Looking Ahead to 2023: Working Together for a Better Future
As we enter the new year of 2023, I would like to take a moment to wish all of our members a happy and prosperous new year. I hope that you have had the opportunity to take some time to relax and enjoy the holidays with your loved ones. As we look ahead to the year ahead, I am excited to share with you the plans that ONPHA has for the upcoming year and the impact that we will have on the sector.
What I’m most proud of in 2022
Upon reflection, I am very proud of our work at ONPHA and the strides we made within sector transformation, support from all four major Provincial parties in their commitment to housing affordability and working with the ONPHA team to have more impact for better outcomes across the sector. It becomes increasingly clear to me that everything we do is about people and housing.
Among the most notable in our approach, was our commitment to ONPHA’s Strategic Plan and putting people at the centre of a systems approach. The culmination of which you can see in the following links, including: ONPHA’s Affordable Housing Plan, ONPHA’s Indigenous Housing Plan , ONPHA’s Solutions Lab & Long Term Vision, ONPHA Conference Highlights Video, ONPHA’s 2022 Year in Review Video.
This is certainly an impact worth celebrating and building upon the year ahead!
What I’m looking forward to in 2023
Our goal remains to expand the community housing footprint by 99,000 new units or 2% of the overall housing footprint in Ontario over a 10-year term. While this is ambitious and aligns with the National Housing Strategy, it also fits with and is supported by the provincial commitment to build 1.5 million new homes over a similar time-line.
As such, ONPHA’s top priority will continue with a leadership role to support sector transformation within the new provincial policy framework and at the anniversary of housing providers’ end-of-mortgage and/or operating-agreement terms. This work will expand on ONPHA’s FAQ documents to update the sector, the subsequent Transformation Guide, and soon to be released Templates and expanded Enterprise Services.
The intent is for ONPHA to extend the best member experience possible to members during a time of sector transformation and as they exit a prescriptive housing framework and enter into a service agreement with funding partners that are negotiated on a case-by-case business plan. We further strive to earn the ‘endorsement’ among key stakeholders to help support a flued approach that we have, so far, been taking a leadership role in and on behalf of the sector.
Also, a top-line priority will be to expand ONPHA’s work with evidence-based reporting and advocacy that’s grounded in strong sector partnerships and data. This work will include the recently launched Low-End of Market Rental (LEMR) Monitor initiative, an upcoming Economic Impact Study, Supportive Housing Plan and Advisory Committee initiatives for both Indigenous and Anti-Racism work through ONPHA’s Urban and Rural Indigenous Housing Advisory Committee and ONPHA’s Reaching Equity Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Working with you
Last but not least, we will focus on our own team and reach through continued partnerships to lift the team and have more impact as we work to: 1) build, 2) protect, and 3) support the sector through expanded products, training, programs and services.
An immediate next step for us will be to revisit ONPHA’s Strategic Plan and update our outlook beyond what currently stands for 2023. This will include engagement with the board, advisory committees, our membership and team, and sector partners.
As we look ahead to the year ahead, I am confident that ONPHA will continue to make a positive impact on the sector and the lives of those we serve. I am excited to work with all of you to ensure that we continue to build, protect, and support the sector through our expanded products, training, programs, and services. Together, we can make a difference and create a better future for all.
Marlene Coffey, CEO, ONPHA
