Tag Archives: Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2024-10-14- Tenant organizer says residents being priced out as landlords continue to increase rents.

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CKMS News -2024-10-14- Tenant organizer says residents being priced out as landlords continue to increase rents

dan kellar

Kitchener, ON – The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing recently told CKMS News that their “balanced approach” to the rental market is working, as purpose built-housing rental construction has hit “record-high” numbers. However, renters in Waterloo Region are facing their own record highs. According to rentals.ca, landlords are now charging 1,935$ a month for a 1-bedroom in Kitchener, and more than 2,327$ for a 2-bedroom. Prices are higher in Waterloo.

Organizations advocating for stronger protections for renters have maintained their focus on landlords and the various levels of government.  One such organization is the Social Development Council of Waterloo Region, who primarily focus on “Housing & Homelessness, Grassroots Infrastructure, and Lived Expertise.”

This show features an interview with Megan Walker, a tenant organizer in the Eviction Prevention program at the Social Development Council. Walker discusses her work and responds to statements the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing made to CKMS News. 

Shows, Welcome To The Civic Hub

Welcome To The Civic Hub

Welcome To The Civic Hub promotes the grassroots and small nonprofit organizations working to make lives better for everyone in Waterloo Region. Join the 23 groups already booking space for their activities, events or joint initiatives. These partners of the Civic Hub WR logoCivic Hub Waterloo Region are active in a range of fields: environmental justice, democratic reform, arts and culture, anti-poverty, anti-racism, human rights, ethnocultural and newcomer support, technology, peace and nonviolence, spirituality and wellbeing.

Welcome To The Civic Hub is produced by Ritika Shrimali, and hosted by Ritika Shrimali and Bob Jonkman. Executive Producer is Aleksandra Petrovic. Welcome To The Civic Hub is sponsored by the Social Development Centre of Waterloo Region. Some funding for the Civic Hub is provided by Heritage Canada through the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program.

SubscribeSubscribe to the Welcome To The Civic Hub podcast.

Civic Hub logoSee all the Welcome To The Civic Hub posts.

Welcome To The Civic Hub airs on CKMS-FM on Mondays from 1:00pm to 1:30pm, with a replay on Saturdays from 12:30pm to 1:00pm.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News – Resisting Renovictions in Waterloo Region

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CKMS News – 2023-08-13 – Resisting Renovictions in Waterloo Region

By: MP Holmes
Kitchener

Over the last few months there have been several rallies and multiple media stories on the group of tenants in the residential building at 267 Traynor Avenue in Kitchener, who have organized against an impending renoviction. Their building was recently purchased by a wealthy investor landlord who then issued N13 notices to at least 20 residents in the building and more in another on Ahrens St. in Kitchener

According to the 2023 Housing Hardship Report from the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, almost half (46%) of renters in Ontario are concerned about their landlord wanting to evict them for some reason.

In Waterloo region, the Report notes that 37% of all tenant households are spending a third or more of their income on housing costs, and a person needs to make at least $24 an hour to afford a 1-bedroom apartment here.

Maribel Jagorin organized the tenants at 267 Traynor Ave., and she talked with CKMS about her situation and fight to save her home and prevent her own and her building’s renoviction.

CKMS news also talked with Jenaya Nixon, who up util recently was an outreach worker for the Eviction Prevention Program within the Social Development Centre. Jenaya was one of the initial supports for the Traynor Ave residents and she talked about how renovictions generally occur and how municipal and regional governments can play an important and meaningful role, regardless of  the provincial and federal initiatives.

Information and support to access if you are facing a renoviction in Waterloo Region:
The Eviction Prevention Waterloo Region at the Social Development Centre:
https://www.waterlooregion.org/eviction-prevention-waterloo-region

Easy to access and up-to-date legal information specific to Ontario:
https://stepstojustice.ca/legal-topic/housing-law/eviction/


Check out the archived versions of  this program on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and listen to all the LJI content at canada-info.ca.

