ONPHA Opening Doors Podcast

Building affordable housing starts long before construction begins. In this episode Marlene Coffey sits down with Mwarigha, Vice President of Housing, Asset Sustainability and New Development at WoodGreen Community Services, to explore one of the biggest barriers facing new housing developments: securing the funding needed to get projects off the ground. They discuss a proposal for a Provincial Af...

Today, housing providers are being asked to do more with less, while costs continue to rise faster than the municipal tax base can sustain. In this episode of Opening Doors , host Marlene Coffey is joined by Karen Nesbitt (AMO) and Aaron Stauch (OMSSA) for a candid conversation on what it will take to better align housing across all levels of government. Together, they unpack the growing pressures...

Are we wasting precious time and money chasing “best practices” that don’t serve us? In the non-profit world, every dollar and every hour counts. Yet, many organizations still default to formal procurement processes like RFPs, believing they’re always necessary or the gold standard. The truth? They’re not. And misusing them can drain limited resources, delay progress, and even lead to worse outcom...

As Ontario’s population ages, housing providers play an increasingly critical role in enabling seniors to age at home with dignity, stability, and a strong sense of community. We showcase how the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC), in collaboration with sector leaders such as ONPHA and AdvantAge Ontario, is driving innovative and integrated approaches to meet this growing need. In this epi...

Community housing is more than a safety net, it’s a powerful engine for economic efficiency, social mobility, and inclusive city-building. As Ontario faces a growing housing crisis, doubling the community housing stock is not just necessary—it’s economically sound. In this premiere episode, we explore the macroeconomic rationale for large-scale investment in community housing, while also reimagini...

In this episode of the Opening Doors podcast, Andrew McKenzie, ONPHA’s Director of Operations, and David Rourke, Principal at Round Table Procurement Services and director of the ONPHA Enterprise purchasing program, discuss the impact of US tariffs on community housing. David shares strategies like analyzing supply chains, negotiating prices, and prioritizing Canadian suppliers to mitigate relianc...

Our latest ONPHA Opening Doors podcast is a must for community housing leaders and advocates. Join Marlene Coffey (ONPHA), alongside special guests Keith Hambly (Fred Victor), Mwarigha (WoodGreen Community Housing), and Adam Sweedland (CityHousing Hamilton), with Alex Armanious of StrategyCorp moderating. Together, they dive into the federal election’s impact, unpack ONPHA’s Build, Protect, and Su...

In this episode of ONPHA Opening Doors, we’re tackling Avoiding the Fangs: A Guide to Unlocking Property Tax Savings . Ever seen those dreaded fangs on your financial chart when expenses outpace revenue, and those red lines look like they’re ready to take a bite out of your budget? Fear not! Join us as we learn how to unlock savings.  In 2022, Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) secured...

Explore the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in community housing. Led by ONPHA’s Reaching Equity Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) committee, this episode moves beyond simply addressing challenges, focusing instead on paving the way for tangible, actionable progress in the sector. Special guests Shaun Simms, Chief, People, Communications and Strategy Officer at Ottawa Community Housi...

The provincial election is a crucial moment for affordable housing advocacy, but the work doesn’t stop when the votes are counted.  In this episode of ONPHA's Opening Doors Podcast, we’re joined by Liam Thompson, Consultant at StrategyCorp Inc., ONPHA’s long-time advocacy partner, to explore how ONPHA gathers intelligence, engages decision-makers, and drives change. Get inspired with practica...

Unlock the full potential of technology in community housing and confront the challenges head-on. In this episode of ONPHA's Opening Doors podcast, special guests Peter Altobelli, Vice President/General Manager of Sales at Yardi Systems Inc., Chris Dulny, Chief Digital, Data, and Innovation Officer at PwC Canada, and Deanna Veltri, Senior Manager at Deloitte Canada, share their insights on le...

Ontario’s new purchasing rules bring big challenges for non-profits, including more reporting, stricter compliance, and supply chain scrutiny. But the right supplier partnerships can make it easier.   In this episode of ONPHA's Opening Doors podcast, special guest David Rourke, Principal of Round Table Procurement Services, shares insights on how strategic supplier partnerships can simplify c...

In this episode of ONPHA's Opening Doors podcast, we delve into the importance of strategic growth through acquisitions in the community housing sector. Special guests Stéphane Giguère, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing, and Katie Maslechko, CEO of Rental Protection Fund, share their experiences and insights on leveraging partnerships, equity, and capacity building to address the housing crisis...

In this episode of ONPHA's Opening Doors podcast, we discuss the launch of the LEMR Housing Monitor, a centralized data mapping tool that provides information on the low-end of the market housing stock in urban regions across Canada. Special guests Daniel Liadsky, Managing Director at Purpose Analytics, and Megan Earle, Data Scientist at Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, join Marlene Coffey...

In this episode of ONPHA’s Opening Doors podcast, we explore the keys to finding your unique leadership style, leading with authenticity, and navigating change in the non-profit space with confidence. Special guest Jodi Zigelstein-Yip, Chief HR Innovator and Founder of Enliven HR Consulting Inc., joins Marlene Coffey, CEO, ONPHA, to share insights that will inspire leaders at every stage, from sea...

In this episode of the ONPHA Opening Doors podcast, we're joined by David Rourke, Principal at Round Table Procurement Services.  David shares his wealth of knowledge on smart procurement, the value of shared services for housing providers, and the benefits of the ONPHA Enterprise procurement program. 

In this episode of ONPHA's Opening Doors podcast, we sit down with Henk Korevaar, founder and owner of CorpoNet. Henk joins us live onsite at the 2023 ONPHA Conference in Toronto to chat about lessons learned from abroad, innovative housing technology, ONPHA's new international speaker series, and more.