Category: Blog
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Please don’t do the foolish thing
Below is the message I have sent Minister Flack and Mayor Morgan regarding the London Cares – House of Hope situation: Dear Minister Rob Flack and Mayor Josh Morgan, I am writing to you both together, publicly, because the looming closure of the House of Hope operated by London Cares is a problem I believe…
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What’s best for the whole community
London’s Whole of Community System Response to Health and Homelessness contains three key and inter-related approaches: 1) Encampment outreach; 2) Hubs; and 3) Highly supportive housing. All three are important in terms of responding to the urgency of needs of those who are experiencing homelessness right now, while also keeping housing centred as the outcome…
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Feedback on Canada’s New Federal Approach to Housing Affordability
Infrastructure Canada has published their Market Sounding Guide for Build Canada Homes, their new, more hands-on approach to creating affordable housing: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/bch-mc/market-sounding-guide-sondage-marche-eng.html I have provided the following feedback on the Guide and thought there might be interest in what I shared: Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the Build Canada Homes –…
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10 Things to know about the OECD Toolkit to Combat Homelessness
Situated in Canada, I often miss some of the important contributions on ending homelessness that come primarily out of the EU. Fortunately I follow Freek Spinnewijn (@freekspinnewijn.bsky.social) on Bluesky who posted this OECD resource. In the style of Nick Falvo I thought I would highlight 10 things you might want to know about this toolkit.…
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Dear Chief Truong
Dear Chief Thai Truong, It was nice to meet you briefly at the London Pride Parade. I’m sorry I didn’t follow through on your offer to have a chat, I’ve taken a new admin role at work and time has been tight. I would still welcome a meeting, so please feel free to follow-up at…
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Is London on the right track to end Homelessness?
The ‘Whole of Community Response’ and the ‘Encampment Strategy has generated a lot of discussion. And, as tends to happen any time we have change, it has also generated some resistance. I believe this response and the Fund for Change to make it happen is unprecedented not just in London history, but across the country.…
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CIH New York Tour – Day 3 Part 2
Handing Over Power Our final afternoon took us to a combined presentation from Point Source Youth and the Ali Forney Center. Two highlights were learning about authentic leadership from Youth Advisory Boards and their cash transfer study/project. This visit was a stark contrast to the Calvinism of this morning’s trip to Bergen County Housing (thou…
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CIH New York Tour – Day 3 Part 1
Dysfunctional Zero Day 3 took us out to Hackensack New Jersey for the Bergen County Housing Center. This is a comprehensive service site offering emergency shelter (90 days) but with on-site social assistance, health care, social work, and other services. These are distinct organizations with shared office space allowing for quick and easy collaboration. The…
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CIH New York Tour Day 2
Day 2 morning took is to the Brooklyn Library. Let’s be clear, I frigging love libraries! And librarians tend to be some of the best people. We learned about their outreach program geared towards children experiencing homelessness, particularly their mobile children’s library that goes to shelters and family housing projects in addition to schools and…
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CIH New York Tour – Day 1 Part 2
The Value of a Place of One’s Own (or An Ode to Permanent Housing) The afternoon of day 1 brought us to Community Access, a large organization providing housing and supports primarily geared towards persons living with mental illnesses in New York. There was something different here, something…humane. Even the space felt welcoming, dignified, just…