A monthly publication by the Capital Region Interfaith Housing Initiative (CRIHI)
April 2019
IN THIS ISSUE:
On Justice and Diversity
On the Political Scene
New Project consultation beginning in Terwillegar CRIHI on the Move
Interfaith Habitat Works 2019!
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
On Justice and Diversity
The truth is this...
If here is no justice, there will be no peace.
If we cannot bring justice into the
small circles of our individual lives,
we cannot hope to bring justice
to the world.
And if we do not bring justice to the world,
none of us is safe
and none of us will survive.
Nothing that we do is more important
than making justice real~ here, where we are.
All: Hard as diversity is,
it is our most important task.
Rosemary Bray McNatt
On the Political Scene... Federal and Provincial Governments announce
Bi-lateral agreement for Affordable Housing in Alberta.
Quick facts
The $678-million investment includes $339 million from the Government of Canada and $339 million from the Government of Alberta.
These investments are in addition to more than $638 million of existing federal housing investments in Alberta through the Social Housing Agreement (SHA) over 10 years. In addition to new construction, combined investments under the NHS bilateral agreement and the SHA will target the preservation of at least 23,700 existing community housing units in Alberta.
The NHS is an ambitious 10-year, $40-billion+ plan that will reduce or eliminate from housing need 530,000 families across Canada, create 100,000 new housing units, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent.
The NHS is built on strong partnerships between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, and continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private housing sectors. This includes consultations with Canadians from all walks of life, and people with lived experience of housing need.
All NHS investments delivered by the federal, provincial and territorial governments will respect the key principles of the NHS that support partnerships, people and communities.
The Government of Alberta will develop and publish three-year action plans, beginning in 2019-20, setting targets and outlining how it will use federal and cost-matched funding to achieve the desired outcomes.
Since November 2015, the federal government has invested almost $510 million in housing in Alberta.
CRIHI Observations: Although the size of these commitments are disappointing when the weight of the need is considered, CRIHI is encouraged that this funding will give forward movement to several shovel-ready projects across the province. Of special note in the new agreement is action toward the Portable Housing Benefit; identified by CRIHI as a critical priority when we spoke to all three levels of Government last September (see below).
For the Alberta Election
Do you have housing questions ready to ask our political Leaders?
On September 6, 2018, CRIHI hosted an advocacy event speaking to all three levels of government. Consider refreshing your memory on the four critical priorities we put forward at that time, and hear the responses from City Council, Provincial NDP and UCP, and Federal Liberal and Conservative parties. The link is here: https://wp.me/p20ewB-Pk
Now ask your Candidate what they think about the following four priorities?
Permanent Supportive Housing (A home and wrap-around supports for the hardest to house)
The Portable Housing Benefit (Money each month to help low-income households with the rent)
Mobile Support Workers (Home Care, Housing First, Tenant Support Workers)
A Vision for the integration of people, housing help and supportive services in every community. (Healthy Integration vs. Segregation/Ghettoization)
Holy Trinity Riverbend Comes Back with a New Proposal.Almost six years after facing enormous local community opposition in Edmonton's affluent Terwillegar community, Holy Trinity Anglican Church is returning with a new proposal. The initial details for the project are below with the consultation beginning later this month.
The first open house will take place on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 for local residents to learn more about the vision for the site. The invitation invites attendees to "come with your questions about the project and ideas about how Right at Home can be the best neighbour possible!"
Time: 7pm doors open, presentation at 7:30pm
Location: Holy Trinity Riverbend Anglican Church (1428 156 St)
CRIHI In Motion - Event Reports
Interfaith Habitat Works Kick-off! At the Habitat Restore
A record number of participants participated in this year's Kick-off Celebration for CRIHI's Eight Annual Interfaith Habitat Works Project. This year's push hopes to rally six hundred volunteers from Edmonton's many different faith communities to work together on site. This year will also see the first Faith Leader's Build on May 1 (see details below); a chance for faith leaders from different communities to work together at Habitat's Carter Place build in the Southwest corner of Edmonton.
The central focus of this year's plenary was the launch of our Local Area Networks Project. As participants joined us, they were invited to put pins in the communities where they live, work and worship. Later in the morning, we then had people gather in groups with people who lived, worshipped or worked in similar areas. This exercise was a demonstration of the work that CRIHI proposes to do for the future; helping people of faith in different geographic areas to meet together, learn together and work together in their local area.
