Background
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Ontario’s social housing is a $40 Billion asset that is home to hundreds of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens. The over 230,000 homes are a key foundation for low-income families and individuals across hundreds of communities in Ontario.
However, there have been enormous challenges for the sector in continuing the upkeep and refurbishment of the social housing stock. Moreover, there is an ever-widening gap between the cost of repair and available dollars. By 2012, the social housing capital repair shortfall is expected to be $1.2 billion.
SHSC has provided the most comprehensive research in Ontario on the issue of capital repairs for social housing and has proposed a number of solutions.
SHSC has also recognized that there is a demonstrated need for leadership to work with the sector, its stakeholders, and its partners to create sustainable communities. In June of 2007, SHSC, sector organizations, municipalities and the provincial government came together to establish an Asset Management Group. This Group is now the Asset Management Centre.
What we do
The Asset Management Centre coordinates efforts within the sector to set standards and develop a framework to better manage capital assets. We have assembled and maintain a research and knowledge base to support informed decision-making. The Centre has also discovered opportunities and approaches to improve and repair, and strives to identify best practices and standards so that social housing providers, municipalities, and residents can thrive. We want to build and renew communities.
How we do this
- Work with sector organizations, service managers, and municipal governments to advise the provincial and federal government on necessary technical and legislative changes.
- Identify and monitor policy issues affecting the ability of the sector to effectively manage capital assets, including financial, operational, or technical issues.
- Develop standards and common definitions, tools, education and training and identify and share best practices.
- House a small central core of technical experts.
- Deliver effective training and education programs to lead the sector on energy and performance management.
- Provide supports and services aimed directly at reaping real dividends in the immediate and longer terms.
- Identify and monitor opportunities for public and private sector partnerships to strategically leverage capital and financial assets.