If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News – ‘Falling through the cracks’ photo exhibit explores lived experiences of displacement

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For one night only on Wednesday August 16

By MP Holmes
Kitchener

“These photos are very powerful. A lot of these photos are tied to some pretty intense experiences, especially if you were aware in April when there was a big wave of overdose deaths that were happening. These photos are taken in the midst of that crisis. It is reflecting the voices of people  who are navigating intense experiences of displacement.”

 

“Waterloo Region had shelter capacity for less than half of the number of homeless people that we had in 2020, and we know the number is bigger now and there is a huge shelter capacity gap and we also know that shelters are not going to meet the needs of everyone.”

David Alton, the Facilitator Lived Expertise Working Group, Kitchener’s Housing Strategy of the Social Development Centre, talked to CKMS news about a photography exhibition, the value of using lived expertise, the scale of homelessness in the Region and the problems and consequences of not having accurate data, and the barriers between unsheltered and sheltered communities.

The Lived Expertise Working Group is a two-year pilot project hosted by the Social Development Centre in partnership with the City of Kitchener to advise on the implementation and monitoring of the Housing for All Strategy. The working group consists of twelve lived experts who have met twice a month from May 2022 and were expected to continue until April 2024, but the group’s second year of funding, worth up to $30,000, is up in the air because City Council did not like the Social Development Centre commenting on city actions at the Roos Island protests in April. City council delayed the vote on continuing to fund the second year of the Lived Expertise Working Group until the council meeting on August 28.

Falling through the cracks, a fundraiser and photography exhibit, will be held at the downtown Kitchener Public Library, at 85 Queen St, for one night only on Wednesday August 16 from 5-8 pm. The photographs, 16 in total, depict the meaningful ways unsheltered communities support one another, memorialize each other, and resist marginalization. The gallery opens at 5 and the presentations will start around 6.

 

The music on today’s show is called “Maple Music” by Godmode courtesy of by Expectantly Maple Music on YouTube. 

You have been listening to CKMS News on 102.7FM, Radio Waterloo. This is MP Holmes, and thank you for tuning-in.

CKMS Community Connections, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS Community Connections for 10 June 2022: Encampment Evictions with Dr. Erin Dej, Dr. Laura Pin, and Lesley Crompton

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Dr. Erin Dej, wearing a T-Shirt with the words "but first, housing"
Dr. Erin Dej
Dr. Laura Pin
Dr. Laura Pin
Lesley Crompton
Lesley Crompton

Show Notes

Bob Jonkman is joined by Dr. Erin Dej, Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology at Wilfrid Laurier University, Dr. Laura Pin, Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department, also at Wilfrid Laurier University, and Lesley Crompton, who works with the Unsheltered Campaign at the Civic Hub in Waterloo Region. They discuss the impending eviction of the people at the Victoria/Weber encampment, direct aid, government responsibilities, housing policy, and the role of academia.

The interview starts at 3m57s.

Online Resources:

Community Fridges

A community fridge facilitates access to high quality food. It is open 24 hour a day, 7 days a week and available to anyone who needs food at any time. Donations of fresh food or non-perishable items are welcomed.

Kitchener
The Kitchener Market Map
300 King Street East
Kitchener, Ontario
Waterloo
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120 Roger Street
Waterloo, Ontario

CKMS Newsroom: The KW Community Fridge is solidarity through mutual aid

Podcast

Download: ckms-community-connections-2022-06-10-episode097.mp3 (50.1 MB, 52m05s, episode 097)

