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
December 29, 2002
Apartment crunch shows signs of easing
Ottawa Citizen: "Apartment vacancy rates have been rising in many cities, which is good news for renters but not for landlords or developers."
December 24, 2002
$1.5M homeless campaign in Cambridge
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "The three-storey, 20,000-square-foot building will include a 40-bed overnight shelter, plus transitional housing for people who have been homeless and are ready to gradually move into apartments. The transitional housing will consist of 20 small bachelor apartments of about 250 to 300 square feet in size. A new drop-in centre will also be included on the main floor."
December 23, 2002
For homeless, Internet is link to jobs and loved ones
Miami Herald: "The homeless have carved out a growing niche in cyberspace. They have set up discussion lists such as the Homeless People's Network. It's a pastiche of news about shelter openings, warnings about proposed antivagrancy laws, political screeds, online debates, tips on finding a free meal and cautionary tales, such as one angry missive headlined SHELTER SNUB. 'This is our town commons,' declares one correspondent."
Homeless to receive blankets from cops
London Free Press: "The blankets are part of an initiative recommended by the health unit after Leslie Ann Trussler, a 38-year-old homeless woman, died in a fire Dec. 8 at an abandoned house."
Holidays trying time for homeless young people
Globe and Mail : "Some of the thousands of young people who live on Toronto's streets go home at this time of year. Some run squeegees across car windows to raise money to buy gifts for the parents from whom they have run away. But others have no interest in returning -- or cannot go back."
December 21, 2002
Homeless Argentines build self-esteem through art
Toronto Star: "Painters Without Homes is the brainchild of local artist Sylvia Olguin. She wanted an activity to complement the work of a local organization that ran a soup kitchen for 140 homeless people at the cultural centre where the exhibit is being held. With her own money, she bought brushes, paints and other supplies needed to set up an art studio at Manzana de las Luces. The artists now take courses from her, paint and hope for sales."
December 20, 2002
Indigent optimistic despite loss at top court
Globe and Mail : "The ruling bared a sharp philosophical split on the court. Four judges -- Mr. Justice Louis LeBel, Mr. Justice Michel Bastarache, Madam Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé and Madam Justice Louise Arbour -- found the Quebec scheme to have violated equality guarantees. The latter two judges said it is also a breach of the Charter Section 7 guarantees to life, liberty and security. However, the majority urged caution in forcing governments to enhance their social-welfare schemes. They went so far as to praise Quebec for creating an enlightened welfare regime."
A Christmas tradition
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "For more years than he can remember, handing out food hampers for the House of Friendship has been part of Christmas for Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr."December 17, 2002
Homelessness in Greater Vancouver
Greater Vancouver Regional District: The Regional Homelesssness Plan developed by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness is online, along with research data, maps and graphics detailing the homelessness phenomenon in the district.
December 16, 2002
Festive meals aplenty for those in need
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Dana Brideau says Waterloo region is 'right up there' when it comes to generosity -- especially around Christmas time."
How Well Has SCPI Performed?
Community Report: To review the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), the federal government asked 10 commuties to participate in "an open and frank review of both the challenges and successes they experienced during the planning phase of the Initiative. They were asked to share their views and experiences."
The communities were chosen "because their progress under the SCPI was far enough along to be able to provide examples of best practices as well as other information that could inform others about lessons learned along the way. These communities are Greater Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Sudbury, Hamilton, Ottawa, Halifax and St. John’s."
December 12, 2002
Boston: Shelter sets $9-a-night fee
Boston Globe: "Back in the '60s when John Hynes and a few church and community leaders founded a shelter for the homeless here, charging for a bed would have been anathema. But Cross Roads House, the 107-bed Portsmouth shelter for the homeless that grew out of Hynes' efforts, will soon start charging fees to folks who use its emergency beds for extended stays."
Giving back to community motivates hamper helpers
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Most of the Christmas elves preparing food hampers said they volunteer because they want to give back to their community."
Guelph, Wellington to get 100 affordable rental units
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Housing officials are welcoming the news that Guelph and Wellington County will receive 100 of the 3,200 affordable housing units allocated to Ontario in the first phase of a new program funded largely by the federal government."
December 10, 2002
Student housing expansion gets go-ahead
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft supported applications for zone changes to allow student housing while warning opponents that council did not take kindly to threats of the Ontario Municipal Board becoming involved."
The Homelessness Handbook
This medical guide for care workers of marginalized and homeless people is published by the Melbourne Division of General Practice in Australia. It "is designed to assist support workers of homeless and similarly disadvantaged people who find themselves in medically challenging situations."
December 08, 2002
Province announces new money for affordable housing
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Hodgson said his government designated Waterloo Region as one of 12 areas in greatest need of low-cost housing because it has a shortage of affordable rental apartments. He said the program will inject more than $10 million and help finance 400 to 450 homes in the region's ailing affordable-housing market by 2007. "
Christian Aagaard: A dark cloud hangs over those seeking housing
Taking Legal Services to the Homeless
Legal Aid Ontario: "A key element of the [pilot] project is to take legal services to the places in the community where the homeless are comfortable and offering more direct representation rather than making referrals."
December 07, 2002
Love no less a need on streets
Toronto Star (Opinion): Columnist Rosie Di Manno writes: "At the end of a week where the main story on this continent has been the weather — record lows for this time of the year in Toronto, paralyzing snowstorms on the eastern seaboard — I've given more than the usual passing thought to the homeless. One morning, bundled up against frigid temperatures, I had to step delicately over the huddled bodies of two fellows sleeping atop a grate on Dundas St. And that troubled me a great deal."
December 06, 2002
Hard times hit homeless agency
Globe and Mail: "It started with a few benevolent churches opening their basements as makeshift shelters to homeless people in Toronto during the blustery winter months. A decade later, the Out of the Cold agency, which shelters about 200 homeless people a night -- those who shun mainstream hostels -- had racked up more than $1-million in debt, and was spinning out of control before the City of Toronto reined it in."
December 05, 2002
Heating program for poor may not have enough cash
Heating Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "An early dose of freezing weather and soaring utility costs could mean a program that helps provide heat for hundreds of low-income families might run out of money before the end of winter."
December 04, 2002
Region-owned homes may be used to shelter homeless
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Instead of living in motel rooms or emergency shelters, homeless families could soon be staying in houses bought by Waterloo Region for future road-widening projects. The pilot project -- still in its preliminary stages -- could save regional taxpayers thousands of dollars spent each year to house families with as many as 10 children in local motel rooms or Kitchener's two downtown emergency shelters."
December 03, 2002
We must all help the homeless
Kitchener-Waterloo Record (Editorial): "With temperatures dipping below freezing these days, concern for the homeless is rising and will continue to do so until next spring. The warmth of April at least means that people don't have to fear freezing in the dark, even if their lives, by middle-class standards, are lacking in so many essentials."
Letting people live their lives
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Nineteen years ago, Sharron Garrah's job was to help people with physical disabilities live independently in their homes. Today, the 43-year-old Waterloo woman uses the services she once provided as an employee of the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region.
Affordable housing to get $245M boost
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "The province intends to inject at least $245 million into the ailing supply of affordable housing, and Municipal Affairs Minister Chris Hodgson will make the announcement in Kitchener on Friday."
Shelters braced for cold
Kitchener-Waterloo Record: "Shelters for homeless people expected a busy night last night as temperatures dipped toward a forecast -20 C."