Extracts from the Membership Bylaw: Member Approval and Unit Allocation #84 related to the priority internal waiting list and relocation
Article 1.3 Special meanings
Priority waiting list
For members who have documented medical or disability accommodation needs, or in cases of severe financial
hardship, or domestic violence.
Article 4.1. Alternating between internal and external waiting lists
(a) The co-operative will fill vacancies alternately from the internal and external waiting lists unless there is someone with established special priority for that sized unit. See Article 5.2.1 about priority list.
(f) Only moves from the regular internal and external waiting lists count for alternating between internal and external wait lists. A priority move doesn’t count as an internal move. Allocation of wheelchair adapted units does not count as an internal or external move.
Article 5.2. Relocation requests with priority
Members living in Woodsworth may have priority on the internal waiting lists in certain circumstances.
Article 5.2.1. Priority Internal Waiting List
(a) Eligibility
In order to provide additional supports to individuals requiring it by virtue of their physical or mental disability, facing abuse, or financial hardship, members may be eligible for placement on a separate Priority Internal Waiting list. They may qualify if they are experiencing medical or disability accommodation needs, and in some circumstances, severe financial hardship, or domestic violence.
Those with financial issues must not be in arrears. See Article 5.1.2 (c)
The Occupancy Bylaw outlines the co-op’s response to domestic violence. Occupancy Bylaw, Article 7.4.
(b) Human Rights
Ontario Human Rights legislation and our Human Rights Bylaw have requirements about providing medical and disability accommodation. Such requests have a higher priority on the Priority Internal Waiting List than financial hardship or domestic violence requests.
(c) Applying for priority
Members wishing to request a priority move must fill out the Priority Move Application and then meet with the Woodsworth Manager.
In an accommodation-based priority move application, an Accommodation Request Form will also need to be filled out.
The priority waiting list is maintained by Management and is confidential. The Membership Committee is not involved in the priority waiting list.
The Board of Directors votes to approve or decline all priority move requests.
If the member qualifies for the an accommodation-based priority move, the Manager of the co-operative and the accommodation seeker and, where appropriate, one or more directors and any necessary health practitioners will work together cooperatively to develop an Accommodation Plan for the individual. If the member does not qualify for the Priority Waiting list, the member can fill out a Relocation Application to go on the main internal waiting list.
The Board of Directors will review and approve the accommodation plan.
(d) Unit offers
The member will be offered three opportunities to accept a unit based on their Accommodation Plan.
Once a move has been accepted, the priority status is removed. If necessary, the member can reapply for a priority move or through the normal internal waiting list.
See also Schedule F of this bylaw and Article 5.5.5 Refusals for priority internal waiting list
Article 5.2.2. Maintain number of units with housing charge subsidy
The Co-operative’s Agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) requires that the co-operative provide subsidies for 25% of the units, if applicable.
If a unit becomes available and the number of households in the co-operative receiving subsidy is below the minimum number required in the co-operative’s Agreement with CMHC, Management may offer the unit if appropriately sized to someone on the waiting list who requires government subsidy or the Board may have to give applicants on the external waiting list subsidy priority over households on the internal waiting list in order to comply with CMHC’s requirements.
Article 5.2.3. Transfers based on Occupancy Bylaw, (Article 5.3 Damage by fire, etc.)
These household relocations may be given priority. Households entitled to be offered a unit under the provisions of the Occupancy Bylaw on fire or other damage, or sale of the co-operative may be offered a unit in the order in which they first became entitled to a new unit. See the Occupancy Bylaw
Article 5.2.4. Internal move requests that do not get priority on waiting lists
(a) Moves based on other bylaws
Occupancy Bylaw, Article 9.4, Not Meeting Minimum Household Size
and
Housing Charge Subsidy Bylaw, Article 2.5, Overhoused Households
These may require members to move. There are specific rules attached to each of these, but they do not get priority on the waiting list and must wait their turn to be offered a new unit. See the relevant bylaw.