Index

Time Title Album Artist
0m00s Theme for CKMS Community Connections ccc CKMS Sunflower logo (yellow petals surrounding a black centre with white wavies all on a teal background)
CKMS Community Connections		 Steve Todd
0m55s Abolition Now! Abolition Now! (black upper case letters drawn on an orange background surrounded by explosion lines)
Abolition Now!		 The Soviet Influence
3m57s Dr. Erin Dej introduces herself, explains the role of critical criminology in social justice issues, and begins to explain the Point-In-Time count when technical difficulties arise.
6m33s Thieves of Joy The Soviet Influence | Thieves Of Joy (cartoon of a worker fighting an octopus with arms labelled Militia, Police, Black List, Injunctions, Employers Assn, RBA; the octopus head has a $ sign, there's a large knife labelled Socialist Ballot, and the cartoon caption is Say, Mr. Worker, haven't you been in the grip of this monster about long enough? Why not try the knife on him?
Thieves of Joy		 The Soviet Influence
9m35s Dr. Erin Dej explains that what is happening in Waterloo Region with homelessness is happening across the country, and across the world. The Point-In-Time count shows a doubling of homelessness since 2018. Part of that is due to Covid, but there are a variety of factors that contribute.

Dr. Laura Pin introduces herself, and explains how Political Science influence policy action around social issues and homelessness.

Lesley Crompton introduces herself, and the Unsheltered Campaign which has been filling gaps in social services for food, water, sanitary facilities, and shelter. Talking to people with lived experience, and gathering stories. Identifying the “hidden homeless”, people who are not registered with the municipality for the shelter system. Extended families are excluded, but may have some of the same issues. The Point-In-Time count had to be done by the municipality in order to get funding from other levels of government, but contracted the service out to the assistive organizations like Unsheltered Campaign. There are issues dealing with the macro issues because so much attention is focused on the micro issues.

