Homelessness in Waterloo Region

Our Story

The Waterloo Region Community Homelessness Network is committed to finding positive ways to respond to homelessness and related issues in our community. Our Vision: Waterloo Region is a place where every person and family lives with dignity, safety and respect and is a valued member of our community, having adequate housing and access to responsive support. Read more...

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Network News

March 23, 2006

Sleepless Night 2006

The Homelessness Advisory Group of the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre invites you to participate in our annual Sleepless Night event at City Hall in downtown Kitchener, at 5pm on Sunday, April 30th, 2006. The event is a community gathering where people who are homeless and concerned citizens get together for a barbeque. The event also features speakers, entertainment and the distribution of sleeping bags and backpacks. Sleepless Night is held May 1st to highlight the fact that the Kitchener-Waterloo Out of the Cold program closes at that time of year, leaving many people with one less emergency shelter choice and, for some, no choice but to sleep outside. The event also features an overnight vigil in solidarity with people who are homeless, and a Wake-athon to raise funds for sleeping bags.

November 21, 2005

Waterloo Region Community Homelessness Network Forum

Wednesday November 30th, 1:30-4:00pm, at 150 Main St, Cambridge. The topic is Future Forward: Presenting the Homeless and Housing Umbrella Group Model. Please RSVP by Monday November 28 to Susan Mainland

September 14, 2005

Poverty and Homelessness Panel

The Network's quarterly meeting will feature a Poverty and Homelessness Panel to: raise awareness of poverty as a factor related to homelessness; articulate the importance of dignity and valuing the individual regardless of their situation in life; provide a jumping off point for inviting the Network to endorse the Ontario Needs a Raise Campaign and Network members to participate in the September 29th Walk, Wheel, Ride for Dignity rally in Toronto. The meeting is happening Wednesday September 28, 2005, 1-4pm in Room 508 at 99 Regina St S, Waterloo.

September 01, 2005

Homelessness Network Quarterly Meeting

Please join us at 1pm on Wednesday September 28, 2005 at 99 Regina Street, Waterloo, 1:30-4pm in Room 508. Stay tuned for further details. Please RSVP to Susan Mainland at 579-1096 by Monday September 26. We hope to see you there!

May 02, 2005

Homelessness Network Quarterly Meeting

Please join us at 1pm on Wednesday June 8, 2005 at 99 Regina Street, Waterloo, Room 508. A guest speaker from the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre will address the topic Homelessness and Health. Please RSVP to Susan Mainland at 579-3800 by Monday June 6. We hope to see you there!

February 15, 2005

Homelessness Network Quarterly Meeting

Wednesday February 16, 2005 (1:00pm – 4:00pm) at the Regional Building, 150 Main Street, Cambridge. Please join us for a kick-off to an action-packed new year!

September 08, 2004

Homelessness Network Quarterly Meeting

The Network is hosting its fall quarterly meeting on Wednesday, September 15, from 1:00-4:00pm at First United Church (16 William Street, Waterloo). Professor Gary Dann will address the topic of individual responsibility and the ethics of how communities respond to those who are or appear to be homeless. This is a challenging issue because even though we believe in caring and social justice, our actions don't always match our words. The Network Forum will be an opportunity for a constructive public discussion. Gary will assist us by presenting thought provoking questions and leading small group discussions to explore these issues further. Please RSVP by Monday Sept 13th to: Christie (883-2397) or bchristi@region.waterloo.on.ca

August 09, 2004

Count of Homeless Persons in Calgary

City of Calgary: "A count of homeless persons is conducted every two years by The City of Calgary. This initiative provides information that is used for The City's ongoing research and planning activities, and is also published as a public report."

Somewhere to Live or Something to Eat

Daily Bread Food Bank: "Housing Issues of Food Bank Clients in the GTA. This 22-page paper looks at the key housing issues affecting food bank clients. Set against the context of the Welfare Rates cut in 1995 and the Tenant Protection Act in 1998, this paper focuses on rent and income problems many food bank clients are facing now."

May 27, 2004

Housing Workshop

House of Friendship is holding a free workshop on June 2, 9am-12pm, Housing, the Tenant Protection Act and the Quality of Tenancy in Kitchener Waterloo, at the Emergency Food Hamper Program, 807 Guelph at Lancaster St, Kitchener.

Jeff Schumacher (Region of Waterloo) and Sherry Stortz (Community Housing Access Centre) will provide an overview of community housing and issues of interest to tenants, trends in housing, how to access rental housing as well as future directions for growth and settlement in the Region and the impact this might have on the rental market. Gay Slinger (Waterloo Region Community Legal Services) will discuss the Tenant Protection Act and related issues before taking questions about what landlords and tenants can and can not do within the legislation. Mary Pappert is a longtime resident of Kitchener who will discuss the activities of RENT and the recent publication of a very useful Tenant's Manual. RENT is "a proactive, non-partisan group of concerned citizens who seek to
improve the state of tenants in Waterloo Region."

If you plan to attend the June workshop please RSVP to the Emergency Food
Hamper Program ASAP by email to hampers@houseoffriendship.org or to 570-3976. Space is limited.