Author: Woodsworth Housing Co-op

Residents must be sixteen years or older in order to become a member and Woodsworth encourages them to apply for membership.

The Turning Sixteen process:

Woodsworth has a  “Turning Sixteen” application process for 16-19 year olds who live in Woodsworth.

• They must have lived in Woodsworth prior to their sixteenth birthday.
• They must attend an information session.
• These applicants do not have to show proof of income nor do they have an interview with the Membership Committee. They don’t need a credit check by Management.
• However they must provide proof that they qualify as children of members and live in Woodsworth. They must show two pieces of identification showing that Woodsworth is their principal residence.

The process:

• The teen (or parent) must notify the Membership Committee that the teen  wishes to attend the information session to become a member.
• Before attending, the applicant must provide acceptable proof that the member’s unit is their principal residence.
• They will receive an Internal Membership Application at the meeting. A separate interview is not required.
• The membership application must be co-signed by the other members in their unit.  Once approved for membership, the new member shares all rights and responsibilities for the unit with the existing member(s).
• The Board of Directors approves membership at a Board meeting. They can approve membership, request more information as needed, or deny membership.
• If the teen is approved for membership by the Board, the teen must sign the Occupancy Agreement for their family unit. This completes the membership process.
• These new members must follow the same relocation rules as long-term guests: they cannot join the internal waiting list until two years after becoming a member. They cannot inherit a unit alone until they have lived with the household for two (2) years after membership approval. Any period of time before Board approval of their membership is not included in the two years.

What happens if young adults don’t apply for membership as a 16-19 year old:

• If they lived in Woodsworth before their sixteenth birthday, they automatically become long-term guests.
• The person may apply later, after age 19.
• However, they don’t need Board approval as a long-term guest nor a long-term guest agreement while they live in their family household.
• The procedures for long-term guests will be followed.

For more details, see the Membership Bylaw #84.