View Court is a friendly, quiet, mutually supportive and diverse community of individuals, working together to maintain and develop a secure and independent home for all of us.
Responsibilities
All members are expected to perform occasional light duties such as vacuuming the hallways, polishing brass fixtures, or mopping the laundry floor. All members are also expected to participate in one of the committees or the Board of Directors, each of which meets about once a month. Together, these communal tasks normally require well under ten hours each month, typically averaging less than half that.
Each new member must purchase $1000 in shares in the co-op, which is refunded (less expenses etc.) upon leaving the co-op. New members may make arrangements to pay part of their share purchase over time. The value of the shares is used by View Court to generate income to help support the operation of the co-op, and also may work in effect as a damage deposit. After one year of active membership, a member may apply for our reduced housing charges fund, which are linked to a percentage of income rather than the fixed monthly “market rate,” to a maximum equal to the market rate, and a minimum set by the general membership. This allows members to expect a secure and stable home in spite of fluctuations in their incomes. Availability of the reduced housing charges fund , as well as the actual reduced housing charges rate, is decided by the general membership each year, according to the financial condition of the co-op and the needs of the membership. Apart from a secure home and relatively inexpensive rent compared to the open market, View Court has a friendly atmosphere in which everyone knows everyone else, and individuality is valued and respected as much as social participation. As members of a housing co-operative, we also enjoy other advantages such as lower home insurance rates and discounts at various businesses that recognize the value of supporting the co-operative lifestyle.
We’re big on community
Apart from a secure home and relatively inexpensive rent compared to the open market, View Court has a friendly atmosphere in which everyone knows everyone else, and individuality is valued and respected as much as social participation. As members of a housing co-operative, we also enjoy other advantages such as lower home insurance rates and discounts at various businesses that recognize the value of supporting the co-operative lifestyle. View Court is big on Community both within our thin walls and to the outside. We have been involved with Womenfutures in the past and set aside a suite for a PWA. We also sent $500 to support a political campaign to defend housing co-ops in Ontario. We will support co-op policy intervention, community initiatives and the building of new housing co-ops.