17m43s Direct aid provided by eg. Unsheltered Campaign, Going Mobile KW, 519 Community Collective provide food, food ingredients, and food preparation for people who have food insecurity. It is difficult to prepare a variety of meals from supplies from the food banks; it does not provide the recipients with the choice of what to eat. There is no confirmation of need, no means testing; treating people with dignity. Are people satisfied, well-nourished? It’s difficult to say. Is this Canada’s “Social Safety Net”? Aid agencies need a “Billing For Filling” initiative, billing the state for filling the gap. This goes back to social policy, social assistance for people who have disabilities or are unemployed; the rates are not enough for people to afford shelter and food. The single rate for Ontario Works (OW) is $750/month; the Ontario Disability Support Program is about $1150/month. These are not livable, humane rates.
24m30s At the Waterloo Region Council Meeting on Tuesday, 7 June 2022, there was a call for additional funding from higher levels of government. Housing requires intergovernmental relations and multiple levels of government to manage. But at the regional level there are lots of things that can be done, eg. a regional encampment protocol. While there is a need for additional funding, it’s not an excuse for making use of the powers the regional government has for taking action. Beyond food, there are other issues that require support. Shelter support for families in motels are the same facilities used for people displaced from encampments, but this does not work for many people. Waterloo Region contracts out these services to aid agencies. Lesley Crompton says we need an Auditor General to ensure that there is more public accountability and transparency between the Region and its service providers to ensure they’re doing what we think they’re supposed to be doing — Lesley doesn’t think they are.
29m21s There are upwards of 50 people living at the Victoria and Weber encampment. Regional Council seemed sympathetic, but not motivated to help. Premier Doug Ford has said that for people in this situation just need to get a job. But Dr. Dej says that lots of people in this situation have a job! They’re working, but it’s not enough to pay the rent. For those without work, it is difficult to get a job. How do people without a job get a bus pass to find work? How do they get equipment like steel-toed boots needed to get a job? How can people try to get a job when they’re in an encampment, likely sleep deprived from being in the same area with 50 other people, concerned for their safety, and unable to get good rest from sleeping on the ground. And even when people on social assistance do get work, their earnings are clawed back at %50, an effective tax rate much higher than anyone else has to pay. The provincial government is cutting its sources of revenue (license plate renewal), federal government isn’t pursuing foreign holdings tax which could be used to invest in affordable housing and social housing. Dr. Pin says that at the local government level, a vacant home tax or foreign ownership tax could raise revenues for social programs. People are working part-time, employers cutting hours to minimize benefits. But even people working full-time at minimum wage earn only about $2000/month before deductions, yet rents are around $1600/month. If we took an approach of housing as a human right it shouldn’t matter whether people work full-time, part-time, if they need child care, or if people have a disability and can’t work — people still have a right to decent and affordable housing. The Region of Waterloo’s housing policy has put forward a human rights approach to housing; the federal government in its national housing strategy has also put forth a human rights approach to housing. But how can we make this a lived experience for people experiencing homelessness? Yet the Region of Waterloo Council has not advanced this into a formal motion.
35m30s International Human Rights declaration indicate that people are not to be evicted from their housing, or even encampments. What legal ramifications are there for municipalities that break the International Human Rights declaration? Dr. Dej says that federally this has already been adopted. Yet municipalities don’t follow it. Instead, municipalities are adopting a criminalizatin of homelessness, and even a militarization of the efforts to evict people from encampments. We do have a national protocol for homeless encampments in Canada to follow for removing people from encampments developed by the former UN Rapporteur on Housing, Lailani Farha and Dr. Kaitlin Schwan that tells municipalities how to do it within our international human rights obligations. Recognize that people don’t want to live in encampments, they want to be housed. The challenge is that following this protocol takes time, but people want quick fixes. Yet removing encampments is not that quick fix people are looking for, it’s not going to end homelessness.
38m06s Lesley Crompton points out that people need more than just housing: They need wrap-around services such as cooking instruction, a social structure, mental health issues that need to be addressed. Some shelters have zero-tolerance for violence. But what is violence? Someone speaking exteremely loudly may be considered violent, and get evicted. At motels used for housing, the staff are not able to deal with mental health issues. People need on-going supports, but some municipal housing staff think that merely providing housing is enough. What can academics do to influence the outcome of the pending eviction? Dr. Pin recognizes her privilege; people from the region connect with her in ways that they don’t connect with people on the ground. The 30 June deadline for evicting people from the Victoria and Weber encampment is artificial, the site is not needed for construction until the fall. Dr. Pin suggests we push back against that deadline to give people more time to discuss with decision makers as to what they need. Dr. Dej suggests that we push as hard as we can to make sure that the voices of the people in the encampments are the ones that are heard. She has received criticism about the Point-In-Time counts and other academic pursuits, that money spent on academic studies would be better spent on housing directly. But there is a lot of power in that data, it can convince people in ways that people might be convinced otherwise. For example, Dr. Dej has researched, rigorous data that supports Lesley’s statements on the need for ongoing services. Use this as clout to amplify the voices of people on the ground.
43m33s How does this get to the politicians who make the decisions? Dr. Pin has been inviting councillors and staff into the Unsheltered Campaign meetings to hear what community organizations have to say on the issue. Dr. Pin’s graduate seminar prepared a report on comparative encampment protocols from a human rights perspective to provide the Region with data on how difference cities have put forward protocols to manage encampments, and providing some analysis to determine which protocols are more consistent with a human rights approach. Building relationships and capacity at the Regional level to do that kind of analysis. What can ordinary citizens do? Lesley Crompton says to take time to understand, to talk to people at the encampments, to talk to people who have been working for the people at encampments. The Region’s capacity of outreach staff is very limited, and does not give enough time to spend with the individuals at the encampments. Get involved, so you can then speak to the Region. This is an election year, and while there are no Regional or City councillors on the same page as Premier Ford, it is time for a change. CARE (Coalition Against Removing Encampments) is a grassroots organization that looks at other social justice issues, a coalition of other organizations. Dr. Pin mentions the Social Development Centre and the Civic Hub WR for people who are interested in connecting in a immediate way. Challenge the stigma that’s presented to the people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, recognize that the people in encampments are our neighbours and community members.
49m23s Bob thanks the guests, gives the credits for CKMS Community Connections, and introduces Dreamer by Rose Brokenshire.
50m35s Dreamer (photo of Rose Brokenshire among fluffy clouds)
(single)		 Rose Brokenshire

CKMS Community Connections Hour One airs on CKMS-FM 102.7 on Monday from 11:00am to Noon, and Hour Two airs on Friday from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

Got music, spoken word, or other interesting stuff? Let us know at office@radiowaterloo.ca or leave a comment on our “About” page.

