Blogs

What can you do on a Sunday afternoon with 7 Hotties in cool t-shirts, pajama bottoms, and a shining silver wig at the Aurora Sports Dome?  Tackle exciting challenges that both raise awareness and raise money to tackle homelessness in York Region, of course!

It's a great practice to celebrate successes.  In working with many members of YRAEH, it's easy for workers in this field to get burdened and feel the strain of difficult circumstances or a lack of resources or challenging obstacles to effective change and improvements.  However, I truly believe that there is power in the practice of celebrating moments of success and accomplishment.

A provincial campaign called Put Food in the Budget is challenging individuals through a survey tool - Do the Math - to count the cost of typical daily living and weigh it against standard amounts that people may receive through government social assistance.  The survey challenges people to imagine themselves in the position of needing to make ends meet on a social assistance budget.  In many cases, that may involve difficult decisions such as whether or not to m

Who knew? It was pointed out to me recently that on the back of a $20 bill there are stunning images of aboriginal art and there is a powerful quote from Gabrielle Roy "Could we ever know each other in the slightest without the arts?"

Good news or bad news first?  This is probably one of my least favourite questions...but it seems appropriate today since I have a couple of extremely good news items, but also a not-so-good update today.

I came across a Toronto Star article this weekend about how "Losties" may have altered the plans of the White House.  In short, a proposed change of schedule to the State of the Union address threatened the final season premiere of the TV series Lost.  This led to a massive outcry from avid Lost viewers ("Losties") through multiple web-based social media like Facebook and Twitter.  The result?  The conf

Winter has arrived this week and it has significant impact on individuals who have been staying outside and organizations who are providing emergency winter shelter.  It's -10^oC and there is a biting wind. 

We launched the first of seven HPI-2 funded HOTS (Housing, Outreach, and Transitional Support) capacity building events yesterday - Feeding Your Soul.  Thank you all for coming out and making this event a success! 

Have you noticed how much time can get hijacked by meetings?  And they're all important meetings for a good reason that should probably be attended.  But unfortunately it takes time.  And eventually...we have to say no.  The Alliance recognizes and values the incredible contributions made by senior management staff of our member agencies. 

Last night in Richmond Hill there was a community meeting that brought together representatives from faith communities in Richmond Hill and Markham, individuals wanting to learn more about the issue of homeless women in York Region and members of the Community Team who are working to ensure that we have emergency shelter and other support services for single women. As a member of the Community Team, I was part of a panel telling the story of how we got to this point; the 4 year journey to raise awareness about the crisis facing vulnerable single women across York Region.