find Housing online tool and making the eligibility rules more fair for everyone.
- The government will work with housing providers to provide local housing solutions to meet a range of needs – from the most vulnerable households to those with more moderate needs.
- Mixed-income housing approaches will be the focus in planning for new developments. Mixed-income housing lets residents pay rent at a price that makes sense for their individual situations. Instead of moving if their finances change, they can simply pay an adjusted price.
- The government plans to expand its redesigned Rent Supplement Program. Through that program, tenants can use the benefit to afford market units if they choose, so they aren’t limited to designated affordable housing units.

The Government of Alberta stated they “will proceed thoughtfully and carefully and will continue to protect the most vulnerable to ensure they are not left behind”.

You can learn more about the strategy online at: alberta.ca/stronger-foundations-affordable-housing-strategy.aspx.

The post Province Provides Highlights of Affordable Housing Strategy for Residents appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Government of Alberta Releases “Stronger Foundations” Affordable Housing Strategy

editor_user — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 13:00:42 +0000

Government of Alberta Releases “Stronger Foundations” Affordable Housing Strategy

On Monday November 1st, the Government of Alberta released Stronger Foundations Affordable Housing Strategy, a 10-year affordable housing strategy for Alberta.

“We are pleased to see the Province recognizing the importance of affordable housing and the needs of Albertans living on low incomes,” says CHC President Sarah Woodgate, “We desperately need resources to address the housing needs of Albertans in deep poverty – this requires government investment and we look forward to understanding how this plan will be implemented.”

In order to deliver on this new plan and its targets, it is urgent we see significant investment in Budget 2022 and beyond. After decades of under-investment in existing units and new affordable housing construction, it is vital to ensure expanded investments – both in new affordable homes and for supplements to enable lower income households to make rent – focus on the lowest income Albertans who are in the greatest need of housing.

The strategy includes a 10-year plan to create housing options for an additional 25,000 households across the province by 2032 and provides a 10-year roadmap outlining key actions needed to transform the current housing system. The plan indicates the new housing support will be roughly split between funding for new units and additional spaces under Rent Assistance programs.

“We look forward to non-profits and housing agencies being meaningfully engaged in discussions about this strategy and to understanding the implications for housing providers, municipalities, and Calgarians,” says Woodgate.

CHC will continue to engage the Government of Alberta to understand the actions to which the Province has committed within the strategy and the impact these actions will have on our residents and Albertans in housing need. We will work closely with the province to ensure we can collectively retain, regenerate, and grow the number of affordable homes available to enable lower income Albertans to live with dignity.

Background and Resources

Development of the new Alberta Affordable Housing Strategy was one or the 19 recommendations included in the final report of the Panel on Affordable Housing released in December, 2020. Calgary Housing Company and The City of Calgary submitted recommendations to the panel and also endorsed the submission of the Community Housing Affordability Collective (CHAC).

Important Links:

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Update on partner programming at CHC Properties

difm_admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 16:00:15 +0000

Update on Partner Programming at CHC Properties

The following Community Partners are delivering in-person support and services safely on-site. Please refer to the dates and times for specific locations.

On-Site Partner Programming

Bow West Community Resource Centre

Ranchlands – by appointment
[Added June 11, 2021]

Care Connect

Bridgeland – for assistance getting food hampers from the Interfaith Food Bank. Call 403-264-2636.

Hull Services (Patch)

Woodlands – Opening soon to in-person by appointment
Dover – Opening soon to in-person by appointment
Midnapore – Opening soon to in-person by appointment
[Added June 11, 2021]

Soccer without Boundaries

MacEwan – Thursday at 5:30 at the public field next door.
[Added August 5, 2021]

Southeast Community Resource Centre

Ogden – by appointment [Added June 11, 2021]
Crestwood – parent child group [Added June 21, 2021]

Trellis | growwithtrellis.ca

Deer Run – Monday 2pm-6pm and Wednesdays 10am-2pm
For youth programs and hub inquiries call (403) 472-5568.
[Added March 19, 2021]

Women in Need Society (WINS) | winsyyc.ca

Temple – Tuesdays & Thursdays by appointment
Erinwoods – Wednesdays & Fridays by appointment
[Updated June 11, 2021]

Site Specific Activities

Community Gardens

Reach out to your Tenant Liaison if you are interested in getting involved with the community garden at the following locations!
[Added June 11, 2021]

Bridgeland Community Garden
Shaganappi Community Garden
Rosscarrock Community Garden
Manchester Community Garden
Baker House Community Garden
Falconridge Community Garden

Crestwood

Parenting programs, pre-school programs and toy lending library. Thursday and Friday mornings, in partnership with SE Calgary Community Resource Centre and Families Matter. [Added June 22, 2021]

East Village

Walking group. Dates vary – contact Pat for more info. [Added June 22, 2021]

Louise Station

Parent and tot walking group. Dates vary – contact Pat for more info. [Added June 22, 2021]

The post Update on partner programming at CHC Properties appeared first on Calgary Housing.

