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WELCOME TO THE NEW CO-OP HOUSING INFORMATION EXCHANGE THAT HAS A MANDATE TO SHARE FREE INFORMATION ABOUT CO-OPS, SOCIAL/COMMUNITY HOUSING, AND RESOURCES IN CANADA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UNITED KINGDOM, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

WHAT MUST BE REQUIRED IS PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDE ACCOUNTABILITY AT ALL NON-PROFIT HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES ACROSS CANADA, AROUND THE WORLD, AND ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

CO-OPERATION CAN LEAD TO SUCCESS THROUGH SHARING FREE KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING AND THEN UNDERSTANDING!

CHIE HELPS PUT TOGETHER ALL THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ABOUT NON-PROFIT CO-OP HOUSING IN CANADA, SO YOU CAN GAIN A BETTER PERSPECTIVE.
THE CULTURE OF SILENCE AT MEMBER CO-OPS NEEDS TO END THAT SURROUND THE PRACTICE OF POOR OR BAD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT.

FOLLOW YOUR CHIE, NOT A FAILED STATUS QUO WITH SELF-SERVING CO-OP HOUSING STAKEHOLDERS.

CHIE IS A SELF-HELP SITE THAT IS YOURS TO DISCOVER. LEARN ABOUT AND ADOPT PRINCIPLED LEARDERSHIP, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. REVIEW INTERNAL CONTROLS, FRAUD DETECTION AND PREVENTION. LEARN ABOUT CO-OP STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNING LAWS, AND NEWS MEDIA.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE MULTIBLE LINKS AREA AND ITEMS OF LEGISLATION THAT OFFER RESOURCES THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME SOLUTIONS FOR CANADIAN NON-PROFIT HOUSING CO-OPS AND NON-PROFIT HOUSING OUTSIDE CANADA IN DIFFICULTY OR CRISIS.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESEARCH CO-OP STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND LEGISLATION THAT RELATE TO CO-OP'S IN YOUR PROVENCE OR STATE, AND COUNTRY. CHECK FOR INFORMATION UPDATES IN THE LINKS AREA AND OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE CHIE SITE.

IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE INFORMATION YOU ARE RESEARCHING ON CHIE OR KEN'S SITE, TRY SOME OF THE MANY LINKS AVAILABLE, EXAMPLE: CHF CANADA...

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**AS AT MARCH 2, 2014 YOU CAN NOW REGISTER AND JOIN THE CHIE SITE**

CHIE HAS A POLICY TO REVIEW AND DELETE MATERIAL OR COMMENTS THAT ARE DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE OR OFFENSIVE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SITE ADMINISTRATOR. THE CHIE ADMINISTRATOR WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENQUIRES...

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SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH CHIE ABOUT CO-OP HOUSING BY USING THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW, AND IT MAY BE PUBLISHED ON THE CHIE SITE.

NOTICE ABOUT CHIE CONTENT AS AT JULY 16, 2017
SOME INFORMATION HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF VIEW FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND MAY BE RE-PUBLISHED A LATER POINT IN-TIME AFTER THE REVIEW HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND APPROVED


Ken Hummel, Administrator, Co-op Housing Information Exchange


Contact information, e-mail: <kenhummel@msn.com>




Thursday

IN THE MATTER OF SAND HILLS CO-OPERATIVE HOMES INCORPORATED

REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WATERLOO

Council Regular Meeting: April 17, 2013


Re: Sand Hills Co-operative Housing Inc. - Report: CR-RS-13-034/P-13-042


..."Reginal staff considered several remidies in this instance including the termination of subsidy or the appointment of a receiver, both of which could cause considerable additional hardship for the members of the Co-operative, risk, of greater harm or significant additional expense for the Co-operative, which is already financially challenged."


"After considering the various options, as noted above, the Commissioner of Planing, Housing and Community Services has issued a notice removing existing directors from office and replacing them with five (5) non-resident directors which appointment had effect on April 15, 2013."...


Please scroll down to pages 20-23 to view the 4-page Report in the link below:


regionofwaterloo.ca

http://tinyurl.com/cxaydxb



The Record news article links below about Sand Hills co-op are broken and can't be repaired at this point-in-time. You can access these articles and any updates by typing 'sand hills co-op' or 'co-op housing' in the search window on THE RECORD WEBSITE :

 

the record.com

April 27, 2014

By Paige Desmond, Record staff

"Sand Hills co-op battle 'sordid affair,' Councillor says"..."In one indident, lawyer Murray Klippenstein "said those were 'fighting words' and flung a paper coaster at the region's councel" upon suggestion a new board be installed, court documents say."

And "The actual membership of the board was uncertiain. A corporate profile last updated in January 2012 listed 14 directors. One was dead and others weren't directors anymore."

