Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

📢MEDIA RELEASE: SDC stands in solidarity with all those who're asking the province to keep Consumption & Treatment Services (CTS) sites open across Ontario. Read our statement at https://tinyurl.com/s9zm4cb9 and join us in supporting grassroots group at a rally for change on Aug 28.

JOB ALERT: We're hiring 2 F/T Eviction Prevention Workers!
✅ Lived experience of eviction or housing challenges?
✅ Passionate about social justice and tenant rights?
✅ Strong time management and advocacy skills?
Come join our team! Apply by Sept 2: http://waterlooregion.org

There are currently no women-specific emergency homeless shelter spaces *anywhere* in Waterloo Region. Where does this leave an already vulnerable woman in our community? Urge Regional Council to address this emergency – sign the petition today!
https://tinyurl.com/53ps2tf7

Reminder: applications close August 13, 2024!

📢JOB ALERT: SDC is currently recruiting for a Community Research Coordinator! If SDC's values resonate with you and you have experience with community-based research ethics and project design, we'd love for you to join our team! DEADLINE: Aug 13, 2024. https://tinyurl.com/ytjnxwkz

📢JOB ALERT: SDC is currently recruiting for a Community Research Coordinator! If SDC's values resonate with you and you have experience with community-based research ethics and project design, we'd love for you to join our team! DEADLINE: Aug 13, 2024. https://tinyurl.com/ytjnxwkz

On this National Indigenous People's Day, the team at SDC is taking time to learn, reflect, and most of all celebrate the enduring presence, generosity, and leadership of Indigenous-led grassroots groups O:se Kenhionhata:tie and A Womb With A View who we have the privilege of working alongside at Civic Hub Waterloo Region.

In the midst of this heat wave, we're thinking about all those who are homeless across Waterloo Region. Lived experts have been flagging this as a priority for year, and are now collaborating with Regional staff & community partners to improve supports during extreme weather.

Please remember cooling centres are not available 24/7. Please plan accordingly and check on your unhoused neighbours. For cooling centre hours and locations across Waterloo Region: https://regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/cooling-and-warming-centres.aspx

We celebrated some important victories this past Monday at Kitchener City Hall. And it wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of so many people coming together around a common cause:

1. We thank staff at the City of Kitchener for listening, learning, and persevering alongside lived experts as they pushed for the work of the Lived Expertise Working Group to be extended for another 2 years. It’s been an honour for us at SDC to facilitate this work thus far.

2. We also thank Waterloo Region ACORN, Waterloo Region Community Legal Services, Waterloo Region Yes in My Backyard, Cedar Hills Neighbourhood Association, & all the community members, including tenants, who collaborated with SDC/Tenant Organizing to push for the Kitchener's new rental replacement bylaw. This was the effort of many who cared.✊

So much more is needed from our governments to maintain current housing stock & provide adequate housing for those who're unsheltered or precariously housed. But these are small wins in the right direction. And we’re thankful to all of you who help make it happen.

REMINDER: Today's Kitchener Council meeting at 4pm is an important one for a couple of reasons 👇

✅The Lived Expertise Working Group will be presenting a video highlighting their contributions and asking Council for an extension of this work.
✅Council will vote on a new rental replacement bylaw that can help maintain affordable housing stock and protect buildings and communities from mass displacement across Kitchener.

Please show up if you're able - details below! ✊🙏👇

The Kitchener Council meeting coming up on Monday, June 17 is a big deal for all of us who care about housing. Will you show up alongside SDC and our community allies? Keep reading for more context...

1. The Lived Expertise Working Group (LEWG) has made critical contributions to the City of Kitchener's approach to addressing homelessness - but there's still so much left to do. On Monday, June 17, City staff are bringing a proposal to Council to extend this work. For links and resources on how you can help the LEWG: https://waterlooregion.org/the-lewg-needs-your-help

2. On Monday, June 17 Council will also vote on a rental replacement bylaw prepared by City staff with community input. The bylaw is an anti-displacement strategy that helps maintain affordable housing stock and protects buildings and communities from mass displacement. For resources and links related to the rental replacement bylaw, including our slide deck from a recent tenant organizing workshop: https://waterlooregion.org/ask-council-to-pass-the-rental-replacement-bylaw

Looking forward to joining Official Opposition Leader today for a round table on housing in Waterloo Region! Excited to highlight the need to (a) strengthen tenant rights & (b) action the calls made by the Lived Expertise Prototyping Cohort of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness! ✊

📢ANNOUNCEMENT: We have been honoured to facilitate a cohort of lived experts working to inform the Region's Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, and today we are thrilled to share their final recommendations. Read the calls to action and full report at https://shorturl.at/lvDG6.

