Page 5 - A Decade of Change - CHC Annual Report 2017

“HOME IS A PLACE OF SAFETY, OF LAUGHTER, OF

SECURITY AND OF BELONGING”

Windsor Essex Community Housing’s Strategic Plan business but also a having a strong social conscience.
for 2015-2019 was developed within the scope of the
shareholder’s direction, the board of director’s leadership
and provincial legislation. The Strategic Plan is the CHC along with the other 39 social housing providers
cornerstone of accountability for our board and staff to have seen a sharp rise in the demand for social housing
our residents, the shareholder and the larger communities units all through 2017. Our Central Housing Registry
we serve within Windsor Essex. It commits us to a vision Windsor Essex County (CHR) waiting list as of December
and a set of business and social priorities which are 2017, reported 4,435 households waiting for mostly
reviewed and governed by the Board of Directors. one and four bedroom units within Windsor Essex. This
represents a 31% increase over 2016. The demand is
growing, although few new units have been built over the
During 2017, a major initiative for the board and staff last number of years. Our local hope is we will see new
was planning for the launch of CHC’s “Smoke Free Policy” affordable units being built and financed in part through
for new tenancies in 2018. CHC worked closely with the the National Housing Strategy.
Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) to develop
materials, signage for buildings, support for residents
by holding cessation workshops and reviewing best As the chair, I want to acknowledge the dedication of
practices from across the province. The goal of the policy the board, the CEO, the Executive Management Team,
is to transition and achieve smoke-free buildings that management and especially our front line staff who work
support CHC’s mission and realize our strategic objective diligently to help our residents attain a “home” in CHC
of sustaining healthy communities. housing. I thank the City of Windsor and the County of
Essex for consistently supporting our financial requests
in these challenging fiscal environments. Operating
Board members were particularly engaged in the budget increases over the past years have assisted CHC to
budget process for 2017 and the final document which continue to deliver quality housing and services to all our
will govern our Regeneration Plan for 2017 and beyond. residents. Capital funds have permitted us to decrease
We all realized the age of most of our buildings and the our energy costs and increase our green footprint, plus
absolute need to transform some, redesign others and for major repairs have occurred in much of our portfolio.
some, demolition is the only answer if we are to continue
to be committed to our vision of providing affordable, Marina Clemens
sustainable housing.
Chair, Windsor Essex CHC, Board of Directors

Since the release of the National Housing Strategy by the
Federal Government the principle that “Housing is more
than a roof over one’s head” has become very clear and CHC
is committed to continuing our partnerships with services
such as CommUnity Partnership, Canadian Mental Health
Association, Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Service,
Windsor Police Service, Windsor Fire Rescue, WECHU,
Legal Assistance of Windsor and the Homeless Coalition
of Windsor Essex County. It is a balancing act of being a

Windsor Essex CHC 2017 ANNUAL REPORT
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