Page 8 - A Decade of Change - CHC Annual Report 2017

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

“We are the foundation
of housing in Windsor and
Essex County. We offer
housing continuum in both
short term and long term
programs. We have a role
in affordable housing as a
building tool for cities and
towns. The regeneration
of our assets and resetting
of our portfolio will better
reflect local demand and
capital requirements.”

Jim Steele, CEO

Ten years ago, the 2007 Annual Report was themed, “Dedicated” and it marked the first full year CHC was
established. Our company has had many names as we evolved from a local housing authority to Windsor
Essex County Housing and for the last decade as Windsor Essex Community Housing.

Although our name changed our employees dedication to providing safe, affordable, housing in a fair manner
to people in Windsor and Essex County has remained paramount.

I reread my 2007 message which drew attention to the excitement and challenges we anticipated in
Windsor and Essex County. The CHC Board, Executive Management, our staff and Service Manager navigated
local social housing through the changes required in our sector over a decade ago. Today, I can rewrite the
phrase I wrote 10 years ago. The next 10 years “will be a decade of positive change.”

We are stewards of valuable public resources. In 2017, we focused our annual report on our corporation’s
highlights and performance while looking at not only what we “do” but what we “give”.

To meet the ongoing challenges and changes we must be mindful of the needs of the present without
compromising the future needs for our communities. We need to develop a sustainable model for the
future. CHC is changing and we are determining what is viable while making the changes required to
improve our buildings and promoting the next generation of housing.

We are looking to short and longer term actions with the overall view of resetting the management of the
portfolio to better reflect local demand and capital requirements, as well as an understanding of the role
that affordable housing can play as a city and town building tool.

It can be aspirational and full of challenges but our Regeneration Planning offers a vision of how housing can
assume a stronger role in our region for years to come.

Jim Steele B.A.; FIHM, CIHCM

Windsor Essex CHC 2017 ANNUAL REPORT
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