Homelessness in Waterloo Region

September 29, 2002

SCPI to Continue

Toronto Star: Liberals target housing crisis - "An 'urban strategy' will be unveiled in Monday's throne speech to address a crisis in affordable housing — a direct response to homeless problems that have led to confrontations with squatters in Toronto and Vancouver... Key to that, one source said, is the continuation of a program known as the Support Communities Partnership Initiatives (SCPI)."

The Toronto Star also describes The Tent City Legacy: "Government agencies [were] paralyzed trying to find solution to thorny issue."

September 25, 2002

Squatters Forced out of Toronto's Tent City

CBC: "Security officers began Tuesday morning to evict about 100 squatters living in a vacant lot in Toronto's south end that has become known as Tent City."

Toronto Star: "Private security guards and police swept through Toronto's Tent City shantytown yesterday, peacefully evicting squatters who vowed for years that they wouldn't leave without a bloody battle."

September 23, 2002

FASD - Bringing Communities Together

The Government of Canada is sponsoring a conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) October 29-31 at the Hamilton Convention Centre. The focus of the conference will be to bring awareness of FASD and of the impacts the disorder has in the developmental, educational, employment, social, including housing and transition to independence, and justice arenas. The intended audience is service providers who work with persons who are homeless, high risk or in conflict with the law.

Click here to download the poster (86 KB PDF). Click here to download a registration form (239 KB PDF).

For more information, contact HRDC at (416) 952-2874 or fax (416) 954-7209.

The conference is being hosted by the YWCA of Durham and jointly funded by Justice Canada, Health Canada and Human Resources Development Canada (Homelessness - Ontario Region).

September 18, 2002

The Tenant Protection Act: "Protecting Tenants??"

RENT (Renters Educating and Networking Together) is presenting an open forum on rental housing, Wednesday, October 2 at Kitchener City Hall Rotunda. Displays of tenant information will be open from 6:30 p.m. A panel discussion at 7:00 p.m. will examine topics such as the provisions of the Tenant Protection Act, above-guideline rent increases, the availability of rental housing and the regional affordable housing strategy. For more information, contact Mary Pappert at 743-2022.

September 10, 2002

United, we can ensure everyone has life's basics

Kitchener-Waterloo Record (Opinion): Brice Balmer, chaplain at the House of Friendship and president of the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo, writes in The Record that "It is time for our political leaders to hold forth a vision of being Canadians together. We have eliminated the deficit as a Canadian people. Now it's time to push forward to make sure that everyone has adequate housing, that all children are well nurtured and have the basics, and that Ontario has excellent systems of education and health care for everyone."

Living Centre reflects on 2 decades of change

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "When the late Henry Enns founded the Independent Living Centre in Kitchener in 1982, it was the first centre of its kind. Today, there are 25 Independent Living Centres nationwide. The Kitchener centre celebrated its anniversary last night with a book launch and discussion of its triumphs and stumbling blocks."

Shelters want share of grant

Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Shelters for abused women in Cambridge and Kitchener are hoping they'll be among the chosen ones when the province decides who gets part of its latest $21.4-million grant."

September 03, 2002

NIMBY - Homelesssness in the GTA

The Toronto Star has run a series of articles that show homelessness is not limited to the big city. It's a growing problem in the 905 area, but some residents don't want to deal with the problem in their backyard.

Homeless and hidden in the heart of 905 - "The problem's not as evident here but it is real and growing."

'We don't want you people here' - "Shelter finds no safe harbour in suburbia."

Editorial: The hidden homeless - "Mention homeless families and crowded hostels and most people think of downtown Toronto. Think again. Try Mississauga, Oshawa and East Gwillimbury. The rich, burgeoning communities of the 905 region are all having to face up to a big city problem — a short supply of affordable housing and the growing problem of homelessness."

Feedback - Letters to the Editor:

Selfish locals could help - "The local council should take the high moral ground and place the needs of the homeless above their own fears of political suicide. Once built, and the sky having not fallen, maybe the local residents could find positive ways to assist the shelter occupants."

Residents are right to be mad - "I totally support residents in their stand against a homeless shelter in that area. The other two potential sites under consideration are ideal, as both are non-residential and vacant."

Suburbia's shame - "I am ashamed of my former neighbours for showing the kind of intolerance that is stereotypical of affluent suburbia."

Where property values are greater than human values - "Some Oakville residents' rejection of the Salvation Army shelter is abhorrent but, as awful as it is, it is the norm. People have been misled by the superstition that money and affluence build good communities, so residents like those in north Oakville build to suit their preferences and to heck with all others."

Housing just costs too much - "It is discouraging that Oakville residents are mobilizing to fight the building of a homeless shelter. Their energy could be put to much better use by adding to the chorus of voices demanding that the provincial and federal governments begin to address the housing crisis."