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WELCOME TO THE NEW CO-OP HOUSING INFORMATION EXCHANGE THAT HAS A MANDATE TO SHARE FREE INFORMATION ABOUT CO-OPS, SOCIAL/COMMUNITY HOUSING, AND RESOURCES IN CANADA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UNITED KINGDOM, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
WHAT MUST BE REQUIRED IS PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDE ACCOUNTABILITY AT ALL NON-PROFIT HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES ACROSS CANADA, AROUND THE WORLD, AND ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.
CO-OPERATION CAN LEAD TO SUCCESS THROUGH SHARING FREE KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING AND THEN UNDERSTANDING!
CHIE HELPS PUT TOGETHER ALL THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ABOUT NON-PROFIT CO-OP HOUSING IN CANADA, SO YOU CAN GAIN A BETTER PERSPECTIVE.
THE CULTURE OF SILENCE AT MEMBER CO-OPS NEEDS TO END THAT SURROUND THE PRACTICE OF POOR OR BAD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT.
FOLLOW YOUR CHIE, NOT A FAILED STATUS QUO WITH SELF-SERVING CO-OP HOUSING STAKEHOLDERS.
CHIE IS A SELF-HELP SITE THAT IS YOURS TO DISCOVER. LEARN ABOUT AND ADOPT PRINCIPLED LEARDERSHIP, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. REVIEW INTERNAL CONTROLS, FRAUD DETECTION AND PREVENTION. LEARN ABOUT CO-OP STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNING LAWS, AND NEWS MEDIA.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE MULTIBLE LINKS AREA AND ITEMS OF LEGISLATION THAT OFFER RESOURCES THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME SOLUTIONS FOR CANADIAN NON-PROFIT HOUSING CO-OPS AND NON-PROFIT HOUSING OUTSIDE CANADA IN DIFFICULTY OR CRISIS.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESEARCH CO-OP STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND LEGISLATION THAT RELATE TO CO-OP'S IN YOUR PROVENCE OR STATE, AND COUNTRY. CHECK FOR INFORMATION UPDATES IN THE LINKS AREA AND OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE CHIE SITE.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE INFORMATION YOU ARE RESEARCHING ON CHIE OR KEN'S SITE, TRY SOME OF THE MANY LINKS AVAILABLE, EXAMPLE: CHF CANADA...
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO FOLLOW YOUR CHIE!... BUT REGISTERED USERS THAT INCLUDE OPEN ID CAN POST COMMENTS ON CHIE.
**AS AT MARCH 2, 2014 YOU CAN NOW REGISTER AND JOIN THE CHIE SITE**
CHIE HAS A POLICY TO REVIEW AND DELETE MATERIAL OR COMMENTS THAT ARE DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE OR OFFENSIVE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SITE ADMINISTRATOR. THE CHIE ADMINISTRATOR WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENQUIRES...
CO-OP AND SOCIAL HOUSING RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO START THEIR OWN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE, AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS ABOUT CONCERNS WITH GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OR NOT DEMOCRATICALLY RUN WHERE RESIDENT VIEWS AND OPINIONS ARE SILENCED. EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL NETWORK SITES INCLUDE BLOGGER, TWITTER, WORDPRESS, AND FACEBOOK, ETC...REMEMBER, FOLLOW YOUR CHIE!
SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH CHIE ABOUT CO-OP HOUSING BY USING THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW, AND IT MAY BE PUBLISHED ON THE CHIE SITE.
NOTICE ABOUT CHIE CONTENT AS AT JULY 16, 2017
SOME INFORMATION HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF VIEW FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND MAY BE RE-PUBLISHED A LATER POINT IN-TIME AFTER THE REVIEW HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND APPROVED
Ken Hummel, Administrator, Co-op Housing Information Exchange
Contact information, e-mail: <kenhummel@msn.com>
WELCOME TO THE NEW CO-OP HOUSING INFORMATION EXCHANGE THAT HAS A MANDATE TO SHARE FREE INFORMATION ABOUT CO-OPS, SOCIAL/COMMUNITY HOUSING, AND RESOURCES IN CANADA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UNITED KINGDOM, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
WHAT MUST BE REQUIRED IS PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDE ACCOUNTABILITY AT ALL NON-PROFIT HOUSING CO-OPERATIVES ACROSS CANADA, AROUND THE WORLD, AND ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.
