Page 3 - Realign | CHC Annual Report 2021

ANNUAL
Message from the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation
REPORT
(CHC) Chief Executive Officer, Jim Steele

The pandemic has allowed us to realign how we work and
deliver services. We are committed to using those lessons
learned to constantly improve and continue to be a leader in
the housing sector. It is not easy to have gone through the last
few years and still performed at as high of a level of service as
we have. That is a credit to the front-line workers doing their
jobs, supported by solid practices and protocols to keep
everyone safe.

Thank you for doing the work that has improved many lives
in Windsor Essex. Work becomes an extension of the family,
and the tension of giving time to both family and work is
stressful. We appreciate the efforts put forth to keep our
family strong and safe.

I want to thank this Board and every Board I have served for
their dedication to our common goals. While our
obligations to each other are transactional, we have always
looked past that and moved forward with actions to improve
The future is bright for Windsor Essex. All of our municipal
the spaces that our residents call their homes.
partners are willing to work within the National Housing
Our message is not complete without thanking our partners Strategy and be ready to bring down barriers to affordable
for their expertise, knowledge, and flexibility to reach our housing and make much-needed investments. Affordable
2021 goals. Partners like Family Services Windsor-Essex, Housing in Windsor Essex will be improved if an even
Community Living Windsor and Hiatus House took extra stronger municipal partnership is supported.
risks in creating much-needed new affordable housing on
I started this work in 1982, in Windsor in 1994, and have
Meadowbrook Lane slated for opening by year-end 2022.
worked with some great people. It has been challenging,
Windsor Essex CHC has always embraced information but I have enjoyed the journey as much as I have been
sharing and collaboration among our housing and industry honoured to share some great results with all of you. I have
colleagues. We weathered the pandemic together and have been improved by leadership at the board level, colleagues
shared new ideas on building and acquiring new units. and employees, and residents who have respected yet
Thank you to regional, provincial, national and international challenged our work.
housing organizations for sharing best practices, business
By the time I finish work, it will have been more than four
transformation strategies and activities.
decades in the provision and maintenance of affordable
The National Housing Strategy (NHS) through Canada housing. And I can safely say that this corporation is in
Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will create a new better shape than ever, staffed with the best people, and will
generation of housing in Canada. Windsor Essex has be ready for a new leader to continue the upward trend.
benefitted from funding and financing opportunities to
develop a new housing supply and the modernization and Jim Steele, Chief Executive Officer
renewing of CHC's existing housing stock.

Thank you, Mayor Drew Dilkens, Council, The City of Windsor
Housing Services Department, and the Province of Ontario for
the willingness to work with the NHS framework and give
more residents in Windsor and the County of Essex a place to
call home.

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