How to Reset Your Breaker Panel in 4 Simple Steps

difm_admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 21:57:30 +0000

HOW TO RESET YOUR BREAKER PANEL: 4 SIMPLE STEPS

If an electrician or a technician is called to your unit to reset the breakers, there may be a cost to you. Learn how to reset your breaker panel in 4 easy steps.

An electrical circuit breaker panel is the main distribution point for electrical circuits in your home. If a circuit overloads or shorts, the breaker will trip and cut power to prevent fire and possible electrocution. Resetting a breaker is simple, if you know how, and will restore power to the room or rooms affected if there isn’t an outage. Resetting your circuit breaker is safe and easy if you follow the proper steps.

Please Note, if an electrician or a technician is called to your unit and they reset the breakers, there may be a cost to you.

Most circuit breaker panels have two vertical rows of breakers. Above (or sometimes below) the rows is a large breaker called the main breaker. This breaker controls the power to all of the other breakers. If you switch off the main breaker, you turn off all the circuits in the house at once. Follow these steps to help you to reset your breaker.

Light Switches and appliances: Turn off light switches and unplug appliances in all rooms that have lost power.
Locate the Circuit Breaker: Find your circuit breaker box and open the cover.
Locate the Tripped Breaker: Circuit breakers are small, usually horizontal switches and may be labeled (e.g., “kitchen,” “bathroom” etc.).The tripped circuit breaker will be in the “off” position or in a middle position between “on” and “off.”
Reset the Breaker: Move the breaker to the full “off” position and then back to “on.” That should clear an overload and return power to the room.
- Breaker Re-trips: If the breaker re-trips, it could be for a number of reasons: too many lamps and appliances plugged into the circuit; a damaged cord or plug; a short circuit in a receptacle, switch or fixture; or faulty wiring.
- Troubleshooting: Identify and fix problems before finally resetting the breaker.

HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT BREAKER RE-TRIPS

Check for a short by switching on each light. If the breaker stays on, carefully plug in each device. If the circuit breaker trips when you plug something in, you found the source of the problem. Unplug the device and reset the breaker. You can verify a suspected short by examining the power cord for melted insulation. Also, check the plug and outlet for a burnt smell or charring.
Check for an overload by plugging everything in and switching everything on. If the breaker trips, either switch off some power guzzlers, like the air conditioner or heaters, or plug them into an outlet on different circuit
If it appears the break is being tripped due to faulty wiring or another issue in your home, please call 587-390-1200 and report it to maintenance.

Please Note, if an electrician or a technician is called to your unit and they reset the breakers, there may be a cost to you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Never remove the dead front cover (the flat metal panel you see when you open the door) or go poking around inside a circuit breaker panel.

HOW TO VIDEO:

(Video Source: YouTube)

The post How to Reset Your Breaker Panel in 4 Simple Steps appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Current COVID-19 Info for Tenants

difm_admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 18:00:07 +0000

Current COVID-19 Info for Tenants

As of July 1 the Government of Alberta moved to Stage 3 of Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan, which saw all restrictions lifted outside of continuing care facilities. Here is what that means for Calgary Housing Company and our residents.

Indoor and Outdoor Social Gatherings are permitted – there are no more restrictions on gatherings. We are however asking residents to minimize large gatherings until more people have received second doses of vaccine and to give everyone time to adjust to the changes.

Mask use recommended in commons spaces – The City of Calgary mask by-law was repealed on July 5, however masks are still strongly recommended in common spaces.

Work in occupied units – Regular maintenance work in occupied units has been ongoing since June 10, 2021. CHC is strongly recommending that anyone working in occupied units continue to follow health measures and we are asking tenants to do the same.

Resource Rooms and Tenant Programs – View Info on Partner Programming for details on what is available at the property level. Refer to our Community Supports page for local resources, or reach out to your Tenant Liaison if you are in need of support.

Increased Janitorial at high density properties – Calgary Housing Company is continuing increased janitorial services at our high density properties.

Tenant Self-Reporting – Alberta Health Services does not notify CHC of positive cases on our properties, so self-reporting any positive cases in your home is an important tool to support the effort to keep our communities safe. If you have a positive case of COVID-19 in your home, please contact your Property Manager. This will help us monitor and track active and recovered COVID-19 cases on our properties and help us understand risk level. Read more about how CHC Monitors for COVID-19.

