IHM News, Volume 23, Spring 2005

IHM Newsletter-MAR.2005

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IHMnews Volume 23, Spring 2005

INSTITUTE OF HOUSING MANAGEMENT

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement # 40739009

E N H A N C I N G T H E K N OW L E D G E A N D S K I L L S O F P RO PE R T Y M A N AG E M E N T P RO F E S S I O N A L S

Unmasking Urban Graffiti Inside President’s Message ..............................................................2 IHM Board of Directors..........................................................3 Unmasking Urban Graffiti .....................................................3 The Region of Waterloo – Affordable Housing Strategy .........5 IHM Membership ..................................................................7 New Members and Graduates...............................................8 President’s Commentary........................................................8 Upcoming Events ..................................................................8

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President’s Message

The Value of Distance Education!

Greg Grange, B.A., F.I.H.M.

As an instructor with the IHM Distance Education program, I thought it was an appropriate time to comment on the value and overwhelming success of the distance learning program, as well as comment on my personal satisfaction as an instructor.

Professional development in any career path has many facets, which can include coaching, shadowing, conferencing, reading, formal educational settings, and on-line learning such as distance education.

IHM identified distance education several years ago as an important expansion of our formalized educational program, which is offered through Humber College. A comprehensive program was developed, rolled out, and improves in quality at every turn due to the dedication and professionalism of highly

skilled and experienced IHM members who volunteer to be instructors.

The number of distance education students has been increasing at a steady rate over the past four years. I have instructed as many as ten students at one time.

My students have come from various backgrounds from custodial, building superintendents, office support staff, real estate salespeople, and post-grads, just to mention a few.

The success of distance learning can be attributed not only to the quality of curriculum and all instructors but also to the fact that IHM recognized the need for flexible learning opportunities leading to professional accreditation.

Our unpredictable environment, with demands from all directions, makes it difficult to commit to a college setting. Flexible learning allows students with busy and varied lifestyles the ability to study at home.

With close to 30 years in property management in one form or another, it is gratifying to know that I can share the knowledge and skills I have learned with those aspiring to a great career as a professional property manager.

My personal satisfaction was also greatly enhanced when I met four of my distance education students who attended the 2004 Conference in Kingston.

To all current instructors and our newest instructors, who have recently come on board, my personal thanks for your professional commitment.

Your wealth of knowledge, experience, and caring personalities, are certain to groom new professionals, who enter the field of property management and carry the IHM designation.

Kindest regards, Greg Grange, B.A., F.I.H.M. President

2004 Board of Directors PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Greg Grange, B.A., F.I.H.M. Mgr., Housing Division City of Kingston 216 Ontario Street Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3 Tel: (613) 546-4291 ext. 1265 Fax: (613) 546-3004 E-mail: ggrange@city.kingston.on.ca

William J. Corrigan, A.I.H.M. Chair: Finance Committee Williams and McDaniel 66 Macdonell Street, Suite #301 Guelph, ON N1H 2Z6 Tel: (705) 788-7690 Fax: (705) 788-0928 E-mail: billco@cogeco.ca

VICE-PRESIDENT

DIRECTORS

Mary Pinto, A.I.H.M. Regional Municipality of Waterloo Planning, Housing & Community Services 150 Frederick Street, 8th Floor Kitchener, ON N2G 4J3 Tel: (519) 575-4789 Fax: (519) 743-6527 E-mail: pimary@region.waterloo.on.ca

Lee Campbell, A.I.H.M. Chair: Conference Committee Kingston Frontenac Housing Corporation Manager, The Social Housing Registry 471 Counter Street, Suite 100 Kingston, ON K7M 8S8 E-mail: lcampbell@cityofkingston.ca Tel: (613) 546-5591 Fax: (613) 546-9375

SECRETARY Deborah Filice, A.I.H.M. The Regional Municipality of Halton 690 Dorval Drive, 7th Floor Oakville, ON L6K 3X9 Tel: (905) 825-6000 Ext. 4414 Fax: (905) 849-3568 E-mail: filiced@region.halton.on.ca

