January 2020 Newsletter
Our January newsletter is designed to share information and resources to help you achieve your resolutions in 2020
1. Improve my and my colleagues' health and wellness
Did you know that MNPHA's group health benefits program offers more than just prescription, dental, and vision coverage? There is also travel health insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, employee and family assistance, and much more. It's available to organizations with one employee or more, and leverages our buying power to get a better plan at better rates.
2. Develop (and use) a Capital Reserve Plan

There are more and more financing options available to address capital repair needs for our sector. But do you know what those needs will be over the next 5, 10, and 25 years? The deadline to access preferred pricing on a Building Condition Assessment or Reserve Fund Study for this year is coming up March 31, 2020.
3. Beautify our community

The Province of Manitoba is accepting applications for the Urban/Hometown Green Team program. Green Team grants are awarded to non-profit organizations and municipal governments to hire youth between the ages of 15 and 29 to work on community projects, such as community gardens, beautification, grounds maintenance, and public education between May and August. Some organizations use the fund for mural projects, others for youth recreation programs, some to have summer waste pick-up and yard work. Apply by January 22.
4. Build my network in the non-profit housing sector
Most of our members say they join MNPHA to meet others in the sector. We have three events planned this winter to support that networking:
  • Life Lease Forum, February 6, 10am-2:30pm
  • ED/Manager Mixer, February 18, 8:30-10:30am
  • Board Member Mixer, February 19, 8:30-10:30am
All three are designed to have guided conversations about areas of interest and common challenges.
5. Increase my network across Canada
Registration for the 2020 National Congress on Housing and Homelessness is open. The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association's 52nd Congress will bring together leaders in the community housing sector across Canada to network, learn, and collaborate on the sector's most pressing issues. It is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan April 21-23, 2020.

Browse the  Congress website  and learn more about the Congress program, social events, keynoters, mobile tours, host hotels, and more.

7. Transform our business
Community housing providers are eligible for up to $50,000 in funding to evolve your business model to be more efficient, resilient, and effective (larger grants are available for partnerships that have a larger impact such as a sectoral or community impact). Projects must respond to one of these priority areas:
  • Reducing the sector’s environmental footprint
  • Answering to gaps in service for Indigenous communities
  • Supporting innovative and sustainable business practices
  • Increasing social inclusion and community engagement
  • Facilitating growth of the Community Housing Sector
9. Get rid of pests

The Bug and Scrub program is available to provide tenants who have be d bugs and are assessed at being in high need (because of a lack of social support and physical or mental health conditions) services such as de-cluttering, deep cleaning, furniture removal, vacuuming and steaming between chemical treatments and pre-treatment preparation. Property managers or support workers can apply here.
If you have new tenants moving in who may have had bedbugs in their previous units, New Journey Housing has a program to work with low income newcomers to Canada to hire Purpose Construction movers using a heated moving truck. Tenants can contact info@newjourneyhousing.com or 204-942-2238 to learn about details.
On February 26, we will be holding a workshop with Purpose Construction called Dealing Effectively With Pests: Beyond Spraying. Watch the February newsletter for information and registration details.
6. Be a more active and engaged board member
Aimed at members of the Boards of Directors of our members, this new annual workshop series will give board members the foundation they need, along with a network of other board members, to serve their organization for years to come. On January 25, we will offer two in-person workshops:

You can also join our webinar January 16 to learn about the resources available to you in the board toolkit

8. Share my knowledge and expertise
The Government of Manitoba is consulting with Manitobans on:
10. Learn more about the non-profit housing sector
This is your resolution? It's ours too! As a sector, we serve thousands of individuals and families, employ hundreds of people, and have assets and purchasing power that we can leverage. MNPHA is conducting a survey to help us use accurate numbers when describing our collective resources.
This survey will ask about your organization's basic information, structure, staff, budget, spending, and future plans. Depending on the availability of this information, the survey may take about 25-30 minutes. You can also do the survey by phone or in-person by contacting Jessica at projects@mnpha.com; 204-797-6746

Survey for those who manage one building: available online or as a Word document

Survey for those who manage multiple buildings : available online or as a Word document . Both online and pdf have an attached excel document