Membership in Woodsworth – Woodsworth Housing Co-operative

Co-signer agreement for an applicant’s or member’s financial obligations

Organizational Bylaw, Schedule D: Co-signer Agreement

To: Woodsworth Housing Co-operative Inc.
133 Wilton Street, Toronto, ON, Canada

From Co-signer(s): ____________________________________________
[Include address, phone, e-mail, if available] ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

Applicant: ____________________________________________

I wish to assist the applicant to obtain housing at the Co-op. My relationship to the Applicant is: [Insert relationship, such as
– “The Applicant is my son” or
– “The Applicant is my friend.”]

____________________________________________

I understand that the Co-op may accept the Applicant as a member if I agree to be responsible for the Applicant’s financial obligations.

In consideration for the Co-op accepting the Applicant as a member and permitting the Applicant to live at the Co-op, I agree to pay all housing charges and other financial obligations of the Applicant to the Co-op when due.

I understand and agree to the following points:
• I am directly and principally responsible for these obligations. I am not merely a guarantor or surety.
• The Co-op can do any of the following things without my consent, without notice to me and without releasing me from my obligations under this Agreement:
• change the terms of the membership or occupancy of the Applicant
• allow the Applicant to move to a different unit with a different housing charge
• change the amount payable by the Applicant because of changes in the housing charges for the Applicant’s unit
• change the amount payable by the Applicant because of changes in the Applicant’s income if the Applicant receives geared-to-income assistance or subsidy
• extend time to the Applicant for payment or performance of obligations
• take or not take steps to enforce payment of money or performance of obligations by the Applicant
• The Co-op does not have to bring legal action or exercise other remedies against the Applicant or any other person before requiring payment of money or performance of obligations by me. I will remain responsible both before and after the Co-op does this.
• I cannot cancel or revoke the obligations I have agreed to in this document.

I agree that the co-op can receive, through its employees or agents, credit information about me from any credit agency or other source.

I acknowledge that I have had the opportunity to obtain legal advice and I have obtained any legal advice I wish prior to signing this document.
Signed:

Date: ______________________

___________________________

Co-signer

Witness: __________________
Print Name:

I authorize the Co-op to give the Co-signer any information it may have about me at the present time or in the future. I agree that I cannot cancel or revoke this authorization.
Signed:

Date: ______________________

___________________________
Applicant

Witness: __________________

Print Name: }

Note: To be signed by all persons in Applicant’s household sixteen or older, including members and non-member occupants.
Note: Adjust above if applicant is already a member and is asking for a new unit or a separate unit (such as the child of an existing member).

Membership guide – becoming a member

1. Who can apply for membership

Minimum Age for membership: 16 years old

2. Four categories of applicants

Long-Term Guests

Live in Woodsworth
Approved by the Board as a Long-Term Guest
Long-Term Guest Agreement signed by all household members and witnessed by Management
May apply for membership at any time
Membership is optional
All co-op members in the household must agree to the membership application. This is important because, by supporting the application, the current household members are agreeing to extend equal membership rights and responsibilities to the new applicant if they are approved for membership.

Turning 16s (youth aged 16-19)

Live in Woodsworth
Lived in Woodsworth before turning 16
No Long-Term Guest Agreement required
Simplified membership process
Those who miss the age window or did not live at Woodsworth before turning 16 years old may apply through the Long-Term Guest process.
All co-op members in the household must agree to the membership application. This is important because, if the application is approved, the new member will have the same rights and responsibilities as the current household members.

Returning Members

Former members of the co-op who do not currently live in Woodsworth
Normally attend the annual internal information session (with LTGs)
Have special privileges when applying for membership (see Special Rules)

External Applicants

Do not currently live in Woodsworth
Invited to an external information session – an information session will only be held when the external waiting list is a manageable size.
See: External waiting lists and moving into Woodsworth

3. Members’ rights and responsibilities

Once approved as members by the Board of Directors, applicants:

Share equal rights and responsibilities for the unit
Live at Woodsworth and use common facilities
Vote at members’ meetings *
Run in elections (Board positions require age 18+) *
Participate in governance (committees, Board, other activities) *
Apply for their own unit after 2 years of membership (applies to LTGs and Turning Sixteens)
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* These rights apply to applicants after they have moved into Woodsworth.
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4. The membership process

This document focuses primarily on people who live in Woodsworth and on returning members.