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Joan Cranmer, F.I.H.M. Chair: Education Committee Lom Nava Co-Op 5955 Glen Erin Drive, Unit 79 Mississauga, ON L5M 5N9 E-mail: dcranmer@cogeco.ca Tel: (905) 821-7622 Fax: (905) 821-1432

James Mellor, A.I.H.M. Director Windsor-Essex County Housing Corporation 945 McDougall Street P.O. Box 1330 Windsor, ON N9A 6R3 Tel: (519) 776-4631 Ext. 14 Fax: (519) 776-5510 E-mail: jmellor@wechc.com Vicki Pocock, A.I.H.M. Chair: Communications/Newsletter Windsor-Essex County Housing Corporation Glengarry Office 415 University Ave. E. Windsor, ON N9A 2Z3 Tel: (519) 254-1681 Ext. 217 Fax: (519) 258-7700 E-mail: vpocock@wechc.com Harry Popiluk, F.I.H.M. Chair: Marketing/Membership Committees Victoria Park Community Homes 155 Queen Street North Hamilton, ON L8R 2V7 Tel: (905) 527-0221 Ext.15 Fax: (905) 527-3181 E-mail: hpopiluk@vpch.com

CANDIDATE REPRESENTATIVE Lynn Alexander Candidate Representative Property Manager The Regional Municipality of Durham Social Services Dept. – Housing Services Division 2 Simcoe St. South, 2nd Floor Oshawa, ON L1H 8C1 Tel: (905) 434-5011 Fax: (905) 434-1943 E-mail: Lynn.alexander@region.durham.on.ca

ADMINISTRATORS: Lynn Morrovat Ext. 254 (Administrative Co-ordinator) Nancy Trinh Ext. 229 (Administrative Assistant) IHM Office 2175 Sheppard Ave. East, Suite #310 Toronto, ON M2J 1W8 Tel: (416) 493-7382 Fax: (416) 491-1670 Email: ihm@taylorenterprises.com

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Feature

Unmasking Urban Graffiti Educating and empowering communities in the battle against graffiti vandalism.

Submitted by Heinz Kuck, Staff Sergeant, Toronto Police Services

It was only the rattle of the aerosol spray can that broke the stillness of the night. The colored mist flowed evenly, deftly, along the dark stone surface. As the letters became more and more visible, the writer reeled with satisfaction, and stopped. He viewed his work, smiled, and then quickly slipped unseen into the night.

Throughout North America, this process is repeated millions of times each year by a cohort of vandals estimated to number over 900,000. (Wilson, 1998) Costs for annual eradication programs are estimated to be in excess of $1.4 Billion in Canada, and $15 Billion in the U.S. (National Graffiti Information Network, 1994). Of equal importance, academic researchers repeatedly link physical disorder issues (vandalism) with increased community crime and fear, which eventually leads into one direction – neighborhood decline.

Walk through any urban core, and our senses are numbed by the shear volume of images. We see the separation of both private and public spaces, the hustle of the street, but above all, we are drawn to something else, urban graffiti. Graffiti comes from the ancient Greek word of ‘to write.’

It can be manifested in any number of ways; from spray paint, markers, and pencils; to etching, scratches and slap tags. All of these methods are linked to the unlawful defacing of both public and private property.

One of the ways to most effectively deal with graffiti vandalism is not only in raising its profile of criminality, but by effiSpring 2005

ciently empowering community members and property managers through training and education.

Since October 2000, the Toronto Police Service has been engaged in such training, as a result of a Service wide initiative known as the Graffiti Eradication Program. The program is made up of five components: Eradication (the physical removal of graffiti), Enforcement (through arrest and prosecution), Empowerment (embracing all stakeholders), Economic Development (youth mural programs, city sponsored revitalization), and Education (anti-vandalism programs to schools and community centers).

One of the most important and informative components revolves around one specific subject; vandal profiling, who does it, and why?

Means, Motive, and Opportunity When we look at vandalism we often assume that the offender, namely youth, follow some predetermined path of disorder because of ethnicity, class struggle or social deficit. While some of these aspects do have an influence within the overall equation, the more accurate picture is one made up of a three part equation; 1) an individual’s search for identity, 2) to solidify masculinity, and 3) physiology, an addiction to adrenaline, or as the vandals say, the “rush.”