CO-OPERATION CAN LEAD TO SUCCESS THROUGH SHARING FREE KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING AND THEN UNDERSTANDING!
CHIE HELPS PUT TOGETHER ALL THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ABOUT NON-PROFIT CO-OP HOUSING IN CANADA, SO YOU CAN GAIN A BETTER PERSPECTIVE.
THE CULTURE OF SILENCE AT MEMBER CO-OPS NEEDS TO END THAT SURROUND THE PRACTICE OF POOR OR BAD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT.
FOLLOW YOUR CHIE, NOT A FAILED STATUS QUO WITH SELF-SERVING CO-OP HOUSING STAKEHOLDERS.
CHIE IS A SELF-HELP SITE THAT IS YOURS TO DISCOVER. LEARN ABOUT AND ADOPT PRINCIPLED LEARDERSHIP, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. REVIEW INTERNAL CONTROLS, FRAUD DETECTION AND PREVENTION. LEARN ABOUT CO-OP STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNING LAWS, AND NEWS MEDIA.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE MULTIBLE LINKS AREA AND ITEMS OF LEGISLATION THAT OFFER RESOURCES THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME SOLUTIONS FOR CANADIAN NON-PROFIT HOUSING CO-OPS AND NON-PROFIT HOUSING OUTSIDE CANADA IN DIFFICULTY OR CRISIS.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESEARCH CO-OP STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND LEGISLATION THAT RELATE TO CO-OP'S IN YOUR PROVENCE OR STATE, AND COUNTRY. CHECK FOR INFORMATION UPDATES IN THE LINKS AREA AND OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE CHIE SITE.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE INFORMATION YOU ARE RESEARCHING ON CHIE OR KEN'S SITE, TRY SOME OF THE MANY LINKS AVAILABLE, EXAMPLE: CHF CANADA...
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO FOLLOW YOUR CHIE!... BUT REGISTERED USERS THAT INCLUDE OPEN ID CAN POST COMMENTS ON CHIE.
**AS AT MARCH 2, 2014 YOU CAN NOW REGISTER AND JOIN THE CHIE SITE**
CHIE HAS A POLICY TO REVIEW AND DELETE MATERIAL OR COMMENTS THAT ARE DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE OR OFFENSIVE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SITE ADMINISTRATOR. THE CHIE ADMINISTRATOR WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENQUIRES...
CO-OP AND SOCIAL HOUSING RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO START THEIR OWN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE, AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS ABOUT CONCERNS WITH GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OR NOT DEMOCRATICALLY RUN WHERE RESIDENT VIEWS AND OPINIONS ARE SILENCED. EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL NETWORK SITES INCLUDE BLOGGER, TWITTER, WORDPRESS, AND FACEBOOK, ETC...REMEMBER, FOLLOW YOUR CHIE!
SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH CHIE ABOUT CO-OP HOUSING BY USING THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW, AND IT MAY BE PUBLISHED ON THE CHIE SITE.
NOTICE ABOUT CHIE CONTENT AS AT JULY 16, 2017
SOME INFORMATION HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF VIEW FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND MAY BE RE-PUBLISHED A LATER POINT IN-TIME AFTER THE REVIEW HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND APPROVED
Ken Hummel, Administrator, Co-op Housing Information Exchange
Contact information, e-mail: <kenhummel@msn.com>
Friday
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In summary - When individual co-op housing member's are denied information or information is withheld that can detect or red flag fraud...or potential fraud, theft, and other illegal activities; it places housing co-op's, and perhaps individual co-op member(s) at risk to those activities.
