HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT

From the UN rapporteur statement on Housing as a Human Right we read:

Housing is a human right.  It is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in many international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  Under international law everyone has the right to adequate housing.

Image: Michael Jasmund/ Unsplash

On Friday, October 14th the Mayor of Peterborough declared a state of emergency due of the lack of suitable housing and/or shelter beds available for the homeless as the winter months set in.  With an interest in homelessness, a couple of us decided to attend the gathering at All Saints Anglican Church that evening to hear what is being proposed and to get involved in some way.  Approximately 100+ citizens gathered to listen to ‘the folks’ who were affected by this crisis along with their support workers from various Agencies advocating on their behalf for a reasonable and viable solution.  In the audience were also the candidates who are seeking to be elected Mayor or Council Member in the upcoming Municipal election. Other citizens wanting to understand the current situation in our City  were present and are willing to offer support in wherever ways might emerge from meetings such as this one.    

The Agenda for the evening was set by the group as each person in the room had a chance to introduce themselves and state the issue(s) they wanted heard and addressed that evening.    

Key statements from the meeting were statements about feeling discouraged at the response of current city leaders who have not addressed homelessness sufficiently;

• shelters need more caring staff;

• rules in shelters need to be explained in a caring manner;

• Federal and Provincial governments need to come forward with funding;

• frustrated because NO changes will happen until new city council comes into power;

• income support programs need to be enhanced;

• family shelters are needed;

• places for youth need to be set up rather than having to couch surf;

• tents in parks or at City hall are taken from the folks and thrown in garbage;

• ODSP and OW is not adequate to live a healthy life;

• POLICE PRESENCE IS NOT A RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. 

No matter who they are, people want to be respected and “looked in the eye” when they are spoken to.

On the other hand some positive comments were shared which gave HOPE to the audience:  to learn and become educated about the role of the Municipal Mayor and Council and keep them on task to resolve the issue; look at Tiny Homes /Sleeping Cabins as a possibility to house people this winter until a more permanent solution can be found and funded; listening and sharing ideas with each other as this meeting has done will engage creativity among the group; a few people with ideas can make something happen (Ex.  Kawartha Food Share began at a round table meeting and now serves hundreds of people in our community); once a human connection is made with a homeless person, I will be changed; use our power and our voice to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice; name this issue of homelessness as a violation of human rights when we get a chance in a public setting; take away one idea from this gathering and put it into action on behalf of the homeless.

Compassion is the wish to see others free from suffering (Dalai Lama).

Celebrating an Impossible Dream

On Friday, September 28^th, about 100 gathered at Austin Doran Hall in the Mount Community Centre in Peterborough, Ontario for the annual special evening that highlights poverty and the need for food security in our area.  The dinner, determined by lot, was either Oven Roasted Chicken Supreme with Decadent New York Style Cheesecake for dessert or a typical food bank meal of penne noodles with canned tomato sauce and cookies.  This menu spoke loudly of the disparity that exists in opportunities for food choices, and called us to be more aware of the struggles some face in providing good food for their families.

The focus of the evening was on the newly-completed Food Centre which is a significant component of this evolving dream. A name was given to the café, announced by John Good, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, through whom an anonymous donation of $300,000 made this beautiful kitchen area possible. The name chosen is the Fulcrum Café, signifying the point on which this project turns or is supported.  The café is already being used by the apartment residents, staff, volunteers, and friends and supporters of The Mount Community Centre. 

Madelaine Currelly, CEO of the Community Training and Development Centre explained a very successful educational program in which unemployed applicants develop skills in cooking as they supply meals for Meals on Wheels, a day care centre and other groups.  This kitchen also provides catering   to groups within and beyond The Mount Community Centre, and the facility is available for rent at mutually designated times to budding entrepreneurs.

Guests at this annual event were brought up to date on further developments in this impossible dream. Board member, Bill Graham, outlined the progress and future plans for Phase 2 of the project.  Christine Cannon, President of Shared Dreams for Independent Living, spoke of their position and excitement around this joint venture.  Murray Rodd, Cabinet Member of the present fundraising campaign, shared that a dinner held in his honour as retiring police chief raised over $23,000 for the Mount Community Centre.  In his closing remarks, Steve Kylie, Chair of the Board, mentioned that a Day Care Centre had just been relocated to this amazing place that continues to meet a multitude of needs in the Peterborough area.  All were invited to view the Food Centre, and many took the opportunity.  Once again those who attended were deeply touched by the evolving story of this impossible dream.

- Joan Driscoll, CSJ

A Response to the Syrian Crisis

With the recent media coverage of the refugee crisis in Syria, our Casa Maria mission has received much attention. Ruth Hennessey, our director, has shared our expectations and given excellent interviews on T.V and radio both locally and provincially.

Our local catholic school board agreed to partner with Casa Maria for the purpose of relocating a family who has recently fled Syria. These are members of a family whom we sponsored in June 2015: Lelas, her daughter Jena and her son Karam who now reside in Toronto.

Our school board initiated Sept.18 as a teacher and student $5.00 dress down day/crazy hat day in 37 schools with the proceeds going to Casa Maria. Our Toronto refugee family visited a number of our area schools where students had an opportunity to meet, listen and question them about life and experiences.

It was amazing to hear how similar their lives were to ours, until war broke out. At the high school over 100 students listened in rapt attention to this family, intermittently interrupting with cheers and applause. The smiles on the faces of these “new comers” said it all in response to the students` show of support.

Furthermore, since then there has been much interest shown locally within the community. Casa Maria has been busy with speaking engagements and informational meetings to interested groups. Our local Bishop McGrattan, who is no stranger to the refugee cause, has encouraged parish groups within our 4 deaneries to consider working together to offer refuge. Special additional collections at the masses will be encouraged in the parishes to assist those who have taken on this challenge.

Our call for help is an awesome task, but in the work of Mother Teresa “what we do is a drop in the ocean but without it the ocean would be less.” 

Guest Blogger: Barry O’Brien, Chair of the Casa Maria Advisory Board