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Feature

The most distinctive signpost within the realm of graffiti vandalism lies within the offender- our urban youth. It becomes definitive because it is a crime that is linked with a youth’s search for identity. Whether we look at Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and its ascending search toward self actualization, or Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of psychosocial development, and its self directed adolescent question of “who am I?”, there exists an irresistible, innate pull toward the finding of ‘self,’ and the creation of an ‘identity,’ within the graffiti sub-culture.

This search for personal identity often eludes our youth who seek it through conventional means such as through a sport arena, an academic environment, a faith community, or within a strong family. Failing conventional means, identity established through the creation and proliferation of a “tag,” (a single color initial, signature or symbol), and its inherent quest for fame within the sub-culture, is one that can be achieved.

Research from ethnographic studies place fame, recognition and respect as the ‘currency’ paid to the most prolific ‘tagger.’ The more tags placed (quantity), over the greatest area (geography), achieves the desired subcultural mythology, and as such - identity.

Nancy Macdonald in her work, The Graffiti Subculture. Youth, Masculinity and identity London and New York, 2001, supports this position in saying “Gaining respect, fame and a strong self-concept is openly expressed as a writer’s primary objective and the sub-culture is fully set to support this goal.”

An adolescent’s search for masculinity creates our next challenge. To achieve ‘manhood’, one must construct and establish a sense of gender, a sense of masculinity, but without the power or support network to reach these ‘senses’ through conventional, lawful means, crime then compensates as a valid substitute. (Messerschimidt. 1993) A further look into this crime aspect is what we term “collateral crime.” Prior to the ac-

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tual defacement of the property, graffiti vandals engage in a ritual of chance and bravado. More often than not the spray paint or markers are stolen; this is endearingly entitled “racking.” Groups of young males will enter a store location and while some capture the attention of the store clerk, others will steal the goods.

Subsequent to the theft, vandals often rally in some clandestine location and consume drugs or alcohol, discuss their strategy and target location. The group moves off to the location (trespass) and then engages in their act (vandalism). But it doesn’t end there.

Graffiti writers further prove their ‘worth’ through the endurance, danger, and dexterity needed to climb the water tower, scale the barbwire fence, side step the third rail, or outrun the police.

Constantly on the lookout, they complete their task, and revel in their attempt at ‘fame.’ This attitude, unfortunately, resulted in Toronto’s first graffiti related death this year, where an 18 year old tagger was killed by an oncoming train, as he sprayed his way into infamy.

Ethnographic study again comes into play when looking at the third feature of vandal profiling. With ethnography, it allows the field researcher to live, breathe, eat, and sleep with the cultural group they wish to study. This way, true sub-cultural passions come to be witnessed. According to researchers, graffiti writers are indeed motivated by the aspects of fame, recognition and respect, but there exists another aspect, that of the addiction to adrenalin. According to Jeff Ferrell in his seminal work on Denver graffiti writers, one of the most potent motivators is that of the “rush.”

“Graffiti writers have told me time and time again, that they do graffiti for the rush one gets when piecing or tagging illegally, a rush more exciting and pleasurable than any drug they know. And, they emphasize that this feeling comes from not just being out at an illegal location, but from the act of painting itself, from the intersection of creativity and illegality as the paint hits the wall.”

Obtained lawfully, and through conventional means, identity, masculinity, and physiology, create a powerful matrix for our youth to grow and prosper. We openly discuss our cultural icons and celebrities, and we discuss personalities in sports, politics and entertainment. However, the graffiti sub-culture dangerously follows a similar path, in that they will discuss, celebrate and idolize, into mythic proportions, the most skilled “piecer,” the most prolific “tagger,” the most traveled “writer,” and the most daring “bomber.”

Fame, recognition and respect, are all potent attractions to society’s marginalized youth.