ReplyDeleteIn Ken's view, most, if not all co-op housing perpetrators, and those who protect them act in a shameless manor and are unapologetic for their deeds that they may personally profit.
In Ken's opinion, CMHC, other major co-op housing stakeholder's, and most individual co-op housing board of directors...should be publicly shamed that deliberately place housing co-op's, and its membership, and resident occupants at risk to fraud and other illegal acts.
Ken exposes some predators, predatory-creep-protectors (PCP) and those who fall into both those categories that they may be vilified and held to some accountability...on social media.
RE: the news article posted and linked in this blog "Burnaby housing co-op suing former president" dated September 10, 2017 written by Ben Dooley and Kyle Benning for CKNW.
DeleteIn Ken's view, comments posted below this article were removed by the administrator of the website that posted this news article back on Sep. 10. Ken documented, and quotes from some of these comment's that are now posted on CHIE below:
Comments were posted by Brian Banister
"Sadly this is not as uncommon as you may think. Our co-op had a treasurer who did not pay their own housing fees for over a year."...(posted on September 10, 2017)
"I have sat on the board of directors and been president of a co-op. Ugly, crooked things do happen."...", and lack of participation by members is what leads to most problems. Like any corporation it is open to corruption, especially if directors are left in a position of "power" (which should never be the case) for longer than they are legally supposed to. This happens a lot. Bundle that with membership who have poor understanding of what a co-op is and all kinds of problems arise from illegal membership terminations due to personality conflicts to out and out monetary fraud."..."When someone commits a fraud like this they do not do that against an entity, on it's own, they do it against their fellow members. It's dispicable." (posted on September 11, 2017)
"At our co-op the treasurer did mark her housing fees as paid for a year when they were not. Since no actual money was stolen it was a civil matter, which we eventually wrote off as a bad debt in our financials. A lot of co-ops are undergoing expensive upgrades in BC due to the age of the infrastructures, and with 2020 coming fast now is the time to get it done. Our did a 2 million dollar plus upgrade. A lot of money could be stolen in many ways. As you say though, it is hard to determine what happened with so little info in the article." (posted on September 11, 2017)
It should be noted that others that include Ken (goodmoon)Hummel posted comments that were also deleted below this article in regards to the Halston Hills housing co-operative located in Burnaby, British Columbia. Ken will continue to monitor the internet for any further updates on this news story for additional information.
A person frustrated, and dismayed about what is happening at a housing co-op goes onto social media in April 2017 and shares some detail with the following claims that I quote from posted on social media: ..."The Board Members of this Co-Op need to be investigated for fraud."..."The Co-Op Board are scammers"..."There are Units in this building for folks on Housing Connections List. But the Board gives these Units to their friends instead."..."Members of the Board in these Co-Ops give the Units geared for Housing Conn Applicants to friends/families. They get away with it"
ReplyDeleteKay replied to information on social media in July 2017 to some Politician's, housing, and co-op housing lobbyist. Ken quotes Kay's replies from social media..."I'm all for social housing. We need more of it. I've worked in nonprofit run by the Masons. Very well run. But co-ops are not."..."I worked as an independent coordinator and also for a firm that managed only co-ops. No difference in issues."..."most Boards made up of people who have no idea what they're doing. Property Mngt. firms don't care as long as they're getting 50$ a door"..."Many deep core subsidies were fraudulent. "Members", Boards uncooperative in providing proper financial info. Not enough gov oversight."
DeleteInformation in the following comments that also include excerpts from some published articles help explain what's going on in the co-op housing sector in Canada, and the United States...
ReplyDeleteThis Magazine article "Tear the house down A Call For Co-operative Housing Reform" dated January 6, 2015 and written by Josh Hawley
..."confusion has created a sector which is barely understood by many in it, let alone those on the outside.. As a result, this sector is largely left to its own devices to regulate and manage itself"...
