Getting involved in your community can not only make you feel good, it strengthens neighbourhoods. Learn about the different types of community housing offered, opportunities to get engaged, as well as your responsibilities at a tenant or member.
Co-op Housing
Living in co-operative housing means that if you are able to, you take part in decisions that impact your community. Tenants are members of a co-operative; this means there is no formal landlord. Co-ops are run by a board of directors elected by the co-op's members.
Each co-op member takes on tasks to help maintain the community. This helps keep costs more affordable. It also provides members with opportunities to learn new skills. Meetings are generally held twice a year and are an opportunity for members to have a voice.
If you are interested in moving to a co-op or would like more information, please see Find Affordable Housing.
Non-Profit Housing
Non-profit housing is sponsored by community groups and developed through government programs that help cover costs. These costs include operating or rental costs (the gap between what the tenant can afford to pay and local market rent).
About 89 per cent of non-profit housing is owned by community-based organizations such as service clubs or faith groups. The rest are owned by municipalities. If you are interested in moving to a co-op or would like more information, please see Find Affordable Housing.
Waterloo Region Housing
The Region owns and operates more than 2,700 community housing units in Waterloo Region.
| How to get engaged |
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Waterloo Region Housing communities have very diverse tenants with a sense of commitment to where they live. See below to learn more about the opportunities available. Contact your community relations worker to find out about other social activities that aren't listed here.
| Tenant advisory committee |
| This advisory body advocates for tenants and plays a large role in decisions that impact Waterloo Region Housing communities. The committee is made up of ten elected tenants, including youth. Elections are held every two years. |
| Local tenant councils |
| Tenant councils are in two of our senior housing communities; 168 Grand Avenue and 95 Concession Road in Cambridge. They meet monthly to address tenant issues and concerns. The council also helps foster stronger, more inclusive relationships among tenants and staff. |
| What's Up newsletter and committee |
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Produced once a year, this newsletter is a forum for both tenants and the Region to share important information, as well as photos from community events and celebrations.
Whatsup Winter 2018 newsletter and Important Reminders
Whatsup 2017 newsletter
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| Youth Force |
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Youth Force is a summer employment program that helps teens and young adults become champions in their neighbourhoods. The program is open to anyone between 14 and 25 years old who lives in or near community housing in Waterloo Region.
Participants are hired by community centres to work in their neighbourhoods while building skills to help with their future careers. Duties include clean ups, gardening, and unit inspections. Supervisory roles are open to the older participants.
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| Dotmocracy events |
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We provide people living in Waterloo Region Housing with opportunities to work together to make decisions about the communities they live in.
Recently, tenants from nine WRH communities voted on a colour scheme for bathroom renovations by placing a sticker (dot) next to the colour board they preferred. The one with the most dots was chosen. Feedback from tenants who took part was overwhelmingly positive.
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| Your responsibilities |
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As a tenant in WRH, you have some obligations to follow that support health and safety.
| Smoke-free policy |
| There is no smoking in units with a smoke-free lease. Tenants also cannot smoke in common areas, including building entrances and exits, or within five meters of any building. Please obey the no smoking signs where you live. |
| Child safety |
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Please remember to keep your children under the age of 12 safe by supervising them when they are at the playgrounds.
They must not be permitted to play or run into parking lot areas. Also, children's toys and bikes should be stored in the patio area of your home.
It can be very dangerous for children to skateboard or ride bikes in parking lots and driveways; drivers may not see the children, and may not have enough time to stop.
Please explain the risks to your children and help keep them safe!
It is your responsibility if your child damages property, including cars.
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| Noise |
| Tenants and their guests should be careful not to make any improper noise in or around their homes. Improper noise is anything which may disturb or interfere with the rights, privileges or interests of your neighbours. Loud music is a common complaint. |
| Parking |
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As a tenant, you may use one parking spot (if available, depending on where you live). Visitors must park on the street or in designated visitor parking spots only. Please be careful when you are entering and exiting your car to not damage the car beside you.
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| Smoke detectors |
| All smoke detectors are vital life safety devices in your home. It is an offence under the fire code to tamper with them and this includes the Direct Detect system for Kitchener-Waterloo family tenants. Tenants who disconnect smoke detectors, remove batteries, remove a smoke detector from a wall, and/or contact City of Kitchener and request the smoke detector be moved to another location will be charged for all costs, ranging from $60 to $200. |
| Changes to your home |
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Your safety is important to us. Please contact your Property Manager before making changes to your home. This could be for planters, holiday lights or decorations, and the use of peel and stick tiles.
You also need approval from your Property Manager to install a satellite dish or air conditioner.
In the interest of tenant safety, Waterloo Region Housing does not allow bedrooms in basements.
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| Waste |
| If your apartment building or townhouse complex uses large bins to collect waste, please place all waste inside the bin. Large household items, like mattresses, sofas and appliances, are not allowed in the bins. You must take them to the landfill yourself, or call a pick-up business to remove them for you. |
| Key holder responsibilities |
| The Waterloo Region Housing key holder in your apartment building ensures that Emergency Services and contractors can access the property. The key holder also monitors fire alarm systems and assists in case of fire alarms, and reports vandalism and building deficiencies to Waterloo Region Housing. For any issues, concerns or for maintenance problems, please call 519 575-4400. |
| Tenant insurance |
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Tenants are responsible for cleaning and/or replacing clothing, bedding, furniture and other household contents. Insurance can protect you from having to pay to replace household items.
The HSC Tenant Insurance Program offers property and liability coverage. Property coverage protects you from loss or damage to your personal property and pays for living expenses if you need to leave your home because of a covered loss. Liability protects you from costs of claims made against you for accidental injury or damage to someone else's property.
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| Help with issues in your unit |
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Who you call about an issue that arises in your unit depends on the type of issue you are dealing with. Click below to learn more.
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Non-urgent maintenance requests
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| If you have a non-urgent maintenance request, call the Region of Waterloo at 519-575-4400 to speak to a live person 24/7. |
| Emergency maintenance requests |
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Please call 519-575-4800 if there is a maintenance emergency in your unit. This includes bed bugs, a sewer back-up, major property damage, or a power outage.
If you call Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are asked to leave a message, please give as many details as you can.
If you have an emergency when the office is closed, your call will be answered by an after-hours dispatch service.
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| Managing pests |
| If you think you have bed bugs, don't worry, it's not your fault! Even the cleanest homes and hotels do; but regularly cleaning and inspecting your home can help prevent or discover an infestation early on. Get more prevention tips or if you have bed bugs in your unit, please call 519-575-4800. |
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Volunteering with community centre partners
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WRH tenants can volunteer with community centres on our sites. Contact a centre below for volunteer opportunities!
Sunnydale Community Centre
508H Sunnydale Pl, Waterloo, ON N2L 4T1
Phone: (519) 883-0410
Paulander Community Centre
Unit 1. 60 Paulander Dr, Kitchener, ON N2M 5A5
Phone: (519) 741-1152
Courtland Shelley Community Centre
1064 Courtland Ave E, Kitchener, ON N2C 1K6
Phone: (519) 571-7953
Kinbridge Community Association
241 Southwood Dr, Cambridge, ON N1S 3S8
Phone: (519) 621-2930
Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre
116 Rouse Ave, Cambridge, ON N1R 4M8
Phone: (519) 623-4220
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