Tag: membership

Membership, long-term guests, relocation & unit allocation

Includes information about:
– external waiting lists (non-residents)
– membership process (becoming a member)
– floor plans
– leaving Woodsworth
– long-term guests
– priority waiting lists
– member absences, sublets, principal residence, home businesses allowed but no short term rentals
– proof of principal residence
– relocations, waiting lists and moves
– returning members (former members)
– teens (Turning Sixteen’s)
– wheelchair adapted units
– procedures based on Member Approval and Unit Allocation bylaw

EXTERNAL – NON-RESIDENTS OF WOODSWORTH

People who do not live in Woodsworth and have never been members of Woodsworth.  Sorry, our external waiting list is full and CLOSED.

External waiting lists and moving into Woodsworth
If you have started the membership process but have not moved in yet. Or wanted a brief introduction to Woodsworth’s procedures for becoming a member and getting an apartment in Woodsworth.

Internal residents and external applicants

Membership in Woodsworth
Membership process (becoming a member), criteria, households, occupancy standards for units, principal residence documentation and more.

Floor plans – apartment and townhouse floor plans; types and sizes of units.

Relocations & moves
Includes unit condition, member deposits, maintenance issues

Unit allocation
Management is responsible for unit allocation, based on the Member Approval and Unit Allocation bylaw. External waiting list, floor plans, occupancy standards (number of residents needed for different sized units), allocating units between internal and external waiting lists.

Waiting lists and occupancy standards
Find out about units that you may request. Internal and external waiting lists.

INTERNAL – RESIDENTS OF WOODSWORTH

Members, approved long-term guests who live in Woodsworth with members, young people who have grown up in Woodsworth (Turning Sixteens (ages 16-19) or those who were previously members of Woodsworth and wish to move back (Returning Members).

Leaving Woodsworth
About moving out of Woodsworth, required written notice, what it means.

Long-Term Guests
How to become a long-term guest. How your long-term guest can become a member. The Board approves long-term guest and membership status. The Management facilitates it. The Membership Committee works on membership issues only.

Member absences, sublets, home businesses, principal residence
What is principal residence. Sub-occupancy. No Airbnb. Home businesses  are permitted with certain rules and appropriate insurance.

Principal residence in Woodsworth – proof
This is a list of approved documents that internal applicants for membership can use to verify that Woodsworth is their home.  Those who live here must provide two pieces of documentation from the list. Also includes Photo ID options.

Priority Waiting List and Priority Moves
What the bylaws say about priority moves in the Member Approval and Unit Allocation (Membership) Bylaw.

Returning Members
A former member may apply to become a member again. This applies to those who were members for at least 2 years. Any time as guest or long-term guest does not count. Proof is required.

Teens between 16 and 19: “turning 16s”
About membership for 16-19 year olds who live in Woodsworth. The Membership Committee is responsible for member information sessions and applications for membership. The Board approves membership. The “turning 16” process is a more relaxed process only open to applicants who are residents between the ages of 16 and 19.

Wheelchair adapted units
Woodsworth has a handful of units with adapted kitchens that are designated for those who use wheelchairs. There is a separate protocol in the Member Approval and Unit Allocation (membership) Bylaw for allocating these.

PROCEDURES based on Member Approval and Unit Allocation bylaw

Unit allocation procedures – internal and external waiting lists
Includes internal and external waiting list and making and responding to offers of units. Who can’t join the waiting list. Timelines for contacting people.  Move-in dates. Special situations (priority moves and wheelchair adapted units.)

Time requirements for joining the waitlists, offers, refusals, moving dates – Membership Bylaw, Schedule B
Includes internal and external waiting lists, unit offers. This document mirrors the Membership Bylaw layout, from Article 1 to Article 7.

Membership Bylaw: member approval and unit allocation #84
The bylaw has details for all applicants and for unit allocations including relocations in Woodsworth.

Occupancy Agreement
This must be signed by all Woodsworth members.

Moving into and around Woodsworth: a guide to bylaws and policies about maintenance
Woodsworth has a number of bylaws and policies that outline the unit maintenance responsibilities of the co-operative and the members. The by-laws and policies tell you what you can expect, including unit condition.

Become a member: info session scheduled for long-term guests and returning members

An Information Session will be held at the Woodsworth Penthouse for Woodsworth long-term guests and returning members.
Saturday, October 24th, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Attending an Information Session is required for returning member candidates,  Turning 16s, or long-term guests to become an official member. 

Membership secures rights of residency and participation in Woodsworth Co-Op events like General Members’ Meetings and Annual Members’ Meetings.

You will need to sign in and show:

· Proof of Long-Term Guest status (e.g. Long-Term Guest Agreement, Letter from Office or Board confirming LTG status).  Please note: If you need to obtain this documentation from the office, kindly do so by prior to October 16th.   