Region of Waterloo

Know someone unsheltered who may be looking for a safe way to experience the solar eclipse in 2 weeks? Invite them to join our friends at Sanguen Health Centre!

Monday, April 8 at 1:00pm
150 Duke St, Kitchener
Free eclipse viewing glasses available

Sharing this in solidarity with outreach workers across Waterloo Region who're calling on the provincial government to provide life-saving support in the midst of a toxic drug crisis. ✊

Our doors will be open 4-7pm tomorrow (Tuesday, March 26) - will you drop in for a visit? Come learn about our current projects. Mix 'n mingle with others in the SDC network. And make a grassroots connection! Our staff and Board can't wait to see you.🤩
waterlooregion.org

SDC Eviction Prevention KW Civic Hub Waterloo Region Kitchener's Festival of Neighbourhoods

💔Housing is more than just a roof over one's head. Housing that leaves tenants vulnerable to the conditions of a building and the whims of the landlord is neither just nor supportive. Thanks to Jeff Pickel and CTV News Kitchener for shining a light on this urgent situation in Cambridge. We hope these tenants receive the help they need.

SDC Eviction Prevention KW

‼️ An opportunity to produce 800+ affordable homes over
the next 10 years is at risk and Kitchener City Council will be discussing the issue today!

You can help by taking one or more of the proposed actions at: https://www.inclusionaryzoningnowkw.ca/

Say it with us📢: No more status quo solutions to homelessness and the affordable housing crisis in Waterloo Region!

SDC invites you to join organizers, service providers, and elected officials from all levels of government for an afternoon of community dialogue and advocacy.

Saturday, March 9, 4-6pm at Ray of Hope.
Reserve your spot today: https://tinyurl.com/muxahpkp

No more status quo solutions🛑! SDC invites you join community organizers, service providers, and elected officials from all levels of government for an evening of learning & advocacy around homelessness & housing policy. March 9, 4-6pm. For more info & to reserve your spot: https://tinyurl.com/muxahpkp

🚨 Dear community, extreme weather has been forecast for Waterloo Region. Shelter capacity is limited & warming centres aren't available 24/7 - please take care and plan & prepare accordingly. For info about warming centre locations & hours: https://shorturl.at/uMPXY

We're thrilled to receive funding from the Region of Waterloo to continue delivering two critical programs as part of the Region's Plan to End Chronic Homelessness:

1. The Eviction Prevention Peer Support Program plays an essential role in addressing homelessness in the long-term. Peer workers provide a range of supports for tenants who're facing eviction or experiencing ongoing issues with their landlords. Supports include advocacy, mediation, info on tenant rights, warm referrals to services, space/tech for tenants to Landlord/Tenant Board hearings & more.

2. The Lived Expertise Prototyping Project invites community members with lived expertise in homelessness to directly influence the Region’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Lived experts are currently drafting recommendations to be presented to Regional Council in April 2024.

SDC is eager to continue amplifying the voices of lived experts in our community, and extends our thanks to Waterloo Regional Council for these investments in the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

You can read the full media release at: http://tinyurl.com/yfbtn3rk

SDC Eviction Prevention KW Region of Waterloo

Did you miss Midtown Conversations this weekend? No worries…we are officially streaming!

Listen to Episode 2: Rage Against the System with Heather Majaury: https://screamingintothemic.transistor.fm

Follow along on your favourite streaming platform.

With thanks to the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund for funding this miniseries. Shout out to Social Development Centre Waterloo Region.

Sound editing by Eduardo Falcon and post-production services by Pilgrim Falcon Productions