"Jeff Schlemmer, executive director at Neighbourhood Legal Services in London, Ont. and an adjunct law professor at Western University, describes how the first time the Court of Appeal of Ontario ruled on co-operative housing, they mistakenly compared them to private "social clubs"...
"There are two fundamental misunderstandings of the co-op sector by politicians and the legal system. First, co-ops aren't necessarily communities of like-minded people"..."according to Schlemmer,it's more accurate to think of them as "subcontracted providers of government social services." many residents have not made a wilful to live the co-operative lifestyle."...
"The second major misunderstanding of housing co-ops pertains to the power afforded to the board of directors, which are treated like governmental statutory authorities."..."But somehow, lawyers representing housing co-ops have been able to play the statutory board card, claiming their board of directors have held fair hearings in coming to their decision to evict somebody, for example. In reality, these decisions occur at meetings where members are often easily silenced, and partiality and nepotism can supplant fairness."...
"Although eviction may be the terminal fear for some members, it is far from the only consequence of the procedural unfairness that plagues co-ops. Many liken their experience to being continually bullied and victimized."...
"Members who raise concerns with the lack of oversight and issues of governance in co-op housing are often given the runaround or subsequently targeted as dissidents."...
This entire article can be accessed through a link provided on the Co-op Housing Information Exchange(CHIE)
Ontario Superior Court of Justice - May 2015
DeleteStephen O' Brian v Blue Heron Co-operative Homes Inc.
"ENDORSEMENT"
"5. Housing co-ops can best be seen as a cross between Animal Farm and lord of the Flies. Control often does not rest with Members but with a Board of Directors, managers, cliques, and union-style housing sector groups. Co-Ops are also dominated by rank favoritism, endemic factionalism, overarching self-interest and an "Us vs. Them" mentality. At times, they eerily resemble a cult."
This court case is linked and can be located near the end of this blog
Co-operative Member Advocacy Network - January 14, 2007
Delete"How Gneiss Housing Co-op Continues to slam" (I've redacted the names)
"After five months of non communication from the co-op. in essence they've ignored every effort I've made to co-operative, comply and every effort on their part not to show common decency and courtesy to a family"...
"In court on October 27"...an application in stead of a motion and to return"..."preferring a date after the November 13th election/general membership meeting."
"Initially ignoring my pleas for an appeal relating to an eviction notice the co-op graciously has granted me: Five minutes before the general membership
I must come alone
The date is set for November 13th when the co-op was well aware my legal representation would be extremely busy"...
"If quorum is not present the boards decision to evict stays , and if there is quorum most of the representatives of the board and of the membership have been placed in a position of fear for their own homes if they don't vote accordingly with the board of directors decision
I don't feel I will get a fair hearing or appeal at the meeting on November 13th"...
"There is no accountability by the Board to any federal, provincial or the Canadian Federation of Co-Op Housing, the Landlord or Tenant Act, or any other body. This board does not even have to answer to any of these people or laws. Just their own by laws which are not always followed."
"They have accountability to CMHC, however as a mortgage holder, therefore they will not intervene unless there has been default on the mortgage and it's terms."...
"There is a feeling amongst certain members of the co-op of harassment and coercion and oppression. This results in many members feeling fearful and unwilling to take any action."...
"Other Board members are enticed to support the co-coordinators and president's decision view and outlooks. They are enticed with protection and subsidy and grants of free rents and renovations and upgrades on their units. This bribery creates hardship of members not in favor and keeps the board staked."
"Previous attempts by other members to regain fair control of board have resulted in members leaving either by choice or eviction through harassment."...
"This board is in distress and is run by inexperienced members who are not knowledgeable of proper board governance."
"They are responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars with no accountability of their actions or proper function, proper governance and each member's legal liability."...
"Someone needs to help stop this senario pf "lord of the flies" or as we call it here in our coop Survior."
The call for elections
Attention All Members
Re: Elections for the Board of Directors
"The Election's will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2007 from 1:00 to 3:00pm."...
"A list of members running for the Board will be handed out prior to the meeting on January 21, 2007."...