· Show 2 pieces of ID: One needs to be valid & current photo ID (such as a driver’s license, Ontario Photo Card, passport, permanent resident card);

The Second piece is proof of Woodsworth residency that shows your current address (e.g. original, mailed utility bill, monthly mailed bank account statements for savings or chequing accounts, pay stubs, insurance policy, Ontario motor vehicle ownership, your most recent income tax Notice of Assessment). Please check the Membership Bylaw on the website for more details. 

https://www.woodsworthcoop.ca/index.php/by-laws/membership-by-law/ 

Late arrivals or those without proper documentation will not be admitted to the information session, or be eligible for an interview to become a member.

REGISTER:

Please let us know if you are attending to begin the Membership application process, or to support a family member or a long-term guest living with you. RSVP to woodsworthmembership@gmail.com by October 16th with your name, email address, phone number and unit number. Your contact information will only be used for updates about this event. 

QUESTIONS:

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the membership committee via email at woodsworthmembership@gmail.com

We look forward to meeting you.

–  the Membership Committee

Time requirements for joining the lists, offers, refusals, moving dates

Woodsworth Membership Bylaw #84: Schedule B, Summary of Time Requirements

Schedule B at the end of the Membership (Member Approval and Unit Allocation) Bylaw is a summary of the time requirements for some actions by the co-operative or by applicants as required under this Bylaw and the Co-operative Corporations Act. In case of conflict the Co-operative Corporations Act and the Bylaw will govern over Schedule B.

Schedule B details the time requirements in the membership bylaw, including:
– restrictions and waiting periods for some new members can join the waiting lists for relocation
– expiry date for membership application forms after an information session
– timelines for Management and those on waiting lists when accepting or refusing unit offers, including priority moves
– move-in dates for internal and external waiting list members after accepting a unit
These were approved by members when they approved the Membership Bylaw.

Time restrictions on joining the internal waiting list for internal applicants
  • Long-term guests (who become members):

Article 2.3.3 (h) A resident who has become a member by living with existing member(s) must wait two (2) years from the date of becoming a member to take sole responsibility for that unit or to apply to relocate independently of that member.

Those already on the internal waiting list prior to confirmation of this bylaw by members on Sept 26, 2023 who joined the waiting list with a one year wait time are exempt from the new time period.

Article 2.3.3 (i) They cannot join the internal waiting list until the required waiting period of two (2)  years has elapsed. Any period of time before Board approval as member is not included in the two years. However, they may be eligible to move with the rest of the household.

Article 2.3.3 (j). They cannot inherit a unit alone until they have lived with the household for two (2)  years. Exception:  Occupancy Bylaw, Article 10.4 Death of a member.

  • Turning Sixteen’s (turning 16) who become members after living with members as a child or young teen

Article 1.3. Special Meanings  Persons living in a member’s household between the ages of 16 and 19. There are special rules that apply when they become an applicant for membership. See the Occupancy Bylaw, Article 8.3. Turning Sixteen (16) and Article 8.1 (a) Who is part of a household.

Articles 2.3.4  (h-i) A resident who has become a member by living with existing member(s) must wait two (2) years from the date of becoming a member to take sole responsibility for that unit or to apply to relocate independently of that member.

They cannot join the internal waiting list until the required waiting period of two (2) years has elapsed. Any period of time before Board approval as member is not included in the two years.

Those already on the internal waiting list prior to confirmation of this bylaw by members on Sept 26, 2023 who joined the waiting list with a one year wait time are exempt from the new time period.

Time restrictions on applying as a returning member

Article 2.3.5 Returning members:  

The applicant(s) must have formerly resided in the co-op as a member for two (2) years.

Delays after information session and submission of application form:

Article 2.4  Internal and external applicants: Applicants must have attended an information session within three (3) months of submitting an application for membership.

Refused membership and appeals about membership:

Article 3.2  Refused membership: Notice in writing within ten (10) business days of the date of the Board meeting.

Article 3.3  Appeal of membership refusals:  Notice of appeal must be received at the co-operative office within twenty (20) business days.

The co-operative will notify the applicant in writing of the Board’s decision within ten (10) business days of the Board meeting at which the decision was made.

Article 3.5 Record of refusals – The co-operative will maintain a written record of refusals for a period of at least seven  (7) years after the day the letter was given to the applicant.

Internal unit offers

Minimum Period of Residence for internal waiting list

Article 5.1.2 (a)  Joining the internal waiting list: Must be a member resident for a minimum of two (2) years immediately prior to submitting an application to transfer. Article 5.1.2 (a) Minimum period of residence

Restrictions on joining the internal waiting list – arrears

Article 5.1.2  (c) A household in arrears cannot be on the internal waiting list except a rent-geared-to-income household that is required to move due to government requirements

If member cannot be contacted, it is considered a refusal 

Article 5.5.1  If the co-operative is unable to contact the member next in line on the internal waiting list within three (3) business days, the unit will be offered to the next eligible member on the internal waiting list.  It is considered a refusal.

