Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 1: February 2009
"Kay’shi’daay’ing—Where
We Live."
HUB Executive
Nan Normand, Co-Chair
Ralph Page, Co-Chair, Treasurer
Karen Essery, Secretary
Don Denver, Emily Goss, Dan Jorgensen,
Pieter Joubert, Shirley Kelly, Frank Kowal, Erika Olson, Diane Pelletier, Joan Schelske
What is Making Kenora HOME?
A concerned group working on solutions for homelessness in our community.
Guiding Principles
- EQUALITY: We are all created equal within this world that we share
- INCLUSION: Every person living in Kenora is a part of our community
- SHARING: As a community we must care for each other
- SELF DETERMINATION: Each person has the right to choose his or her own path providing that path does not hurt another
- EMPOWERMENT: We are accountable for our own actions and need to look inward first before looking outward for change
How do we achieve this?
- Community education and awareness about homelessness and poverty
- Promoting the implementation of our May 2007 report Community Solutions For Affordable Housing Projects
- Community caring projects to address poverty
Why is Making Kenora HOME important to us?
- Stable housing is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of poverty
- Kenora will become a more inclusive and caring community
WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER?
Tell a member of our Executive
Call us at 468-8888
Make a Difference In Our Community
JOURNEYS OF HOPE
A second collection of stories on homelessness is being released by Making
Kenora Home during Week of Action Against Poverty. The contributors to
this year’s collection have shared their life journeys from homelessness to
hope. The book launch will be held at Ho Joe’s on February 11, 2009, 7 pm.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCKS
The Implementation Working Group has established a working group who are actively working towards achieving a local build of a single family home. Affordable family home ownership is part of the local affordable housing strategy.
Gearing Up For Local Giving
Application has also been made to the Homelessness Partnering Strategy for extension of local emergency shelter services.
On the funding field, the newly approved federal budget has committed funds for renovation and energy retrofits of social and low-income housing and extended funding for housing and homelessness programs including the Affordable Housing Initiative, Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Specific funding will be dedicated to low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Competition for these funds will be fierce. The community plan developed by Making Kenora Home is available to help local parties interested in submitting applications for affordable housing. Because of competition for funding, we are very much aware that time is of the essence in this regard and have encouraged City Officials to play a leadership role in directing this funding process.
WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST POVERTY
February 8-14, 2009 is Kenora’s Week of Action Against Poverty. Members of Making Kenora HOME encourage citizens of Kenora to join us in taking action against poverty through food bank donations, coffee break discussions, meditation and prayer, random acts of kindness, bake sales, winter wear drives, or other projects of your own choosing. Here are some of the activities planned for the week:
| February 7 | 10:00
a.m. Interdenominational
Volleyball Tournament St. Thomas Aquinas High School |
| February 8 | Interdenominational Prayers |
| February 8-14 | Kenora Metis Health & Wellness Knit-A-Thon |
| February 10 | Pope
John Paul II School Classroom Conversations |
| February 11 | 9:00
a.m. Budget Countdown Minto Family Resource Centre hosted by Northwest Health Unit |
| February 11 | 2:00
p.m. Pancake
Brunch Fellowship Centre hosted by HOME |
| February 11 | 7:00 p.m.
Journeys
of Hope HoJoe’s café conversation |
| February 11 | 6:30
p.m.
Skate, Slide & Silver
Donations hosted by Parent Council, Pope John Paul II School |
| February 11 | 6 p.m. People
First Valentine Dance Knox United Church |
| February 12 | Warm
Your Spirit Fundraiser Lunch Kenora Legal Aid & Kenora Community Legal Clinic |
| February 8-14 | Non-perishable Food Drive Challenge Club |
| February 13 | Red Ribbon Campaign|
| February 13 | Making
A Difference St. Louis School, grade 5 class |
| February 14 | Open
Your Heart Dance 8 pm Best Western Lakeside Inn Kenora Patricia Child & Family Services |
| February 14 | 10:30 Storytime Kenora Library & Best Start |
| February 8-14 | Winter Wear Drive Mx-Fm Staff Keystone Lock & Safe Kenora Court House |
| February 24 | Story Telling Birchwood Terrance, Nechee Life Long Care Program |
| February 26 | Luncheon Fundraiser Kenora Court House Staff |
| TBA | Cammie Carpenter’s Band of Awesome |
HOME Recommendations
1. 24 hours emergency shelter.
2. 8 single room occupancy (SRO) units.
3. 20 SRO rent geared to income.
4. 10 single dwelling Aboriginal family units.
5. Tax discount, utility discount or maintenance tax credit for low fixed income seniors.
6. 2 supportive housing projects; 10 transitional units for victims
of violence, 10 units for senior supportive health and assistive
living.
7. Rent subsidization; 15 units for single parent housing and 10 units
for individuals experiencing mental health dysfunction.
8. Revolving housing trust for low income families.
Kenora has the opportunity to improve its quality of life by investing
in these recommendations in addition to working in creative
partnership.
Bring
a Tin for the Bin*
*Bins located at Extra Foods, Safeway, Recreation Centre
and all
Making Kenora Home events
Published quarterly by:
Making Kenora HOME, Charitable Services Inc.,
at www.makingkenorahome.ca