"the call for elections"
"If only you could read the apathy, nepotism, favoritism, oppression and fear that is written between the lines. You see, the present board is made up of our Coordinator's posse (family members, favorites) - She has been running this place like her own for almost 15 years. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
By TruthIsChange for everyone Jan. 14, 07 12:00 AM
Ms. Jane Stillwater is a freelance writer and published author that has written about her experiences living in a housing co-op located in the United States.
DeleteSome excerpts from a blog created by her on November 28, 2009 on smirkingchimp.com
"My special "Survivor Savo Island" housing co-op newsletter"...
"I've just been once again reminded that you've got to be a real survivor to live here -- and you certainly have to be able to outwit, outplay and outlast in order to survive if you are one of our management companies!"
"As for myself, I've survived living at Savo Island Cooperative Homes for over 30 years now and have gone through so many "elimination ceremonies" here that I'm now one of the very few Survivors left out of the original group who arrived on the "Island" back in 1979."
"57 families first moved into a brand new Savo Island back in 1979 and we were all so idealistic"..."And then, back in the 1980s, things changed"..."crack cocaine suddenly started appearing from out of nowhere, and it hit the streets of Berkeley like a ton of bricks. By 1984, Savo too started to have dealers and crack houses."
"By the 1990s, a lot of Savo's original residents had left -- either to by houses in the suburbs or to go off to jail -- and alot of new residents moved in (a lot of them being relatives of a group of new board members who took over the board in approximately the mid-1990s and began to run Savo Island with an iron hand)...
"In the 2000s, the big thing here at Savo was rehab. And I've fought tooth and nail for this rehab to finally get completed, starting back in 2001"...
"there's apparently been a secret alliance between other tribe members now on the board which keeps trying to vote me out of the game. So far, my rent has been raised illegally, the board majority has called six (6) different executive sessions to try to figure out how to get me off the board, I've been given two illegal eviction notices"...But I'm still here"...
"But my own survival skills here are noting compared to the survival skills of Savo Island's various past management companies. So far, we've watched fourteen (14) different management companies come and go. Dealing with Savo Island's self-interested board of directors has been a real challenge that most management companies avoid us, and savo apparently has such a bad reputation in the local property-management industry that only the bravest companies are willing to try to take us on."...
"So on December 31, 2009, I'm going to have to say goodbye to our current management company, with tears in my eyes -- because "The tribe has spoken"...
"And our next management company (number 15) starts work at Savo Island on January 1, 2010. They too are an excellent management company"..."And I wonder how long they too will last on the "Island"? But whatever happens, I will do whatever I can help this new company avoid elimination -- just like I have done for the past 14 other management company "Survivors" before them."...
opednews.com
ReplyDeleteSome excerpts from a blog created by Jane Stillwater on June 25, 2007
"My latest housing co-op newsletter: The special "Pirates of Savo Island" issue"
"Note 1: Why is this essay being posted on OpEd News? At first glance, it seems to be rater small-potatoes and too personal in nature to be a full-fledged news item. But these people in my housing co-op are doing the exact same thing locally that Bush, Cheney, etc. are doing nationally -- they are considering government resources to be their own personal entitlement and violating all sorts of rules that apply to the rest of us but don't apply to them because somehow they are above all the rules."
"According to them, only we peons need to obey rules. Humph. The latest development at my housing co-op, which is on the verge of bankruptcy"...
"There be sharks in the waters off the coast of Savo Island. Beware! The Boson: Arrgh! These pirates don't even get along with their fellow pirates!"...
"The Pirates of Savo Island are in for a fight! And be aware! Don't ever try to cross swards with me or my family or you WILL be cut adrift."
Ms. Stillwater's entire blogs about her housing co-op can be accessed through links provided on CHIE. Author's Bio: Stillwater is a freelance writer who hates injustice and corruption in any form but especially injustice and corruption paid for by American taxpayers. She has recently published a book entitled, "Bring Your Own Flak Jacket: Helpful Tips For Touring Today's Middle East"...