Category: Turning 16

Membership for residents between the ages of sixteen and nineteen.

Woodsworth teens between the ages of 16 and 19

Young people between the ages of 16 and 19 who live in Woodsworth are encouraged to apply for membership.

Membership gives them the right to live here, to vote at general members’ meetings on budgets and housing charges, and to run for most elections. (Only 18 year olds and older can be on the Board.) And if they wish, as members, they may apply for their own unit after a required waiting period of two years. Any period of time before Board approval as a member is not included in the two years.

If they do not become members, they will automatically become long-term guests (LTGs). This is different from the rules for those who moved in after age 16, but the impact is the same. Long-term guests are not members and have no membership rights. If their family moves out, they must leave too. LTGs cannot inherit a unit alone without other members living in the unit.

However anyone who has grown up in Woodsworth can apply for membership at age 16. There is a special membership process for these teens. The Turning 16 process for membership is a little less formal. They must attend an information session, show proof that Woodsworth is their principal residence, and be approved by the Board of Directors. They do not have to have a formal interview, no credit check or income verification is required, nor do they need a long-term guest agreement. However they must qualify as children of members and live in Woodsworth.

Only those who are between the ages of sixteen and nineteen may use the “Turning Sixteen” application process. Watch for an announcement in the Weekly. You can also email the Membership Committee to ask about the next annual information session.
woodsworthmembership@gmail.com

The only way to receive a membership application form is to follow the procedures and attend an information session. The application must be co-signed by the other members in your unit. Once approved for membership, the new member shares all rights and responsibilities for the unit with the existing member(s).

Have you already turned  nineteen and live in Woodsworth?
If you lived here prior to your sixteenth birthday, you can apply in the regular way but don’t need a long-term guest agreement.

If you moved into Woodsworth after age 16, you too can apply for membership, but you’ll need board approval as a long-term guest and have a signed long-term guest agreement.

Turning 16s – Membership for 16-19 year olds living in Woodsworth

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.