Haldimand Norfolk Housing hits key targets in 2024

Luke Edwards

Advocate Correspondent

Despite dealing with increasingly complex cases, the Haldimand Norfolk Housing Corporation is achieving or surpassing its four main objectives.

Matt Bowen, HNHC CEO, presented its 2024 report and audited financial statements to Norfolk councillors at the June 12 council-in-committee meeting. The presentation showed the organization is hitting or exceeding four key performance indicators, while also working to grow the supply of affordable housing units in Norfolk and Haldimand.

“We truly are privileged to serve the most vulnerable people in the community,” Bowen said.

The organization houses more than 1,000 people, providing the physical space and working with other agencies like the YWCA or Canadian Mental Health Association to provide vital support services.

HNHC maintains 23 properties and 535 homes throughout its catchment area. Roughly half of their tenants are seniors, and 14 per cent are single adult households.

“We’re really seeing a much higher level of vulnerability on the waitlist,” Bowen said. That includes people with disabilities, those facing mental health or addiction issues, as well as women fleeing violence and abuse.

Despite those vulnerabilities, HNHC reported a 99 per cent rent collection in 2024, above its target of 95 per cent.

Bowen said they’ve been working on reducing the amount of unpaid rent, which helps keep the organization financially strong.

“We’ve really been able to drive that number down,” he said.

They’ve also hit a target of doing an annual inspection of each and every unit, and maintained 99 per cent unit occupancy (above a target of 95 per cent). Finally, they exceeded the unit turnover rate goal of 30 days, managing to fill vacancies in 24.5 days on average.

HNHC is also continuing work on several new developments as well as other repair and renewal projects. A groundbreaking for a new 56-unit build with childcare facility in Dunnville was planned for June, while locally, pre-development work on a 24-unit, mixed-income development in Delhi is ongoing. Also, there is a project in Port Dover that will see 25 mixed-income units added to an existing property.

Responding to a question from Mayor Amy Martin, Bowen said the Delhi project is an example of HNHC’s efforts to be as efficient as possible. They were tasked with demolishing and replacing two legacy units, but Bowen said they asked themselves if there was a better way to use the space.

“We think it’s important given the affordable housing crisis in the community to maximize… really utilizing that site to intensify and lets put as much onto it as we can,” Bowen said.

A three-year, $8 million renewal program is also 70 per cent complete, Bowen said.