As front line property managers, social agency workers, or simply members of a community, having an understanding of these issues enables us to create a sense of order out of chaos when investigating incidences of graffiti vandalism. This order also makes our task easier while developing future solutions so that, in the end, graffiti vandalism can become a less desirable means of expression for our youth.

Staff Sergeant Heinz Kuck has been a member of the Toronto Police Service since 1979. He is currently the Services lead coordinator for its award winning Graffiti Eradication Program.

He will be presenting his groundbreaking work at the upcoming Blueline Seminar Series April 26th and 27th, in Markham Ontario.

For further information on the seminar series please refer to www.blueline.ca For general information, Staff Sergeant Heinz Kuck can be contacted at 416-808-5354.

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Housing Projects

Collective Efforts, Shared Successes: The Region of Waterloo – Affordable Housing Strategy Submitted by: Rob Horne, MA, MCIP, RPP

The Region of Waterloo is a vibrant community located in southwestern Ontario, approximately one hour west of Toronto.

Situated along Highway 401, the area is made up of three urban municipalities – Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, and four rural townships – North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. With a combined population of just under half a million, the Region is one of the fastest growing areas in Ontario.

Like other municipalities in the province, the Region of Waterloo became a prominent stakeholder in the housing sector with the passing of the Social Housing Reform Act. Since that time, the Region has been designated a ‘Service Manager,’ responsible for owning or overseeing the operation of more than 9,000 publicly-funded housing units, which house an estimated 5% of the Region’s population. Even with a strong community housing sector, demand for housing that is affordable continues to rise – the Region of Waterloo Coordinated Access System (waiting list) typically contains 4,000 households. Additionally, the Region of Waterloo 2002 Housing Needs Survey found that over 40% of tenant households were paying over 30% of their income on rent.

• The adoption of a municipal capital facilities by-law to permit financial assistance to developers of community housing; • Regional capital grants to assist developers in creating new community housing ($7.6 million); • Limited grants to offset Regional development charges ($1.6 million); • Leveraging funding from senior levels of government (approximately $9 million); • Lowering the property tax rate for new multi-residential buildings; and • Collaborating with Area Municipalities, the private sector, community groups, non-profits, and service agencies.

Council is also leading the way by using Regionally-owned land to build more affordable housing. Sunnyside Seniors Apartments (SSA) is the first new affordable housing project built, owned and operated by the Region of Waterloo. Fully accessible to persons with disabilities, SSA contains 32 units (28 1-bedroom and 4 2-bedroom), 4 of which are completely barrier-free. Priority on some units was given to individuals with family in the adjacent seniors nursing home – Sunnyside Home. In addition to Sunnyside Seniors Apartments, 18 other projects (or approximately 740 units) are occupied, under construction or in the detailed design and financing stages as part of the Region’s Affordable Housing Strategy.

The Region is on target to meet its 1,000 unit goal.

Projects funded under the Region of Waterloo Affordable Housing Strategy Project Bloomingdale Mews Camelot Cedar View Apartments Charles Village Heartwood Place on Gaukel King St. Properties Kirkwood Apartments La Capanna II Homes Old Fire Hall Apartments Old Fire Hall Lofts Spadina Apartments Spadina Woods Sunnyside Seniors Apartments The Bridges The Kourio The Village Victoria Place Walnut Apartments Working Centre

Municipality Kitchener Waterloo Kitchener Kitchener Kitchener Woolwich North Dumfries Cambridge Kitchener Kitchener Kitchener Kitchener Kitchener Cambridge Kitchener Kitchener Cambridge Kitchener Kitchener

The units built under the AHS will remain affordable for at least 20 years and offer rents at or below the average market rent levels released annually by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). A recent study by Steve Pomeroy of Focus Consulting Inc highlighted the

In response to increased demand for housing that is affordable, Regional Council devised the Affordable Housing Strategy (AHS). Passed in 2001, the goal of the AHS is to help create 1,000 units of affordable housing by the end of 2005.