A. Attend the Information Session

This is mandatory for all applicants.

The session is held once a year for long-term guests, Turning 16s, and Returning Members only by the Membership Committee.

Note: Information sessions for external applicants are scheduled only when the external waiting list has been reduced to a manageable size. Because of this, there may be extended periods when no external information sessions are offered.

You must bring to the information session:

Proofs of residency for Long-term Guests and Turning 16’s

⚠️ Without these documents, attendance is not permitted.

What you must bring these documents to the information session

Applicant Type	What to Bring	Notes
LTG	Signed LTG agreement (witnessed by staff), 2 proofs of residency, photo ID	Talk to staff if issues with documents
Youth (16–19)	2 proofs of residency, photo ID	No LTG agreement needed
Returning Member	Proof of at least 2 year residency as member. Photo ID and proof of address.	Attend internal session. Submit proof of residency ahead of session
External Applicant	Proofs listed in invitation	Invited only when waitlists are low

B. Apply for membership

At the session, you will receive an application form with a tracking number linked to your name.
Applications must be submitted to Management within 3 months.
All current household members must co-sign the form, confirming shared rights and responsibilities.

C. Review and interviews

What happens

Two committee members interview adult applicants.
Applicants aged 16–19 have an informal conversation instead of a formal interview.
Management conducts the required financial checks.
The Membership Committee recommends whether to approve the application.
The Board receives the application package.

Membership Committee responsibilities

Update the tracking document.
Complete the interview report part of the tracking document.
Forward the recommendation to Management using the tracking form.
Forward the completed application form to Management for the official files.

Management responsibilities

Complete financial and income verification.
Update the tracking document.
Forward the applicants’ tracking documents to the Board for a board meeting approval.

D. Board decision

The Board evaluates applications using the membership criteria in Article 2.2 of the Membership Bylaw.

The Board may:

approve the application
request additional information
deny the application

Applicants are notified of the decision by Management.

Appeals may be made under Article 3.3 of the Membership Bylaw.

Applications are evaluated against the co-op’s membership criteria (Membership Bylaw Article 2.2):

E. Sign the Occupancy Agreement

Successful internal applicants are requested to visit the office with the members of their household to sign the new or updated occupancy agreement.
Once the Occupancy Agreement is signed, the applicant becomes a member with full rights and responsibilities
Keep a copy — this is your proof of membership
Returning members and external applicants only sign the Occupancy Agreement when they accept a specific unit in Woodsworth.

5. Special rules & internal waiting list

Two-year rule: New members who joined as LTGs or Turning 16s must wait 2 years before joining the internal waiting list or taking over a unit without members in residence
One-year exception: Members who were already on the list before Sept 26, 2023 (the date of the bylaw approval) had to wait only 1 year after signing the Occupancy Agreement.
Returning Members may join the internal waiting list once approved by the Board.
External Applicants: Placed on the external waiting list upon Board approval. (Applicants should confirm unit size requests based on the occupancy standards.)
Explainer about the internal waiting list

6. Who does what

Membership Committee
- Runs info sessions
- Interviews applicants
- Recommends membership decisions to the Board
Board of Directors
- Approves Long-Term Guest status
- Approves membership applications
Management
- Handles LTG requests and paperwork
- Tracks approvals and membership status
- Conducts credit checks and financial reviews
- Prepares Occupancy Agreements
- Manages unit allocation (per the Membership Bylaw)

7. What the Membership Committee does

A committee member creates tracking forms for each attendee at the information session. At checkin for the info session, committee members update the applicants’ tracking documents. to show that they have provided the required documentation.

