We Stand

We Stand against bullying and harassment.

We Stand together as a co-operative.

We Stand on our commitment to safe co-op spaces.

We Stand up for our fellow co-op members.

We Stand behind our belief in equity.

We Stand beside each other in unity.

The We Stand project addresses harassment and violent behaviour in co-op housing spaces.

About the Project

Since the pandemic, we have seen a steady rise in aggressive behaviour from members and directors towards staff and contractors, increased division between board members, and ongoing conflicts among members. These issues have led to higher staff turnover, limited access to co-op offices and to staff, weakened governance structures, and unhealthy community relationships. This trend is not sustainable. To promote change and foster inclusive, safe, and welcoming co-op spaces, we launched We Stand, a call to action to reshape the story and offer a new outlook.

Our Future

This project is still in its development stages, as we outline a strong framework for a future program.

Our immediate goals are to:

Review current policies, training models, and sector challenges.
Draft a harassment prevention framework tailored for co-ops.
Develop a toolkit for boards, staff, and members.
Design training modules on bystander intervention, trauma-informed response, and governance oversight.
Present a rollout timeline for pilot co-ops and sector implementation.

Development and Implementation Schedule

December 2025–January 2026

The core group finalizes the toolkit, training modules, reporting pathways, and implementation suppports.

January–March 2026

The final draft is vetted; early adopters are confirmed, and the program undergoes beta testing at select co-ops.

April–May 2026

Introduce at the Ontario staff associations’ annual event, onboard early adopters, start training schedules and distribute the toolkit.

CHF Canada’s June 2026 AGM

National launch of the “We Stand” program and campaign materials.

Summer–Fall 2026

Conduct pilot evaluation followed by a wider sector rollout.

Your organization’s viewpoint—whether as a member of the Core Team or an Early Adopter—will be instrumental in ensuring this program meets legal requirements and the real-world needs of the co-op housing community.

Get Involved!

1. Join the Core Team

Our Core Team will finalize the program content and ensure it aligns with operational realities across the sector. Participation involves attending several working sessions between November and January, reviewing drafts, and contributing to implementation planning.

The Core Team currently includes:

COCHF, PHCHF, GHCHF, CHASEO, CHF Canada, and Homestarts Inc., and we would welcome your organization to join us.

2. Support Us as an Early Adopter

For organizations that prefer not to join the core team, we invite you to become an Early Adopter. Early adopters will have access to the final toolkit, training modules, and implementation supports, and help validate the program during its initial rollout stage.