1. Building Community Support for a Rent Collection Policy

2. A rent collection policy is a plan for how a First Nation community will collect rent payments or housing charges from tenants.

3. The support of everyone is essential……
Chief and council
Administration (all relevant departments)
Housing Committee
Community membership
Occupants
Housing applicants

4. Assembling a support team
You can build a team to:
Explore payment options other than rent
Explain the need for a rent collection policy
Address questions from the community
Help implement the rent collection policy.

5. Communicate to everyone the need for a rent collection policy
Once the information is gathered, you may want to communicate:
Current cost of housing–both construction and operating costs
How housing costs are currently absorbed—are housing expenditures being financed by other departments (education, infrastructure)?
List Financial projections for the future (1 to 5 years)
Details on the housing surplus or deficit and why it exists
Projections for population growth and how this may impact housing needs
Current financial resources

6. Informal consultations
Communication tools
Informal consultations
Champions / advocates
Social Media
Town Hall Meetings
Newsletters

7. Potential Incentives for Consistent Rent Payment
Reference Letters for Tenants in Good Financial Standing
Eligibility for Rent to Own Program
Sponsoring or Creating Housing Awards / Recognition

8. Potential consequences for non-payment:
Register bad debts with the courts (for example, register a judgment)
Use a collection agency
Report debt to the credit bureau
Restrict non-essential services
Eviction

9. Thank You .
To be filled in by CMHC staff – contact info, etc.