Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

The time does fly when you are having fun! Thirty years ago, we were sent on a mission to support neighbourhood connections because of our differences and diversity. There were years when we registered over 170 activities hosted by neighbours for neighbours and invited 70 neighbourhoods to the Annual Celebration. You still have time until All Hallow’s Eve by midnight to register your gathering and make sure your neighbourhood is eligible for a draw for $20,000 for a Capital Improvement Grant with the City of Kitchener!

Projects you may want to seek funding for could include murals, permanent outdoor equipment and furniture, improvement to green spaces, community gardens and many more creative possibilities that required ongoing permanent structures. 

Those who register their inclusive gatherings with the Festival must attend the celebration to have your ballot entered for the capital grant. All curious and neighbourly people are still invited to have fun and celebrate our anniversary. R.S.V.P. to attend this year's celebration until November 15th. 

Do the values of SDC resonate with you? We are recruiting for the position of an Administrative Coordinator. It is an annual renewing contract position, based on available funding. The position is for 30 hours per week at a rate of $26.25/hour. The position would be carried out in person at SDC office, starting early November 2023. Apply by November 3rd. Not having all the listed skills and qualifications should not in itself exclude you from submitting an application. The groups we serve are very diverse and inclusive, our team is committed to increase the representation of talent and backgrounds within our organization.

Plan to End Chronic Homelessness Prototyping Pilot Project started in March 2023 involving a team of lived experts, Region and SDC staff, seeking to enable implementation of potential solutions to end chronic homelessness rooted in lived experience of unsheltered and hidden homeless. The "Lived Expertise Prototyping Project" process report was compiled to describe the work done by August 2023, and was interwoven into the Key Findings Report that was presented to the Council on September 12th. The Key Findings report is available at this link, and the presentation to the Community and Health Committee is available on YouTube (51:18).

Michelle Knight, the Coordinator of the Eviction Prevention Waterloo Region, will be joining a mighty panel of local advocates from different fields at the Town Hall organized by Councillor Rob Deutschmann on September 21st, 2023. "Hear firsthand the daunting realities faced by many tenants in today's volatile housing landscape and engage in a meaningful discussion with our guest speakers on how to protect yourself, your home, and your rights as a renter." You can contribute to this critical conversation as you register for the town hall. ​The event is recorded and will be available online.