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Getting Ready for a Safe Summer

difm_admin — Fri, 28 May 2021 16:31:06 +0000

Getting Ready for a Safe Summer

Summer is just around the corner, so we have put together resources to help you get ready and stay safe while having fun. Read on for:

COVID-19 safety this summer
Fire safety resources
Tips for trampoline and swimming pool safety
Tips for preventing mold and pests

COVID-19 Safety this Summer

The Government of Alberta announced their Open for Summer Plan on May 26 with provincewide health measures being removed in three stages, as vaccine targets are reached and hospitalizations decline.

Stage 1: Two weeks after 50 per cent of Albertans age 12-plus have received at least one dose of vaccine and COVID-19 hospitalizations are below 800 and declining.
Stage 2: Two weeks after 60 per cent of Albertans age 12-plus have received at least one dose of vaccine and COVID-19 hospitalizations are below 500 and declining. At this stage Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect
Stage 3: Two weeks after 70 per cent of Albertans age 12-plus have received at least one dose of vaccine. At this stage, all restrictions will be lifted, including ban on indoor social gatherings, but isolation requirements for confirmed cases of COVID-19 and some protective measures in continuing care settings will remain.

According to the Government of Alberta, since we have reached the 50 per cent threshold for one-dose vaccination on May 18, and with hospitalizations well below 800, Alberta will enter Stage 1 on June 1. Based on the current pace of vaccinations, Alberta is projected to enter Stage 2 in mid-June and Stage 3 in late June or early July.

These are estimates only and rely on all Albertans continuing to drive down our hospitalizations while increasing vaccination numbers.

Fire Safety Resources

Refer to these safety resources as you think about cooking food on a barbecue or sitting around a fire this summer.

Using Barbeques Safely

Gas BBQs are allowed but must be located at a safe distance of at least 2 feet from fences, railings, walls and buildings while in use or while still hot. Hibachis and other charcoal BBQs are not permitted on CHC sites.

Fire pits, wood burning stoves and chimineas are prohibited

Fire pits, wood burning stoves and chimineas are prohibited on all CHC sites, including yards and common areas. You can book fire pits at community parks. Hibachis and other charcoal BBQs are not permitted on CHC sites.

At home fire safety tips

These resources will help you practice safe cooking habits in your kitchen all year round.

Tips for trampoline and swimming pool safety

Follow the safety rules below if you live in a CHC home with space for a swimming pool or trampoline. CHC is not responsible for any incidents that result from use of a swimming pool or trampoline.

Trampolines safety information

Trampolines are permitted if the tenant follows manufacturers’ guidelines and directions.

Location must be at least 3 feet from fences, buildings, trees, parking areas and other obstacles.

A net is mandatory and must be in good repair.
Secure trampoline to protect from high winds.
Not all yards will accommodate the size of a trampoline safely.
CHC is not responsible for any incidents that result from use of a trampoline.

Refer to Trampoline Injury Prevention and Safety from the Government of Alberta for tips.

Swimming pool safety information

Calgary Housing Company does not permit a pool that is greater than 18 inches in height and/or 6 feet in diameter on CHC property including yards, common areas and play areas.

Pools must be drained at the furthest point away from all buildings with water drained away from buildings.
Children must be supervised at all times.
Calgary Housing Company is not responsible for any incidents that result from use of a pool.

Refer to the City of Calgary wading pools, spray parks and outdoor pools page for details on when these facilities will open and for information on COVID-19 protocols.

Tips for preventing mold and pests

The moisture and humidity of summer along with spending more time outside can create circumstances for mold and pests. Follow these tips to prevent mold and pests in and around your home.

Preventing mold in your home

Mold seeks moisture, warmth and food to grow, so you can prevent mold from growing by controlling moisture and keeping your home dry. Following these tips and can prevent mold from growing in and around your home.

Maintain correct room temperature (Between 16* Celcius (61*F) and 21* Celsius (70*F) and air circulation.
When cooking, open a window or turn on exhaust fans if available.
Turn on bathroom exhaust fan (where equipped) for at least 15 minutes after a shower or bath.
Increase the airflow in your home: keep interior doors open, keep furniture one inch from the wall and open your curtains and/or blinds.
Do not hang blankets on windows as this traps moist air, and reduce the amount of materials you store that collect moisture such as fabrics, paper, and wood.
Keep your unit clean at all times to allow for good ventilation and airflow.

Refer to additional information on mold from the Government of Alberta for more.

Preventing pests in your home

To avoid attracting pests, rodents or stray animals, please help keep your home and surroundings clean and free of garbage and debris.

If you notice pests such as bed bugs, cockroaches or mice in your unit, please call your Maintenance Administrator or (587) 390-1200.

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