CKMS logo with wavies coming out the sidesSubscribe to the CKMS Community Connections podcast!

CKMS | 102.7 FM | Radio Waterloo | Community ConnectionsSee all CKMS Community Connections shows!

Bonus Footage

YouTube: CKMS Community Connections for 10 June 2022

Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2022 by the participants, and released under a CC BYCreative Commons Attribution Only license. Copy, re-use, and derivative works are allowed with attribution to Radio Waterloo and a link to this page. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders.

CKMS Community Connections, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS Community Connections for 8 February 2021 with Lesley Crompton of the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

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Show Notes

Yenny Stronge talks with Lesley Crompton of the

(Six stick figures standing on each others' shoulders in the shape of hexagons)
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region about homelessness, affordable housing, the KW Community Fridge, foodbanks, Universal Basic Income (UBI) and the Unsheltered Campaign.

The interview starts at 0m23s.

Online:

Social Development Centre Waterloo Region (SDCWR)


SHELTER 4 ALL | Unsheltered Campaign (stylized graphic of a house, white on orange)
Unsheltered Campaign

Unsheltered Campaign

Podcast

Download: ckms-community-connections-2021-02-08-episode078.mp3 (41.5 MB, 43m07s, episode 078)

CKMS Community Connections Hour One airs on CKMS-FM 102.7 on Monday from 11:00am to Noon, and Hour Two airs on Saturday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.

Got music, spoken word, or other interesting stuff? Let us know at office@radiowaterloo.ca or leave a comment on our “About” page.

CKMS logo with wavies coming out the sidesSubscribe to the CKMS Community Connections podcast!

CKMS | 102.7 FM | Radio Waterloo | Community ConnectionsSee all CKMS Community Connections shows!

Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2021 by the participants, and released under a CC BYCreative Commons Attribution Only license. Copy, re-use, and derivative works are allowed with attribution to Radio Waterloo and a link to this page. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders.

Homes For All, Life Stories of Displacement, Off The Air, Syndicated

Homes For All

Homes For All presents a series of 12 shows from March to May 2020 telling stories of people affected by the unaffordability and lack of housing, and raising awareness of the work being done by many players in the community. SDCWR logo

Homes For All was hosted by Angela Goodwin and Brian Doucet, and aired as Life Stories of Displacement until January 2023. It is no longer on the CKMS-FM schedule.

CKMS Community Connections, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS Community Connections for 27 January 2020 with the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

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Show Notes

Angela, Aleksandra Petrovic, and Charles Nichols sitting at microphones in the studio
Angela, Aleksandra Petrovic, and Charles Nichols
Angela, Aleksandra Petrovic, and Charles Nichols from the Social Development Centre join Bob Jonkman. We talk about housing, the need for experienced living in policy making, and get some practical experience running the CKMS-FM sound board for a future SDCWR show and podcast.

If you’d like to volunteer or be interviewed by Charles Nichols for the podcast please call the Social Development Centre at +1‑519‑579‑3800

The interview starts at 9m37s.

Online:

Podcast

Download: ckms-community-connections-2020-01-27.mp3 (53.7 MiBytes, 58m42s, episode 37)

Podcast Index

There was so much Social Development to discuss today that we didn’t get to all the artists on our playlist. Never fear, they’re in our digital music library and will be played on future episoses!