(b) Special waiting list requests other than number of bedrooms
Units are offered by date order (Article 5.1.1)
Members may specify on their relocation request that they only wish to transfer to a particular type of unit, specific floor, or specific unit or group of units. They will be skipped if the available unit does not match their preference. However they are not given any priority when their preferred unit becomes available. They must be next on the waiting list when a match comes up for their preference. See Article 4 (h).
Article 5.2.5. Waiving residency requirements
There is no priority granted, only the waiving of the two (2) years minimum residency requirement in their unit before the household can join the internal waiting list.
The Board may also waive it for approved priority such as accommodation needs. See article 5.2.1 and Schedule F.
Article 5.5.5. Refusals for priority internal waiting list
Households that have been given special priority status for an internal move as defined in Article 5.2.1 (Priority Internal Waiting List) will be offered three (3) opportunities to accept a unit based on their Accommodation Plan.
After three refusals, the household will be removed from the priority waiting list.
If the household still wishes to relocate, they must apply through the normal internal waiting list procedures. Their position on the internal waiting list will be based on the date their application for a normal priority move was received.
Membership Bylaw, Schedule F: Woodsworth’s Criteria Guideline for Priority Moves
1. Members may be eligible for placement on a separate Priority Internal Waiting list if they are experiencing a Medical or Disability Accommodation needs, severe Financial Hardship, or Domestic Violence. See Article 5.2.1 Priority Internal Waiting List
2. By legal requirement, Medical and Disability Accommodation requests have priority. Applications regarding Financial Hardship or Domestic Violence will be processed on a first come, first serve basis.
3. The first step is to fill out the Priority Move Application and then meet with the Woodsworth Manager. This process is completely confidential. If the member does not qualify for the Priority Internal Waiting list, the member can fill out a Relocation Application to go on the main internal waiting list.
4. The Board of Directors will review and give final approval to the Accommodation Plan.
CRITERIA
Medical or Disability Accommodation
A request for a Priority Move due to Medical or Disability reasons must follow the Woodsworth’s Accommodation Policy for Residents with Disabilities based on the Ontario Human Rights Code. An Accommodation Request Form will also need to be filled out as part of this process.
The Co-op’s obligations are limited to accommodating disability-related needs, not members’ preferences.
The manager will request documentation from an appropriate health practitioner detailing the nature of the individual’s disability, any restrictions resulting from the disability, the expected duration of the restrictions, and the basis for the medical conclusions.
Each person’s situation will be individually assessed by the Co-op Manager. If the manager determines a current housing unit is detrimental to a member’s medical condition and a different unit is needed soon, then the member would qualify for the Priority Move waiting list.
The manager and member will go through the accommodation procedure together. The manager may propose other accommodation options that meet the member’s needs. If the member accepts an accommodation option other than priority relocation, the member can join the main internal waiting list requesting a different unit.
Management and the Co-op website can provide detailed information on the Woodsworth Accommodation Policy and the Accommodation Planning process.
Financial Hardship
If a member is experiencing severe financial hardship and has an urgent need for a less expensive unit, the member must present third-party financial or legal documents to the Co-op Manager as part of the application for a Priority Move.
Proof of severe financial hardship might include, but is not limited to the following documentation:
bankruptcy documents (filing documents, proof of claim etc.), creditors letters, bank statements, record for employment for job loss.
Those with financial issues must not be in arrears. See Article 5.1.2 (c)
Domestic Violence
Woodsworth’s Occupancy Bylaw #82, 7.3, defines violence against another person in the same household as domestic violence. 7.4a of Occupancy Bylaw states: The co-op does not tolerate domestic violence. It will try to
assist victims of domestic violence. Members who engage in domestic violence may be evicted.
If a member has experienced domestic violence, is no longer living with the abuser, yet fears for their safety by remaining in the same unit, they can request a Priority Move to another unit. Documentation may be required. Examples include a restraining order and a peace bond.
The Occupancy Bylaw outlines the co-op’s response to domestic violence. Article 7.4.