visit our website - cityhousinghamilton.com - for more information

page 5

On February 15, the tenants of 10

St Andrews Drive braved the bitter

winter winds. They bolstered their

competitive community spirit with

a Snowman Building Competition!

The St. Andrews Community Tenant

Association (S.A.C.T.A.) organized,

judged and awarded prizes for the

competition. Di�erent prize donors

supported the event, including CHH

and the John Howard Society via the

Davis Creek Planning Team. Cindy

Steele, S.A.C.T.A. member, said, “The

snowmen were creative. I loved

judging the competition.” Overall it

was a lot of fun for all involved!

Wanna Build a Snowman?

2015HousingMattersSpring.indd 5 27/04/2015 12:03:11 PM

Housing Matters Newsletter - Spring 2015

page 6

CHH is excited to announce that three

of our buildings now have new Energy

Control Systems installed - 5 Maple, 20

and 30 Congress.

These automation systems will make

our buildings more responsive to

weather conditions (like outdoor

temperature, sun and wind) and

building conditions (like open windows

and doors). The Energy Control System

will reduce overheating for all tenants,

and lower heating costs for CHH.

The bene"ts of the system include:

No more overheating concerns: the

new system will prevent overheating

by providing an upper temperature

limit.

Temperature stability: units will

stay at the set temperature when

windows and doors are closed, so

that your unit won’t overheat.

Better heating control: upgrades

improve temperature control for

many units.

More energy savings: reduced utility

costs mean there are more funds

available for building improvements,

which bene"ts the whole

community.

We expect the Energy Control System

will provide tremendous utility savings

which bene"ts everyone.

Thank you for doing your part to make

CHH a better place to live!

CHH spends approximately $10

million a year on utilities.

CHH is working to reduce utility

costs and our environmental

impact.

If you have any questions about

your Energy Control System,

please speak with your Site Sta� or

Property Manager.

Automation: A Move Into the Future

What better way to welcome Spring, than to make your community a greener

place to live? CHH and HSC are excited to bring the Community Champions

program to Pine Grove Place (20, 30, 50 Congress)! Soon, Pine Grove residents will

be invited to workshops to learn about how we use energy (and why!) we should

try to save it. Residents will also have a chance to plan fun activities for their

communities and share the energy and water savings tips they’ve learned.

Here are some tips we can ALL use to save energy and water in our communities!

Use your microwave! Use your microwave instead of your oven. Microwaves use

less energy and they cook your food faster than an oven.

Report that dripping tap! A tap that drips for one week wastes enough water to

"ll 10 bathtubs. Save water by telling someone if you see a leaky tap.

Let the sunshine in this Spring! Open your blinds during the day to let the sun

in. This means less energy will be needed to heat the apartment.

Together we can work to make our communities greener!

Community Champions Coming to Pine Grove Place!

2015HousingMattersSpring.indd 6 27/04/2015 12:03:12 PM

visit our website - cityhousinghamilton.com - for more information

page 7

Mary* was washing dishes when the phone rang. She answered the

phone. After a good conversation with her sister, Mary fell asleep on the

couch. The water in the kitchen sink ran over and spilled onto the #oor.

The water damaged "ve units below her. Mary did not have insurance.

She now has to pay to repair the units. The #ooring in two of the units

needed to be replaced. Walls were repaired and repainted. This cost

Mary over $6,000.

On top of this, the tenants in each of the units below had their personal

belonging damaged. Those that didn’t have their own insurance didn’t

have coverage. Francis lost her mother’s special coat and TV. Ahmed lost

most of his record collection. Bill, however, had insurance and was able

to have his personal belongings (Rug and DVD player) replaced by his

insurance. He was also able to stay at a hotel while the repairs to his wall

were completed – again, paid for by his insurance.

You are responsible for all damages unless CHH was negligent. Your

lease states this clearly. It is worth it to purchase insurance. The HSC

Tenant Insurance Program is very a�ordable and easy to get. Contact

HSC at 1.866.940.5111 or ask your Property Manager/Community

Relations Worker for an application form.

*Names have been changed to protect identity.

Call HSC at 1.866.940.5111

to get your insurance.

Remember, all new tenants MUST have insurance.

Disaster Strikes

2015HousingMattersSpring.indd 7 27/04/2015 12:03:12 PM

Housing Matters Newsletter - Spring 2015

page 8

A Farm in Hamilton? Awesome!Have you heard about the amazing Urban Farm being built in the McQuesten

Neighbourhood? Are you as excited as I am? Do you want to "nd out how you

can be involved?

The McQuesten Urban Farm has ramped up over the past few months with

many activities planned for early Spring 2015. CHH has been working with the

McQuesten Neighbourhood planning team. Together we want to design and

begin construction of the farm site with the hope of being ready for spring 2016.

Early ideas were from a local company called Bienenstock who builds natural

playgrounds. The design includes a green house, an indoor / outdoor kitchen

space, a pizza oven, a children’s play space, exercise equipment, a market space,

Native Species Gardens, fruit trees, and of course vegetable beds.

Upcoming Events

May 1-3 Jane’s Walk

Fri May 1st Food Handlers Certi"cation & Processing Food on the Farm

May 16th Planting Bee, City Housing Hamilton & McQuesten Community

Gardens

Saturday May 23 McQuesten Crawl

Sunday May 31st Minestrone & Movie Night

Friday June 12 & 19th Emergency First Aid Training on the Farm

Fri June 26th Strawberry Freezer Jam

Sat July 4th O%cial Launch of the McQuesten Farm Fresh Market &

Neighbourhood Share

Sat July 18th Pollinator Support Day

Fri August 14th Red Fruit Sauce Day

Fri Aug 28th 2015 Pizza Oven Fundraiser

CHH tenants are encouraged to get involved!

For more information please contact: Adam Watson / Project Manager – McQuesten Urban FarmTel: (905) 546-2424 ext. 7806E-mail: adam.watson@hamilton.caKelly McKinney / Community Animator – McQuesten Urban FarmTel: (289) 244-7105 E-mail: kmckinney@sprc.hamilton.on.ca

With 25 gardens across the city, our tenants are

growing up a bushel!

If you have a story to share, or want more information

on Community Gardens, call Theresa Phair

x6679

2015HousingMattersSpring.indd 8 27/04/2015 12:03:12 PM