At its meeting on Monday, April 18, 2016 City Council directed that administration move forward with a process to merge the Elgin St. Thomas Housing Corporation under the direct umbrella of the City and into City operations. Currently the Elgin St Thomas Housing Corporation operates as a separate corporation reporting to the City of St. Thomas.
While the Elgin St. Thomas Housing Corporation has provided excellent service to its tenants across Elgin County this merger is seen as a very positive step in the delivery of affordable housing and the access to service that will be provided to the tenants of the 530 housing units. Ultimately, housing tenants will be afforded the opportunity to access a holistic service centre through Ontario Works to meet their needs.
“We are very excited about the integration of the Housing Corporation into the City operations. While the Board and staff at the Housing Authority have done a great job managing the housing portfolio, the opportunities that lie ahead will be fantastic. In part this move will add to the focus of the proposed community hub that is on the horizon with Ontario Works and the Central Community Health Centre ” states Mayor Jackson.
“The board of the Elgin St. Thomas Housing Corporation have been pleased that the Corporation has been involved in the planning process right from the start, and that management staff were able to participate on the planning team. The Board requested that the best interests of our tenants and our staff as well as those of the City be major considerations and this certainly appears to have been the case” states Lynda Avram, Chair, Elgin St. Thomas Housing Corporation.
During the past number of months administration from the City and the Housing Corporation have worked together on a potential merger plan. It is anticipated that the merger will take place on September 15, 2016. From now until September, administration will continue to work together through many details. All of the existing 10 employees of the Housing Corporation will become employees of the City.
Source: City of St. Thomas Press Release
“We are very excited about the integration of the Housing Corporation into the City operations. While the Board and staff at the Housing Authority have done a great job managing the housing portfolio, the opportunities that lie ahead will be fantastic. In part this move will add to the focus of the proposed community hub that is on the horizon with Ontario Works and the Central Community Health Centre ” states Mayor Jackson.
“The board of the Elgin St. Thomas Housing Corporation have been pleased that the Corporation has been involved in the planning process right from the start, and that management staff were able to participate on the planning team. The Board requested that the best interests of our tenants and our staff as well as those of the City be major considerations and this certainly appears to have been the case” states Lynda Avram, Chair, Elgin St. Thomas Housing Corporation.
During the past number of months administration from the City and the Housing Corporation have worked together on a potential merger plan. It is anticipated that the merger will take place on September 15, 2016. From now until September, administration will continue to work together through many details. All of the existing 10 employees of the Housing Corporation will become employees of the City.
Source: City of St. Thomas Press Release
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