To achieve its goal of helping create 1,000 units, the Region devised a comprehensive Strategy that uses a variety of broad-based initiatives including: Spring 2005

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Housing Projects

tives that have contributed to improving the affordability of housing across Canada. Additionally, two projects that received funding under the AHS were also recipients of the awards: ‘Heartwood Place on Gaukel’ and ‘Spadina Apartments – Christopher Lee Holdings.’ personal impact that the provision of safe and affordable housing is having on the lives of four residents. Having faced various hardships, they no longer face the burden of paying high rents. In addition to making a difference in people’s lives, the Pomeroy study measured the benefits to the greater community, demonstrating that building community housing makes economic sense!

The study concluded that: • Once all 1,000 units are completed, each dollar invested by the Region will leverage $8 from other sources; • Currently, every dollar invested by the Re-

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gion leverages a further $6 from other sources; • Regional Council’s capital investment of $9 million has generated more than $70 million in construction activity; and • The Strategy investment has generated over 1,500 person years of employment in construction and related activities.

Partnerships and collaboration remain the key to the Strategy’s success, and the Region of Waterloo continues to work with nonprofits, co-operatives, community organizations and private sector developers to ensure that residents of community housing continue to live in housing that is suitable, adequate and affordable.

Further, in October 2004, the Region’s Affordable Housing Strategy was one of only fifteen national recipients of the 2004 CMHC Housing Awards for ‘Best Practices in Affordable Housing,’ recognizing initia-

For more information please contact Rob Horne, Director of Housing at (519) 5754521 or hrob@region.waterloo.on.ca or visit the Region website at www.region.waterloo.on.ca

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Membership

IHM Membership The Institute of Housing Management offers seven categories or classes of Membership to those interested in the field of Property Management – each with different benefits and rights.

Corporate memberships entitle the organization to a maximum of five individual membership rates for IHM activities and a reduction in advertising rates in the Institute’s quarterly newsletter.

Retired Membership

Candidate Membership

Candidate members of the Institute are non-voting member who are in the process of fulfilling the educational and experience requirements for Accreditation.

Accredited Membership

Accredited members are voting members entitled to use the designatory letters AIHM. This membership category is obtained through the accumulation of adequate practical experience, training and education as outlined in the Accreditation process. Accredited members must maintain a membership in good standing with the Institute in order to continue using the designation.

Fellow Membership

Fellow members are voting members entitled to use the designatory letters FIHM. Election to Fellowship requires service in a principle or senior position in the property management profession, together with a period of at least five consecutive years Spring 2005

of Accredited Membership status in the Institute, immediately preceeding the granting of Fellow status, in accordance with the by-law provisions. The Board of Directors may also give Fellowship status if, in their opinion, the applicant has contributed extraordinarily to the property management profession or the Institute of Housing Management over many years. Fellow members must maintain a membership in good standing with the Institute in order to continue using the designation.

Affiliate Membership

Affiliate members are non-voting members who wish to associate themselves with, and help the Institute achieve its aims and objectives. Affiliate members are involved in support service industries.

Corporate Membership

Corporate memberships are non-voting memberships open to companies supplying services or materials to the property management industry.

Retired memberships are available only to Accredited or Fellow members upon their retirement from the industry. Notwithstanding their retirement, they remain concerned with the issues the Institute faces and wish to remain involved with the Institute. Retired memberships are nonvoting memberships and members are no longer able to use their designatory letters.

Honourary Membership

Honourary members are those individuals who the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may appoint to membership in the Institute and who, by their contributions to the development of Housing Management practices, are considered worthy of recognition for such service. Any person appointed as an Honourary member of the Institute shall be a person who is directly or indirectly interested in the development of housing practices. Upon retirement from property management, Institute Past Presidents automatically become Honourary members of the Institute.

