Homelessness in Waterloo Region

The Waterloo Region Community Homelessness Network has been restructured and renamed the Waterloo Region Housing and Homelessness Umbrella Group. A website was launched in November 22, 2006. For current information about the activities of the HHUG go to www.hhug.ca

This homelessness webpage will maintain archival material from the Homelessness Network

August 30, 2002

Shelter makes urgent plea for cash

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: $93,000 needed for Argus Residence to finance new building to house abused young

August 28, 2002

Working parents struggling

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Region's poor lack enough time, energy to devote to their children"

August 27, 2002

Subsidized housing funding stalled

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Provincial delay frustrates officials, those on waiting lists"

Interested in volunteering?

ROOF is looking for volunteers to help street youth and youth at-risk at its drop-in centre. Anyone interested in volunteering, donors, potential supporters, and those interested in learning more about community resources are invited to attend either of two information sessions at ROOF, 242 Queen St. S., Kitchener (between Charles and Courtland). The sessions are at the following times:

Monday, September 23, 6 - 9 p.m.
Wednesday, October 2, 4 - 7 p.m.

For more information, or to register, contact Janice at janice@roof-agency.com or 742-2788.

August 24, 2002

Region considering novel solution to homelessness

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "People at risk of homelessness in Waterloo Region might soon help young couples leave the rental market and buy their first homes. The same group of single, low-income adults who have difficulty finding and renting affordable apartments could also help seniors or divorced women supporting children afford the costs of staying in their homes. Those are two of the possible results of a grassroots concept,Win-Win Affordable Housing, being considered by regional housing officials. "

Tenants concerned as city considers hotel's future

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Kitchener is gradually easing low-income tenants out of rooms at the downtown Mayfair Hotel to help make an $8-million land assembly more attractive to potential developers."

August 22, 2002

Students' needs spark increase in Cambridge housing supply

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Eager developers who want to capitalize on the 400 architecture students set to move into Cambridge are rapidly renovating downtown property."

August 21, 2002

90 Homeless Youth in Waterloo

A new report shows that there are more than 90 homeless youth in the region's urban areas. Homeless Youth in Waterloo Region: A Report on Two Pilot Projects points out the top concerns identified through interview with young people who are experiencing homelessness:

Food, clothing, transportation and showers
Youth specific shelter (co-ed) with a harm reduction approach (low structure, flexible) in Kitchener and Cambridge
24 hour drop-ins and access to meals including a youth specific drop-in centre in Cambridge
Staff at shelters and drop-in’s understand street life and be well informed
One-month stay limit at shelter
More supports for youth who have been abused

Click here for an overview of the report.

Click here for the The Record's news article.

August 12, 2002

Region puts up homeless in motels

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Costly shelter emphasizes shortage of emergency family accommodation"

August 06, 2002

What Works

The Ontario Region office of Human Resources Development Canada has published the report of the What Works Learning Event - Addressing Homelessness, held in March. The conference gave participants an opportunity to hear from people who are or who have been homeless, and to discuss effective strategies and ideas that could be applied immediately, and to develop a greater understanding of common challenges and perspectives. Key messages from the conference included:

The important role played by front-line service providers, who demonstrate passion, commitment, faith, and patience in their work with those who live on the street.
The need to take small steps, and to develop long-term and sustainable strategies that deal with root problems.
The need for low-cost housing, and for health-related services for the homeless.
The complexity of the problem, and yet the hopefulness that individuals and programs can make a difference.
Concern about the sustainability of funding and about communities and individuals being over-taxed.
New findings and insights, including about fetal alcohol syndrome and effects, and what works for addressing problems in the Aboriginal community.

To download the conference report, click here (220 KB PDF).

August 05, 2002

The Seaton House rules

Toronto Star: "At night, up to 4,500 people take refuge in 66 Toronto shelters, a circumstance most of us will never experience. To taste this harsh reality, The Star sent two interns - writer Christian Cotroneo and artist Christopher Hutsul - to sleep undercover in a cross-section of hostels."

August 03, 2002

Gimme shelter

Toronto Star: "Lights off at 11, wake up at 6 ... then it's right back into the streets"

Native group gets OK to develop housing project

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "The medical building at 30 Union St. E. in Waterloo, which is at the centre of a dispute between neighbours and a group planning an affordable housing project on the site, had to be exempted from an existing city zoning bylaw designating the area for general residential use."