Notification of Acceptance of a unit by applicant:

Article 5.5.2 Households on the internal waiting list that have been offered a unit for which they are eligible, must notify the co-operative within three (3) business days whether they wish to accept the unit.  If they fail to do so, they will be considered to have refused the unit.

Refusal of a unit (number of units before losing their position on the internal waiting list):

Article 5.5.3. Households that are not required to move that have requested a transfer, may refuse up to two (2) units that have been offered and retain their position on the internal waiting list. After the third refusal, the household is moved to the bottom of all waiting lists.

Refusal of a unit if required to move

Article 5.5.4 Households required to move are allowed three (3) refusals only.
See Housing Charge Subsidy Bylaw, Article 2.6. Procedures for over-housing and Occupancy Bylaw, Article 9.4 (d) Three offers

Priority status waiting list and refusals

Article 5.5.5 Households that have been given special priority status for an internal move as defined in Article 5.2 1 (Priority Internal Waiting List) will be offered three (3) opportunities to accept a unit based on their Accommodation Plan. After three refusals, the household will be removed from the priority waiting list. The member can apply for the internal waiting list.

External unit offers

Offers to applicants on the external waiting list

Article 6.2 (a) Time limit

A household offered a unit will be given three (3) business days to decide whether to accept the unit and sign the Occupancy Agreement.

Article 6.2 (b) Missed time limit considered refusal

If the household does not within three (3) business days, inform the co-operative office that it accepts the unit and signs the Occupancy Agreement, it will be considered to have refused the unit.

If an external applicant cannot be contacted

Article 6.2.4 If the co-operative is unable to contact the household with top placement on the external waiting list within three (3) business days, the unit will be offered to the next eligible household. The first household will be skipped over but will retain its rank on the waiting list.

Refusal of units  (number of units before losing their position on the external waiting list)

Article 6.2.5 Households may refuse up to three units that have been offered and retain their position on the external waiting list. If they refuse three units that meet their stated criteria, they will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list.

No matter how many unit types or sizes or criteria the applicant indicates on their application form, the number of allowed refusals does not change. Management will keep a record of refusals.

Moving into the unit – timeline

Moving date when relocating (from the internal waiting list)

Article 5.5.7 Once a member on the internal waiting list has accepted a unit, the member must vacate their unit and move into the new unit on the date specified when the unit was offered.

Members will be provided with at least thirty (30) days notice for an internal relocation.

Moving date when moving into a unit (from the external waiting list)

Article 6.2.8 If a household on the external waiting list accepts a unit that has been offered to them, they will not be required to take occupancy and commence payment of the housing charges until the first day of the third month following the offer.

If the unit is vacant earlier, the household must make all reasonable efforts to move in and commence paying the housing charges earlier, if it can be done without financial loss to them.

Appeals of waiting list decisions

Article 7.2 Appeals for the waiting list

The applicant will receive ten (10) days’ notice in writing of the consideration of the appeal by the Board of Directors.

The co-operative will notify the applicant in writing of the Board’s decision within ten (10) business days of the Board meeting at which the decision was made.

 

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

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) 
    * These rights apply to applicants after they have moved into Woodsworth.

    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

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

Event: Info session for membership – residents and returning members only

ARCHIVED

The Membership Committee is holding its annual information session for internal applicants and returning guests on
Tuesday September 30 at 7pm in the Penthouse.

They ask that you confirm your attendance by September 24 by emailing them at woodsworthmembership@gmail.com

Here is a list of key explainers on the co-op website that layout the path to membership in Woodsworth for teens, long-term guests and ex-members who wish to become a member again.

  1. Membership guide – becoming a member

A detailed overview for all applicants including a chart with documentation you must provide in order to get an application form at the information session.

2. Teens between 16 and 19

The “turning 16” process is a more relaxed process for applicants who are residents between the ages of 16 and 19. If you lived here prior to age 16 but are now over age 19, you can apply as a Long-Term Guest but you don’t need a LTG agreement.

3. Returning Members:

If you were previously a member but moved out of the co-op, you can apply as a Returning Member. There are requirements, including that the applicant provides proof that they were members in Woodsworth and lived here for at least two years as members. There are other requirements as well.

4. Proof of principal residence and ID requirements for membership

Our Membership Bylaw (Member Approval and Unit Allocation) has requirements about acceptable proof an applicant must submit in order to become a member. The Membership Bylaw says that if you cannot supply the required documentation you cannot attend the information session and you cannot get an application form.

The approved list is here on the website