A Voice for Mid-Life and Older Women Learning and Working Together
The Older Women’s Network is a non-profit, non-governmental voluntary organization started by a group of women in 1986.115 The Esplanade
Toronto, Ont. M5E 1Y7
Phone: 416-214-1518
Email: info@olderwomensnetwork.org
Email re website: ownweb@olderwomensnetwork.org
The OWN office, including our Alfreda Mordas Reading Room, is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12 – 4 pm (closed on Wednesdays). However, we are all volunteers, so it is wise to phone ahead. Phone messages will be returned on days we are open.
Last revised: Jan. 6, 2012
A co-op would be good for single people with pets, as they are cared for while we have hospital stays or have to visit elderly parents. I have 2 cats myself, and I worry about that. Had to be away for 4 days, medical reasons, thought I left enough extra water and food for the cats but all dishes were empty when I came home. I myself am only on ODSP and value my cats because if my arthritis is too bad to walk outside and see people I have them, and maybe I’m crazy but I talk to them, too! Right now I live in the community of Acton 1-1/2 hours from the city. My daughter lives in Toronto and always hints it would be nice for me to live closer, but I don’t think I could afford the rent on ODSP. Yours, Debbie
Hello,
Is there a chapter of OWN in Ottawa?
Thanks.
Hello,
I am a social worker/ PhD candidate who has carried out a small research study of older women and earlier sexual violence and their counselling needs in later life in and around south-east Queensland, Australia. I am familiar with the Older Women’s Network here in Australia. I wondered if there had been any research done in this area in Canada, and whether OWN were involved or have knowledge about it. I will be visiting Canada in May/ June to attend the ‘Violence Against Women: Complex Realities and New Issues in a Changing World’ Conference in Montreal, but will be spending some time with friends in Ottawa and travelling around a little. I’m thinking of trying to visit some relevant groups with information relevant to counselling older sexual violence survivors. Would it be helpful for me to visit you? I look forward to your reply.
Hello Cathleen,
Finally I found somebody who is in a similar situation as me and is looking for the same thing as me. I thought I’m the only one thinking like this, being in this situation. The only difference between you and me is that I’m still living with my common law spouse of 20 years in the house (in Mississauga) that he has in his name, but says that he will pay me out.
Now I’m looking for an apartment in Toronto as well as for a job. Currently I’m on E.I., but have sufficient funds to maintain a ‘normal’ lifestyle (without car)for a view years.
We own a 14 year old Husky and I love her dearly.
Please let me know how I can help you to set up a such a co-op, since this is exactly what I’m looking for.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Inga
March 6, 2011 – long letter….
Hi Cathleen:
So glad you wrote to us. I think that your question really represents a huge but SILENT proportion of single and older women in Toronto. I have sat on the OWN Housing Committee for over three years and as a group we are looking at housing issues and solutions from Shelters to Owning a condo or home.
LIVING IN PLACE: We still have to research this topic and this is where I think you fall. You might consider renting a room, sharing your home or better still adding a LEGAL income suite. Lots of legal stuff to consider with these ideas, but can leave you living in place and happy with your big dog in your old community. But there are other things out there.
CO-OPS: To my knowledge NONE have been built since 1993. No money to do.
FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE: think your solution is dependent upon your knowing exactly what your personal wealth is – you need to do a proper Net Worth exercise – can find in money management or planning books – What do you own (real value not imagined value) and what do you owe and more importantly how much money will you need to live like you would like to live in retirement. This means you need to do a DETAILED BUDGET and estimate what you will get from OAS and CPP and what tax bracket you fall into. Might you qualify for Guaranteed Income Supplement? You might be surprised at how little you really need today, but always factor in inflation and the unknown of health issues. I suggest that if you can afford it you should have a financial plan done by a FEE charging Certified Financial Planner. They look at all aspects of your money and plans for the future. There are a mind boggling array of things to consider. Banks have financial planners, but they tend to want to sell you products and not do a true indepth plan. My planner told me to consider living in a cheaper city, like Ottawa…
COST OF HOUSING REALTY CHECK: Affordable housing is now a condo at about $480 per sq. foot (that is, if you can find that), so small one-bed at 600 sq. feet would cost at a minimum of $288,000 plus more costs – the upgrades…parking – storage room… (downtown Toronto). Maintenance fees on fancy amenities/apartments can look more like mortgage payments! Some resale codos now selling for low dollar value but the maintenance fees are $800 or more a month.
BUILIDING A SPECIFIC CO-OP: We are hearing that it takes 5 to 10 years to accomplish a new building. No ready financing.
HYBRID CO-OP to CONDOS are being built and sold in Toronto. The only co-op/condo developer marketer we could find was Options for Homes (a not for profit Corporation). GOOGLE THEM: Options for Homes Toronto – have condos for sale now at Bathurst and Lawrence. Advantages: $40,000 less than market! Helper second mortgage that you can leave on your will and your estate can pay it off. Minimum of amenities, which means much cheaper maintenance fees and very importantly reduced future costs.
Just so you know, I purchased an Options for Homes condo in 1999 and moved in in 2003. The Options condo was the perfect answer for me. I had owned my home for 17 years, but only had enough money to buy a very tiny apartment in a regular condo. I was able to buy a nice size 1 bed and den and my maintenance fees include hydro and water are are still only $310 per month on 860 s. feet, which is fantastic. You must determine what your choices are. It’s all about financial knowledge and housing knowledge. There may be more choices out there than you think, so keep look at everything and be positive. This is about educating yourself.
Please do come out to our next public event in May or June and meet others looking for affordable housing solutions. Never know, they might even be looking for what you’re looking.
Regards,
Marg –
PS: No pet law – thought buildings were trying to enforce, but it had been struck down by ? provincial law. Need to understand exactly what’s going on there, condo laws – but a very large dog may not be happy in a small space…
I am looking for advice and ideas.
I am a 63 year old woman, single. No children. Due to divorce, I am facing old age with low income, no pension to speak of, and one asset: my house.
I will never be able to afford to live in a decent retirement home, and even if I could afford such a place, I believe they do not allow pets, particularly large dogs.
I am looking for suggestions as to how to contact people in a similar situation to my own, who would like to start some sort of housing co-op, by pooling their single asset, their house, and finding a building we could all live in with our various pets, big and small, where we could keep an eye on one another.
Many single seniors give up owning a pet in later life because they fear there will be no one to care for the pet in the event of their death. This is a great sacrifice, because owning a pet is very beneficial to seniors, especially those who life the single life. The idea behind my co op is not only to assist the seniors, but to guarantee the adoption and care of any pet left behind when the owner dies. I have been working with cats and dogs for years, and am very knowledgeable about pet care, training, etc.
The people who get together on this project need not all be low income like me, or elderly: but the main thing is to help each other with our pets. If we have to go into the hospital, or cannot walk our dogs, for instance, we could help each other out. And we must be open to adopting any orphan pets within the group. I am sure you get the idea.
My problem is this: how to find like minded people without alerting every con artist in the City to the fact that a group of people with one valuable asset, are looking to get together. I have no idea where to advertise safely.
Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.