 

ctvnews.ca

July 11, 2013

"Drugs, replica guns found at Kitchener housing complex"..."Police executed a search warrant at a unit in Sand Hills Co-Op"...

http://tinyurl.com/mvzde79



therecord.com

May 28, 2013

By Frances Barrick, Record staff

"Review of local housing co-op finds $75,000 deficit"

http://tinyurl.com/p9qv48p


ctvnews.ca

May 27, 2013


"Troubled Kitchener housing co-op's budget deficit could fall to taxpayers"


Please click the link below to access the news article:

http://tinyurl.com/qdn6odn


therecord.com

April 18, 2013

By Paige Desmond, Record staff


"Local housing co-op had board troubles in the past"


..."In 2001, when the province turned over responsibility for housing projects to cities, officials discovered more than half of the tenants at the 80-unit Sand Hills complex were in rent arrears totalling $160,000."


"Many claimed they made payments in cash but there were no records of the payments."


"There were several projects that were called projects with difficulties, "Coun. Sean Strickland said. "There were similar types of concerns (to today.)"


Please click the link below to access the article:

http://tinyurl.com/cedby7l


therecord.com

April 17, 2013

By Paige Desmond, Record staff


"Region takes over housing co-op"

...


"A list of issues were detailed in a region report:"


"Payments made to directors from the co-op's funds with no information provided."

"Inability to maintain adequate property management services."

"Failure to maintain property in an adequate state of repair."

"Lack of proper financial administration."


"Failure to complete annual financial statements and other documents required by the Housing Services Act."


"Failure to properly administer rent-geared-to-income subsidies for members."

"Failure to hold meetings and seek approval of members as required by provincial law and the bylaws of the co-operative."


Please click the link below to access the article:

http://tinyurl.com/c4b4c8s



ctvnews.ca

April 16, 2013

Max Wark, CTV staff has more in the video


"Deposed housing co-op board members oppose board's replacement"


"Under the provincial Housing Act, the region provides the co-op with $480,000 each year and is responsible for overseeing its management."


"But financial statements have not been provided to the region, which says it has no idea how the past five months funding has been spent."


"Regional officials say legal action may be taken against the previous board if they find that money has been misappropriated."


Please click the link below to access the article:

http://tinyurl.com/bwshghm


ctvnews.ca

April 15, 2013

Frank Lynn, CTV staff has more in the video


"Region takes control at troubled Kitchener housing co-op"


..."Among those complaints are allegations of unwarranted or excessive spending, failing to hold meetings and not providing adequate property management."...


Please click the link below to access the article:

http://tinyurl.com/dx9xy5j

 
 
 

Some Other Recent Developments at Sand Hills Housing Co-operative:



chfcanada.coop 'Job Postings'

Coordinator


http://tinyurl.com/c8fn8mn


Part-time Bookkeeper


http://tinyurl.com/brd7jv3




Comments:


Its interesting to note the views of people after reading what the Region of Waterloo states in its 4-page report about Sand Hills co-op and what is noted in the April 18, April 17, April 16 and April 15, 2013 News Articles and Videos, AND that CHF Canada is advertising for a Coordinator and Bookkeeper for Sand Hills Housing Co-operative.


In Ken's view, Regional Staff and the Commissioner made the best decision in removing the Sand Hills directors from office and replacing them with 5 non-resident directors, after they considered various options available to them. Ken supports the Region of Waterloo decisions and its next steps in respect to Sand Hills co-op.


In Ken's opinion, the Region of Waterloo in its decisions appear to be implementing a risk-based approach through a "workout" plan in respect to Sand Hills co-op.


In Ken's view, CHF Canada should not be opposed to the Region of Waterloo's decisions through a workout plan for the co-op, as CHF Canada and its sole partner, the Agency for Co-operative Housing appears to support this type of workout plan.


You can gain a better understanding of risk management and a "workout" plan by accessing CHF Canada's NewsBriefs National Edition, Spring 2011 article 'Risky Business' by Scott Jackson.


Please click the link below and scroll down to pages 8-11:


chfcananda.coop

http://tinyurl.com/chjxnnh


In Ken's view, some similarities exist between Sand Hills co-op and other co-ops that could include Athol Green co-op in some aspects of its management.


In Ken's view, a more thorough understanding of a Project-In-Difficulty ("PID") and a greater appreciation for the decisions made by the Region of Waterloo may be reached when comparing the 4-page Report of Sand Hills co-op prepared by the Region of Waterloo AND the 54-page Report of North End United co-op prepared by Grant Thornton LLP. on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia.


Review Province of Nova Scotia, Department of Community Services and North End United Housing Co-operative Ltd. Oversight of Social Housing Assistance Repair Program, Government and Financial Sustainability Review August 10, 2011.


Please click the link below to access the 54-page Report:


grantthornton.ca

http://tinyurl.com/7dhaog5


Please click link below and scroll down to pages 20-23 to review the 4-page Report prepared by the Region of Waterloo:


regionofwaterloo.ca

http://tinyurl.com/cxaydxb 

 

 

Access to additional information: IN THE MATTER OF NON-PROFIT CO-OPERATIVE HOMES







Information noted may be revised and/or deleted without prior notification.




Ken Hummel, Administrator, CHIE


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