Nov 22nd, 2023

First Tenant Talks Town Hall Provides Updates on Important OCH Programs and Services 

One of the goals of the new OCH Strategic Plan is to improve engagement with tenants. That is why several of our management team hosted a town hall at 731 Chapel on October 18  as part of the Tenant Talks program.  

By coming together in person and virtually, we were able to spend time with tenants, share project highlights from 2023, and hear feedback from engaged tenants about the services that matter most to them.  

Tenants heard from: 
 

Chris Strotmann, Manager of Community Safety Services Operations, spoke about the Community Safety Engagement Team – a team of Community Safety Workers that does outreach in high-needs buildings, working with partners such as Options Bytown, Ottawa Police and Aging in Place to help residents stay safe and connected to supports.   

He also talked about virtual patrolling, when a Community Safety Worker watches CCTV footage each shift and helps coordinate the gathering of evidence needed by police when any theft or vandalism occurs.   

Steve Clay, Senior Manager of Community Development, spoke about increasing in-person community events and support programs after the pandemic. He also outlined the changes to the structure of District Based Committee meetings to include items such as leadership and skills training.   

Chantal Genova, Manager of Corporate Communications, spoke about OCH’s new website. How it is now easier for tenants to find information on services and resources that matter to them. She also talked about the new Strategic Plan and branding refresh. The Communications team also works with other departments to support the rollout of new programs – ensuring tenants get the most up-to-date information possible.   

Hussein Jaffal, Senior Manager of Tenant Services Operations, thanked tenants who offered their feedback for the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan and outlined some ways the plan will guide the work of the OCH.   

Jean-Marc Carrière, Senior Manager, Tenancy Administration, gave information about supports we have put in place to ensure tenants have support to do their taxes and prevent loss of subsidy – such as the partnership with EBO Financial Education Centre where volunteers hosted tax clinics for OCH tenants.  

He also discussed annual review letters and how tenant input has helped make the language simpler and clearer.   

Jeff Wilkie, Senior Manager of Property Management, talked about how OCH keeps waste out of the landfill – and spoke about the community waste room retrofits, along with some successes and challenges. He assigned participants homework to think about ways to reduce waste in their communities and keep them clean.   

Michelle Parisien, Senior Manager of Property Management, discussed the My Home tenant portal and shared information about upcoming SMS notifications for maintenance appointments.   

Francine Vachon, Senior Manager of Tenant Support, was the final speaker. She explained the job of Tenancy Support Workers. She also discussed the changing tenant demographic and the challenges faced as more residents come to OCH communities with complex needs such as mental health or addiction issues.   

She shared that OCH is developing a Complex Care Housing Framework to support a model that allows us to consult and collaborate with existing and new partners on solutions that serve tenants.    

What’s Next?  

We want to hear from you. What kind of Tenant Talks events would you like to see in 2024? Let us know at TenantTalks@och.ca.