In memory of Ron Doyle, the willing landlord at Lot42.
To watch the videos of the sessions, your true still live report, visit our YouTube Channel.
To review the generative questions about the future of ABTC open this presentation.
A Better Tent City Living Report March 26
Mental Health - African Immigrant Perspective
Mar
16
2021
The Peaceful Canada Mental Health Support Group presents a series of discussions to support mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 from the African immigrant community perspective and cultures. Hear and share more during the four sessions, starting April 9 2021: promotion of mental health and self-care; accessing resources, information and advice on how to build a support network; sharing experience and learning from each other; shame, stigma and attitudes around the COVID-19 patients. Read more & register for Zoom sessions. Project realization in collaboration with Peace for All Canada and African Women's Alliance, funded by the United Way Waterloo Region Communities.
For the Weary - SONICA Exibit in theMUSEUM
Jan
31
2021
The Social Development Centre of Waterloo Region produced Life Stories of Displacement & Homes for All, a series of podcasts where local residents who live on low incomes and have experienced marginalization in its many forms, including housing, spoke about their stories. Mary Neil, a community musician, listened to them all and she got angry: "I got angry at how the system is failing. I got angry at how people could be treated like dirt. I got angry about unfair stereotypes and unjust circumstances." And she wrote the song "For the Weary" that is now part of the SONICA exhibit at theMUSEUM - you have to listen and see. More at Unsheltered Testimonies page.
Peace by Peaceful Means
Jan
27
2021
Peace for All Canada (PAC) is presenting a series of live webinars and recordings on Gender Based Violence in partnership with African Women Alliance and supported by the United Way Waterloo Region Communities and the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region. January 28 and 29, as well as February 1 and 2, 11 am to 12 pm the following topics will be discussed: Covid and gender based violence; Culture, religion and gender based violence; Physical, emotional and physiological impact; and Barriers to prevention and response withing African communities. You can learn more by downloading the flyer and joining the virtual meeting (password in the flyer).
A Better Tent City
The community continues to rally around a much needed demonstration project, a no-barrier alternative to shelters. Why is this A Better Tent City? There is a willing landlord, 24 insulated cabins and an indoor warming space, garbage and recycling, kitchen, washrooms, shower and laundry, a safe and caring place. Find out more at the Civic Hub website.
A Better Tent City has been recognized as Canada’s Top 100 Recovery Projects by the Future of Good.
Video made by Ken Galloway "A Better Tent City" ends with these words:
"We are people who support our homeless brothers and sisters, while collectively tackling homelessness in practical ways. Help us evolve into an organization that drives social entrepreneurship, education,
healing and change."
Cash donations are urgently requested to support construction of 10 new private, secure indoor living quarters and the costs of wiring and heating the outdoor cabins.
Listen to the Current CBC KW - Tiny homes offer shelter for the homeless in Kitchener, Ont.
You can donate by e-transfer to sdcwr@waterlooregion.org or through CanadaHelps ABTC Fund.
Call for Participants: Displacement Out of the Core
Dec
1
2020
The Social Development Centre Waterloo Region and School of Planning at University of Waterloo have completed the study that looked at the loss of affordable housing and displacement due to gentrification and rapid development happening in the urban core areas in Kitchener-Waterloo. For this project, we are looking to hear from people living outsiede of the core neighbourhoods in Kitchener, especially those in underserved communities with lived experiences of displacement due to development, renovations and change during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Disability & Resilience Virtual Celebration
Nov
19
2020
December 3rd 2020, UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities online celebration: Disability, Poverty and Resilience. How are people with disabilities coping during the pandemic? More importantly, what can we learn from their experiences before and during COVID to help us cope as a community when facing income, housing and food insecurity, isolation and lack of safety. The recording of the online celebration is live!
Disabilities and Human Rights group is continuing the tradition of making each individual experience count withing the larger social and systemic context.
Neighbourhood Exchange 2020
Nov
18
2020
This year, neighbours ‘zoomed’ together on Sunday, November 15th in an interactive online celebration that recognized how neighbourhoods created community connections with health and safety in mind through an unpredictable year. Neighbours also discussed ways to continue creating connections and imagined what their neighbourhoods will be like as we move into a future of possibility. A new “Neighbours Exchange” program was part of this year’s Festival Of Neighbourhoods celebration (see videos!); two neighbours from different areas of the city were matched to take each other on short walking tours of their respective neighbourhoods and their experiences were shared as part of the online gathering. Read more in the Media Release about the 27th Annual Celebration.
Transforming Responses to Homelessness
Nov
12
2020
Social Development Centre and Unsheltered Campaign groups supported Days of Action 2021, annual advocacy initiative of the McMaster's School of Medicine. You can read more in the two-pager outlining the final asks to all municipal councils in the region, as well as the full background paper. The student group met with a total of 13 councillors to discuss these asks and to raise awareness of the needs of the housing-insecure populations. Currently, Region of Waterloo staff and regional partners are holding consultation sessions to transform the system responses to homelessness and we will again make a case that lived experience voices have the most intimate and intricate knowledge of current obstacles and future solutions and need to be integrated into the planning process.
Virtual Festival Celebration Nov 15
Oct
16
2020
The 2020 Annual Festival Of Neighbourhoods Celebration is coming on Sunday, November 15th, beginning at 1:00pm!
Festival Of Neighbourhoods invites you to share your activities and ways to remain inclusive and engage your neighbourhood both on and offline. You can fill out the online RSVP form at or email allison.brown@waterlooregion.org with your ideas.