  • 00m25s: Loss | Jean Paul de Roover (album cover showing an aerial view of an unmade bed)Jean-Paul de Roover — Wreck from the album Loss
  • 04m20s: (no text - album cover for Tusk II by Royal Tusk showing a hand making the peace symbol with the extended fingers severed)Royal Tusk — Die Knowing from their second album Tusk II
  • 09m37s: Angela, Aleks, and Charles talk about the Civic Hub WR, the SDCWR Tax Clinic, and supports for affordable housing through RENT, Disability and Human Rights group, ALIVe; using volunteer opportunities and technology to enable social justice actions.
  •  
  • 23m07s: Union Duke | Atlas of Love (single cover)Union Duke — Atlas of Love
  • 26m43s: Discussing more housing issues, issues with shelters, gentrification,
  •  
  • 41m58s: Fettish Band poster showing four Asian girlsFettish — Bubble Tea Boy
  •  
  • 45m17s: How to volunteer for an interview with Charles Nichols: Call +1‑519‑579‑3800; the Civic Hub is available to any small, grass-roots organization, see https://civichubwr.org/
  •  
  • 48m45s: Portrait of LexxiconLexxicon — Lucky Lucky from Bashment Trap House
  •  
  • 51m37s: Get training to start your own show on CKMS-FM; summing up today’s talk.
  •  
  • 55m45s: Worth The Wait by 100 mile house single cover)100 mile house — Worth The Wait from the Love You Or Leave You album

CKMS Community Connections Hour One airs on CKMS-FM 102.7 on Monday from 11:00am to Noon, and Hour Two airs on Friday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.

Got music, spoken word, or other interesting stuff? Let us know at office@radiowaterloo.ca or leave a comment on our “About” page.

CKMS logo with wavies coming out the sidesSubscribe to the CKMS Community Connections podcast!

CKMS | 102.7 FM | Radio Waterloo | Community Connections | Mondays 10 am - 12 NoonSee all CKMS Community Connections shows!

Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2020 by the participants, and released under a CC BYCreative Commons Attribution Only license. Copy, re-use, and deriviatives works are allowed with attribution to Radio Waterloo and a link to this page. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders.

CKMS Community Connections, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS Community Connections for 3 June 2019 with Kate Crozier, Charlene Le Duc, and Aleksandra Petrovic Graonic

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On Monday, 3 June 2019 Yenny Stronge and Bob Jonkman interviewed Kate Crozier from Community Justice Initiatives, Charlene Le Duc of the Summer Lights Festival, and Aleksandra Petrovic Graonic, Executive Director of the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region. In between we managed to play some brand new Canadian Content music!

Show Notes

Kate Crozier
Kate Crozier

Kate Crozier, CJI

The interview with Kate Crozier starts at 00h10m50s.



Summer Lights Festival logo

Charlene Le Duc, SLF

Charlene Le Duc calls in at 00h47m58s

The Summer Lights Festival happens in Downtown Kitchener on Saturday, 8 June 2019 from 8:00pm to 1:00am.



Aleksandra Petrovic Graonic
Aleksandra Petrovic Graonic

Aleksandra Petrovic Graonic, SDCWR

Aleksandra Petrovic Graonic joins us at 01h04m50s.

All meetings take place at The Church of St. John the Evangelist, 23 Water Street, Kitchener. Map Enter at the doors on Duke Street.

Music List

Podcast

Download: ckms-community-connections-2019-06-03.mp3 (110 MiBytes, 2h00m15s)

CKMS Community Connections airs on CKMS-FM 102.7 every Monday from 10:00am to Noon.

Got music, spoken word, or other interesting stuff? Let us know at office@radiowaterloo.ca or leave a comment on our “About” page.

CKMS logo with wavies coming out the sidesSubscribe to the CKMS Community Connections podcast!

CKMS | 102.7 FM | Radio Waterloo | Community Connections | Mondays 10 am - 12 NoonSee all CKMS Community Connections shows!

Bonus Footage!

YouTube: Community Connections for 3 June 2019
This is the anti-radio — all pictures, no sound!

Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2019 by the participants, and released under a CC BYCreative Commons Attribution Only license. Attribution to Radio Waterloo. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders.