Agency Response to COVID-19

Date
16 March 2020

The Agency is taking steps to keep our staff and clients safe and to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) throughout our communities. Agency employees have cancelled all non-essential travel (inter-city and beyond) until the end of March and we will begin working from home this week. At this stage, we do not foresee any interruption in our services. As always, our staff are available by phone and e-mail during our regular business hours.

Where relationship managers have scheduled meetings with client co-ops or other contacts, they will first assess whether the meeting is essential and therefore must take place, and then whether they will join by telephone or video conference.

For co-operatives with an Annual Information Return (AIR) coming due, we remind you that your auditor can file it as soon as your board of directors has signed off on your draft audited financial statements. If you feel concern about meeting any of our deadlines, please let your relationship manager know.

The boards of housing co-operative and their staff and members will have their own decisions to make about holding meetings, particularly where seniors and those with pre-existing health conditions will be present. We encourage you to follow the guidance of public-health agencies. Please stay up to date with what is recommended by responsible sources, keeping safety in mind, as their advice is evolving quickly.

Feel free to reach out to your relationship manager with your concerns. The Agency is here for you.

Tip of the Month

Co-ops without Paid Managers

Since 2007, the percentage of co-ops without paid help is down by more than half to a mere 2% of Agency clients. Another 12% just have a lonely bookkeeper.