Build your skillset with ONPHA’s online courses

This year, we’ve faced unprecedented changes to the way we live and work. As we adjust to working from home part of the time or on a full-time basis, online learning opportunities are becoming more common as learning institutions adapt their offerings to meet the needs of remote learners.  

ONPHA has been offering online courses since 2005. With 15 years of experience under our belt, we’re more than ready to help you meet your professional development goals. The challenges that COVID-19 has brought our sector make this the perfect time to improve your skillset and get updated on the latest need-to-know information to help you excel in your current role and achieve your career goals. 

Our courses 

ONPHA’s suite of online courses are designed by experts to help you improve your knowledge and develop the skills necessary for your work as a community housing provider. 

Courses run for 12 weeks and are self-paced, so you can adjust your studies to fit your schedule. We recommend that participants put in 3-4 hours per week to stay on track and to get the most from their course. 

Supportive Housing Core Competencies: Enhancing Your Skills

Offered in partnership with the Toronto Mental Health & Addictions Supportive Housing Network (TMHASHN), Supportive Housing Core Competencies aims to help establish a common knowledge base and best practices for supportive housing workers at all levels – from frontline support workers to management.  

The skills participants will learn through the course are especially relevant as the many challenges housing providers are facing due to COVID-19 are particularly difficult in supportive housing settings. The skills the course will impart to staff will help them support their residents as they manage the many challenges related to keeping residents and staff safe during the pandemic. Learn about and develop skills related to: 

• Communicating effectively with tenants 
• Mental health and addictions 
• Enhancing tenant/resident quality of life 
• Navigating the social support system 
• Continuous self-improvement and learning 
• Self-care for supportive housing workers
• Promoting a culture of teamwork, collaboration and community 

Finance Fundamentals 

Now more than ever, it’s important that community housing providers have their financial procedures running smoothly and efficiently to ensure organizational stability and success.  

Finance fundamentals: Playing your part in sustainability and success provides a practical overview of the fundamentals of financial oversight and management, enabling learners to be an active part of their organization’s financial success. In this course participants will gain an understanding of: 

• the core principles of good financial management and oversight 
• policies, procedures and bylaws to have in place 
• appropriate roles and responsibilities for staff, management and the board 
• how to set and monitor a budget 
• fundamental internal controls and how to implement them
• how to prepare for and support the annual financial audit
• financial indicators and how to interpret them
• end of operating agreements and its impact on finances
• understanding and managing financial risk
• key considerations for meeting accountability, legislative and Canada Revenue Agency requirements

RGI courses 

Before registering for either of ONPHA’s RGI courses, be sure to check in with your service manager to see when they intend to implement the new RGI simplification rules in your service area. 

The New, Simplified World of RGI Administration 

As of July 1, 2020, changes to the way rent-geared-to-income (RGI) is calculated have come into effect. All service areas must operate under the new rules by July 1, 2021. The new rules are intended to simplify RGI calculation and administration. Click here to learn more about RGI simplification. 

ONPHA’s newest course offering, The New, Simplified World of RGI Administration is essential for housing providers operating in service areas that have implemented the new RGI rules and will help prepare them for annual RGI reviews. Participants will learn about: 

• the Housing Services Act, 2011 (HSA) 
• service managers’ local rules
• assessing RGI eligibility
• determining the right housing unit
• determining adjusted family net income (AFNI) using:
  • tax-based net income
  • approximated net income
• calculating RGI (including the new minimum rent)
• applying adjustments for utilities
• when to review RGI
• how and when to implement RGI changes
• what to do when tenants no longer qualify for RGI 
• how to send out proper notices
• when RGI households ask for a review or appeal

The ABCs of RGI: Rent-geared-to-income administration 

This course is designed for housing providers whose service areas have not yet implemented the new RGI simplification rules. The ABCs of RGI: Rent-geared-to-income administration teaches participants how to administer RGI under the Housing Services Act, 2011 and to expand their understanding of: 

• the concept of rent-geared-to-income (RGI) 
• the Housing Services Act, 2011 (HSA) and it’s regulations 
• service manager local rules 
• assessing eligibility for RGI 
• determining the right housing unit 
• determining income 
• how to calculate RGI 
• applying adjustments for utilities
• how and when to implement RGI changes
• what to do when a tenant ceases to qualify for RGI
• sending out proper notices
• what happens when an RGI household asks for a review or appeal 

ONPHA’s online courses can help you meet the demands of providing high-quality, sustainable housing. Click here to learn more about how our courses can help you improve your skills and keep you up-to-date on the latest in the sector. 

Questions about our educational offerings? Contact us at education@onpha.org.