The Committee’s presentation at the Information Session should explain the requirements for membership, with a focus on the co-op’s bylaws and the role of members in the governance of the co-op. It should emphasize the co-op’s democratic structure and introduce Woodsworth’s history and the worldwide co-operative movement. The presentation should also direct applicants to key sources of information, including the Weekly newsletter, the bylaws, other resources available on the co-op’s website, the management office, and the co-op’s committees as information sources and as opportunities for participation.

8. More Information

Form: Long-Term Guest Agreement
Bylaw: Membership Bylaw – Member Approval and Unit Allocation
Explainer: Woodsworth teens, become a member when you turn 16
Explainer: External waiting lists and moving into Woodsworth
Explainer: Returning members

Main page for membership issues: Membership, long-term guests, relocation & unit allocation

Woodsworth households, occupancy standards, and unit sizes

A Woodsworth household includes only people who have official approval and status under the co-op’s bylaws.

Who is part of the household

These people count toward household size and occupancy standards:

Members
- Approved by the Board of Directors
- Have signed an Occupancy Agreement for the unit
Long-term guests
- Approved by the Board of Directors
- Have signed a long-term guest agreement for that unit
- Live only in that specific unit
Children of members
- Under age 16 who live in the unit
- Age 16 or older who continue to live in the unit
- Whether someone qualifies as a “child” is determined by the Ontario Family Law Act

Who is not part of the household

These people do not count toward household size and have limited or no rights:

Casual guests (short-term visitors)
Visitors
Sub-occupants / sub-lessees
- Even when approved, they are not part of the household
- Must move out as shown on the sub-occupancy agreement

Rights of people who are not members

Long-term guests

Count toward occupancy standards
Are not members
Have no independent right to live in the unit
Cannot stay in another unit unless they move with the household
Have no place on the internal waiting list
May apply for membership only if the household members agree
The Board may withdraw their long-term guest status

Children and young people up to age sixteen (16)

Same rights as long-term guests – i.e. count toward occupancy standards and are not members.
Teens automatically become long-term guests if they do not apply for membership.
Are encouraged to apply for membership after they reach age 16.
A modified or simplified membership process applies to applicants between the ages of sixteen (16) and nineteen (19) – “Turning 16s”

Casual guests

Have no right to live in the co-op
Are not part of the household

Sub-occupants

Have rights only as defined in their approved sub-occupancy agreement
Are not part of the household

Key takeaway

Only members, their children, and approved long-term guests make up a Woodsworth household. Everyone else may stay only temporarily or under special agreements — and does not count for occupancy standards.

Unit selection and relocation – occupancy standards:

Occupancy standards set the minimum number of people required to occupy a unit. They also restrict members to a maximum number of bedrooms.
Each unit must be occupied by at least one member.
For occupancy standards, household size includes all those with Woodsworth status: members, children, and long-term guests.
Household size does not include guests without long-term guest status, visitors, or sub-lessees.

Woodsworth’s occupancy standards (Occupancy Bylaw):

Unit size	Minimum people	Exceptions
1 bedroom	Minimum – 1 occupant	None
2 bedroom	Minimum – 1 in mid-rise and Wilton Street only	2 occupants required for 2-bedroom townhouses.
3 bedroom	Minimum – 3 occupants	None
4 bedroom	Minimum – 4 occupants	None

The co-op bylaws don’t specify maximum household size, but say it is determined by the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Property Standards, Occupancy Standards. (See Occupancy Bylaw, Article 9.3)

Applying for membership

In all cases, applying for membership starts with attendance at an information session held by the Membership Committee.

Proof of principal residence and ID requirements for membership

Membership Documentation Requirements for Woodsworth membership

from: Membership Bylaw (Member Approval and Unit Allocation Bylaw), Attachment B.

To receive a membership application form at a membership information session, long-term guests and Turning 16s (aged 16 to 19) must show proof that Woodsworth is their principal residence.

These applicants must bring:

1. Applicants must bring photo ID.
2. Long-term guests must also bring a copy of their signed and witnessed (by staff) long-term guest agreement.
3. Two (2) types of documentation from the following list must be presented to prove Woodsworth is their residence.

