Submitted by Brenda Willman and Mia Rushton
From the unofficial Board update, March 23:
"If you are in need because of a change of circumstances and you need immediate support, please note that members can apply for a short-term (3- month) housing charge subsidy at any time under current policies; if it turns out that people’s needs extend beyond that time, we will revisit the our subsidy policy and procedure in response"
In our block’s group email conversation last week, Brenda shared her knowledge of our co-op’s policies around subsidies. I thought it would be useful to share it with everyone in light of the current COVID/unemployment situation. With Brenda’s permission, this is what she shared with us:
IN FACT, the Housing Charge Calculation Collection Policy allows for recalculations - NOT at the usual annual time - in the following circumstances:
- a 3 month calculation when a member goes on Social Assistance; and
- it allows the Board to order a Calculation when a situation occurs that was not foreseen by this policy such as is the case now.
A RECALCULATED HOUSING CHARGE UNDER THE SECOND RULE WOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED TO 3 MONTHS. IT WOULD TAKE EFFECT AND HOLD EFFECT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE BOARD SAW FIT TO CHANGE IT. NOW THAT'S GIVING THEM A LOT OF POWER, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD IS FOR. TO USE THEIR POWER FOR THE GOOD OF THE MEMBERS AND THE COOP AS A WHOLE. The applicable sections are quoted below - unless the policy has been updated this remains the policy.
4.6.3 (c) (The Housing Charge will be recalculated) when a MEMBER begins to receive Social Assistance. Special rules apply to these cases, as described in Section 12. [note - this should say section 13 and is a typo]
4.6.4 The Board may order a HOUSING CHARGE calculation when a situation occurs that was not foreseen by this policy.
4.13 What happens if a MEMBER is on Social assistance?
If a unit is qualified to receive a REDUCED HOUSING CHARGE as defined in Section 4.4 and is on social assistance, the HOUSING CHARGE is calculated and collected as follows:
4.13.1 When the MEMBER applies for social assistance, he or she is required to get a form filled out by the "landlord" This form will be filled out by the TREASURER or another officer of the coop, and will show the amount of the housing charge the MEMBER is paying at the time of the application as the “rent”.
4.13.2 If the MEMBER receives social assistance, he or she will take the receipt from Alberta Social Services and give it to the TREASURER
4.13.3 If the amount the MEMBER is receiving from Social Services for “rent” is less than the MEMBER's normal HOUSING CHARGE, then the TREASURER will make the MEMBER's HOUSING CHARGE equal to the greater of the amount the MEMBER is receiving from Alberta Social Services or the FULL SUBSIDY HOUSING CHARGE for the unit
4.13.4 The HOUSING CHARGE for a MEMBER receiving social assistance will be reviewed at the next quarterly housing charge calculation after he or she begins to receive social assistance, and at subsequent quarterly re-calculation dates.