If you have any questions regarding your membership status or benefits, or if you know of a colleague who you feel might benefit from a membership with the Institute, please do not hesitate to contact us at (416) 493-7382 or ihm@taylorenterprises.com

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IHM News

President’s Commentary

New Members & Graduates Time is at a Premium! Or is It? New Candidate Members: Aurelian Gheorghian Vahid Golesorkhi Ryan Hanes Vasile Ion Mircea Harold Zorn

COURSE COMPLETIONS Building Maintenance for Property Managers: Peter Au Pino Bianco Yevgen Bogdantsev Marjorie Campbell Carmine Capone Roger Chang Radu Chereji Lyudmyla Cherkashyna Evgueni Chestodalov Fadrizio Chicchelli Yuliya Dziamyanava Mimoza Gega Maria Gulapa Hrachia Harutunian Mike King William Leo Nurije Lica Jenson Lo Marius Mruscsak Elaine Morrison Iuliana Motoc Heng Hok Ng Rose Nigro Matiur Rahman Marvin Rivera Greg Rivet Jeychithra Sadacharasanmugathas Marta Silaghi Margaret Smith Djordje Todorovic Sorin Tomesc Property & Building Administration: Marianna Molodkova Doug Rollin

Human Relations for Property Managers: Claudia Amoraritei Elpiniqi Bendo Edwin Buonanno Joseph Catanariti Cristia Chirculescu Mary Clancy-Taha Catharine Debbert Kylie Evans Dana Gal Ovidiu Gal Lynda Gourlie Mike King Dragana Kostic Vitaliy Lashakov Shirley Li Koonmo Lui Jensen Lo Sherry Lucier Gorica Maric Marius Maruscsak Adrian Milosan Stefania Milosan Roy Mullen Cintra Narinesingh Rose Nigro Suzy Paula Tatiana Poleshchuk Steven Racco Marvin Rivera Ulrich Sodenkamp Dumitru Stef Zheni Terziev Anguelov Tzvetan Strategic and Financial Management for Managers: Elsa Ambo Ainur Besir Gina Castellon Michelle Ford George Gumbs Susan Hazlett Laura Hood Adrian Kacidhja Jane Kim William Leo Nurije Lica Max Malitski Eduart Memelli Stefania Nae Heng Hok Ng Matiur Rahman Dritan Rexho Bashkim Shkalla Dragan Stojkovic Sorin Temesc

There is never enough time in the day! Sound familiar? If it isn’t, you are probably following some of the following time management principles. ✔ If you need to consult or discuss matters with colleagues do it in their office – you can always leave when you want to. ✔ When attending meetings have it clear in your mind what outcome you would like from the meeting and confirm when the meeting is scheduled to end. ✔ Don’t make unwelcome visitors welcome. Welcome them if you have time otherwise schedule them in your diary for a future meeting (while remaining professional)! ✔ Establish your task with clear parameters broken into small manageable tasks. ✔ Never say “we have got as long as it takes”, because it will never end.

✔ Remember the 80-20 rule – 20% of the effort produces 80% of the results. ✔ Use your weekly planner wisely and identify two to three big tasks to be accomplished.

You can put out fires around them. ✔ Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most people (with the usual exception) are willing to go the extra mile as long as you offer encouraging words of thanks!

If you follow these guiding principles, I am willing to bet you will now have the time to do those things you said you didn’t have the time to do “because there is never enough time.”

Greg Grange, B.A., F.I.H.M. President

Upcoming Events IHM Annual Educational Conference If you have not already done so, NOW is the time to register for the IHM Annual Educational Conference being held in Huntsville, Ont. from April 26th to 29th. Early Bird pricing is in effect only until March 31st – so don’t delay. Visit the IHM website at www.ihm-canada.com for full conference details and session details.

Springfest 2005 Springfest 2005 will be held on Wednesday April 6th, 2005 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre – North Building. IHM has sponsored an informative session entitled “Risk Management – Potential Hazards in Residential Buildings” being presented by Ralph Brooks, President of JNC consulting inspections. Be sure to attend this session to receive tips on how to identify, rectify and ensure prudent measures are taken to protect both the Property Manager and the Tenant from potential hazardous conditions. After the session, be sure also to stop by the IHM booth in the Trade Show area to say hello!

Waterloo Regional Apartment Management Association Trade Fair IHM is pleased to announce that it will be participating in the 14th Annual WRAMA Trade Fair being held on Wednesday April 13th at the Transylvania Club in Kitchener, Ont. This annual event is a one day trade fair advertised to over 3900 landlords and property managers in the Kitchener/Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph areas for the purpose of providing information and samples of new and existing products and services.

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