Accepted Documents

Documents may be paper or digital (screen print), unless otherwise stated.
Photocopies are not accepted.

Note:

The Membership Committee will not retain any copies of these documents.
The Woodsworth Board may request to see the original documents.

This list is part of the Membership Bylaw, Attachment B.
The Board enhanced the list in June 2024.

List to the information session for membership – two (2) items required:

Valid Ontario driver’s licence (or valid license with previous address and a temporary license with Woodsworth address). An application for a change of address is not accepted.
Valid Ontario Photo Card (only if a driver’s licence is not presented)
Ontario vehicle permit (ownership) (green form) with Woodsworth address
Bank statement with name and membership applicant’s address. (recent)
A major credit card (show physical card) plus a copy of a recent statement for that credit card. (Counts as 1 item.)
Income tax Notice of Assessment or T4 (recent)
Statement of direct deposit for Ontario Works (recent)
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) (recent)
Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid (T4E) (recent)
Statement of Old Age Security (T4A) (recent)
Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits (T4A) (P) (recent)
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits (T5007) (recent)
Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions
Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) correspondence
Recent correspondence from the Federal or Ontario governments addressed to the membership applicant at Woodsworth, received within in the last 3 months. (Not forwarded mail)
Any of the following recent statements from a bank, trust company or credit union: TFSA RRSP, RRIF, RHOSP statement

Turning 16s: 16-19 year olds may present any of the above for long-term guests or any of the following:

School, college, university report card or transcript or letter from the school or institution on letterhead showing applicant’s name and Woodsworth address
Employer record (e.g. pay stub, letter from employer on company letterhead)

PHOTO ID:

Additionally, membership candidates attending an information session must show one piece of government-issued or institutional photo ID with their name. (The address is not required.)

Acceptable photo ID includes:

Passport
School ID card
Work ID card (if it has a photo)
Driver’s licence
Ontario Photo Card
Health Card (OHIP card, if you choose to use it)

Please note: If you present a driver’s licence or Ontario Photo Card as your photo ID, it may also be used as one of your documents for proof of residence.

Applicant Type	What to Bring	Notes
LTG	Signed LTG agreement (witnessed by staff), 2 proofs of residency, photo ID	Talk to staff if issues with documents
Youth (16–19)	2 proofs of residency, photo ID	No LTG agreement needed
Returning Member	Proof of at least 2 year residency as member. Photo ID and proof of address.	Attend internal session: residency proof ahead of time recommended
External Applicant	Proofs listed in invitation	Invited only when external waitlist is low

Human rights

According to human rights legislation, Woodsworth must deal with residents’ needs in a way that is inclusive and free of barriers based on disability, a duty to accommodate.

If you need help with the list of required documents, please ask Management or the Membership Committee for confidential help.

Membership criteria

Woodsworth’s membership bylaw defines a member as a person who has completed the co-operative’s membership process, has been accepted for membership by the Board of Directors, and has signed an occupancy agreement.

Membership criteria:
Applicants for membership in the co-operative must meet the following standards:
(a) At least one member of the household is aged 16 years or older

(b) The household‘s credit and rental history together with other financial information can give the co-operative reasonable grounds to believe the household will pay the housing charge.

Applicants should have:
(a) An understanding of co-operative principles and member participation

(b) A positive attitude towards living in a community with people from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds and have a commitment to treating other members with respect

(d) A willingness to accept their responsibilities as co-operative members

(e) Indication of permanency or long-term commitment to the co-operative

Non-discrimination
In assessing applications for membership, the co-operative will comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code and will not discriminate against anyone in a way that is prohibited by the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status (including single status), gender identity, gender expression, receipt of public assistance, sex, or sexual orientation.

The co-operative will take all reasonable steps to adjust any restriction, qualification or factor in the co-operative’s operations that results in indirect discrimination contrary to the Human Rights Code.

Source: Membership Bylaw #84: member approval and unit allocation