Metis housing co-op sought

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A small group of Metis people is taking steps to start a Metis housing co-operative in Edmonton,.

A meeting to present the concept has been set for October 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton.

The Wo-Te-Na Housing Group was created after Muriel Stanley Venne was approached by the owner of a west Edmonton housing complex who suggested that the Settlement Sooniyaw Corporation, of which she is general manager, buy it for Metis people in Edmonton.

Although that was not possible, it tied in with concerns she already had that Metis people were limited to the existing eight northern Alberta settlements for land, yet so many Metis worked and/or lived in Edmonton.

"Maybe this was a way to establish an urban Metis settlement, she thought.

She investigated the structure of housing co-operatives and discovered that they were very similar to settlements, with their board of directors and collective ownership of land.

Venne discussed the concept with a number of people such as her colleagues at Metis Local 1885, where she is a member, and with Larry Desmeules, general manager

of Metis Urban Housing.

Desmeules not only was supportive but indicated there was probably a demand since tenants cannot purchase houses owned by MUH, and since MUH has a waiting list of more than 400 families.

Venne then sought the assistance of Cumminitas, a non-profit organization that has assisted in the development of other housing co-operatives in Edmonton.

A grant of $24,000 for development of the co-operative was obtained from Canada Mortgage and Housing Co-operative.

The initial concept was developed around the 40-unit complex that is now available for purchase at over $2 million. Additional money would be spent on renovations and new appliances where needed.

Venne is confidant there are other alternatives if that deal doesn't work out.

Other properties are for sale, or "we could design and build our own complex complete with recreational facilities."

Another possibility is for the co-op to acquire properties scattered throughout the city, but own and operate them collectively. That would eliminate the concern of those who fear a complex could become a "ghetto."

Other steps to avoid the "ghetto' label - usually applied to projects which house low income and/or welfare families - is that government funding requires a maximum of 30% subsidized tenants in co-ops, and Venne's intention to attract working families, older couples and two-parent families as well as the single parent and low income families who would likely be most attracted to co-op housing.

The big attraction is that ownership is possible with little or 'no up-front' invest-ment. Although no one has actual sole ownership of the unit they live in, they do have shares in the whole project, and have a direct say in how the co-op is operated.

Co-ops are operated on six basic principles:

1. Membership is voluntary and open to those who can use the services of the co-op.

2. Each member has one vote.

3. A board of directors is elected by the general membership to run the day-to-day operations of the co-op.

4. The business of the co-op is carried on for the benefit of its members.

5. Provision shall be made for the education of members in the techniques of co- operative operations.

6. Provision shall be made for co-operation with other co-operative associations, at the local, national, and international level.

A housing co-operative is a democratic corporation. Its objective is to provide members with affordable quality housing. It enables members to share in the management, maintenance and decision-making aspects of their living environment. Thus, members can enjoy both financial and social benefits from the co-operative experience.

The Wo-Te-Na Housing Co-operative "hopes to provide more than this to its members," according to a brochure it has produced. "We will strive to provide a supportive environment to Metis people both urban andthose newly arrived from rural communities and remote settlements, and to preserve and develop the Metis culture within an urban context."