With this work clarified, CRIHI shared our desire to expand our staffing resources and funding to include the whole city of Edmonton, and perhaps eventually surrounding cities. With CRIHI's current capacity, we are only able to work in five southside communities:
Millwoods
Greater Hardisty
Old Strathcona
Greenfield down through Blue Quill
Riverbend/Terwillegar
Details on CRIHI's ask are at the bottom of this writeup.
Here is one of the maps of interest that we discussed in our groups: showcasing the leading language groups in different neighourhoods.
CRIHI is grateful for two strong writeups of our plenary, showcasing some of the continuing passion shared by Archbishop Richard Smith and Bishop Jane Alexander, and many wonderful insights generated in our gathering. Please visit these writeups at the following links:
Please note the following and share in your faith communities:
CRIHI Asks Moving Forward in 2019
We need new members to serve on our steering committee. (Time requirement: One meeting every other month; typically a daytime slot which works best for faith leaders and partners.)
Oversees the larger direction of the movement.
Supervises staff and committee work.
From our Governance Committee: (meets once every other month)
We are seeking to grow our circle of funding in order to build and expand our LAN work to cover the entire capital region
Send us your volunteers familiar with grant-writing.
put us on your donations schedule; donations arranged through the Anglican Diocese. Contact John Gee to inquire after process: treasurer@edmonton.anglican.ca
Help us arrange for additional staff.
From our Education and Advocacy Committee: (normally meets monthly)
Join our learning community; the Neighbourly! Tell us your stories. Share why your faith thinks this work is important.
Join our working tables:
Zero-percent mortgages. (just beginning)
Reintegrating people coming out of prison (just beginning)
Learning how to get consultation right. (Project underway)
Attend our events.
Volunteer
Interfaith Habitat Works project. (Advisory committee hosted by HFH)
Welcome Home.
Connect with us on Land opportunities.
We can come present on affordable and supportive housing as a possible direction; along with some examples.
We are able to serve as a broker for connections with formal partners and resources.
To learn more or to respond to any of these asks, please contact:
Mike Van Boom, CRIHI's Interfaith Network Animator
mike@interfaithhousing.ca; 780.554.2703
2019's Interfaith Habitat works project...
...is on the go RIGHT NOW and wraps up on June 5th! There's still time to get a group of folks together and come join in the work.
Ways you can get involved:
Volunteer on a build or at a ReStore: Volunteers can come out either individually or as a group. Beginners are welcome and all equipment and tools are provided.
Feed the volunteers: contributions of lunches or baked goods are welcome.
Habitat work days usually start around 8:30 and go until the later afternoon. If you as a faith leader are at all able, carve out a day in your schedule to come work on site with leaders from other faith traditions. Fuller details including RSVP information can be found at the following link: https://wp.me/p20ewB-QH
If you're coming to join us on the worksite at Carter Place, here's what to expect!
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome Home
One of the biggest reasons people struggle or fail as they come out of homelessness into housing is loneliness. Welcome Home assembles and trains a small team of volunteers to walk with someone as a friend. This is a one-year commitment to go for coffee, go bowling, take long walks, to encourage and pray for a fellow human being on a tough stretch of the road. To find out more information about volunteering contact the Welcome Home Coordinator at 780-378-2544. https://www.cssalberta.ca/Our-Ministries/Volunteer-Mentoring-Support
Get Firsthand Experience
CRIHI's website has a strong list of opportunities where volunteers can learn by serving. Here's the link: http://wp.me/P20ewB-5R
Get involved in your Local Community
Visit or Join your Community League - engage in your neighbourhood's efforts to build community, go for coffee with the leadership, and learn about some of the justice issues taking place in your neighbourhood. http://www.efcl.org
Explore the social dynamics in your neighbourhood
Unsure what the needs are in your community? MAPS Alberta is a great resource to see how your neighbourhood stacks up on a range of social demographics. Explore their Social Atlas and numerous other useful resources at: www.mapsab.ca
Connect, Contribute, Inspire!
Join our Learning Community! The Interfaith Housing Initiative was formed in response to a City of Edmonton and Province of Alberta commitment: the Ten-year-plan to End Homelessness. Faith leaders from across the city came together to say, “Addressing homelessness is important to our communities too! How can we help?”
Get Involved! Join the conversation! Sign up for our email newsletter and learn with us. This is a monthly publication where we will be provide good information, generate ideas that work, tell each other’s stories, and share how communities and organizations around Edmonton are responding to the needs of Edmonton’s most vulnerable.
Share your stories with us! A good story reminds us of what is possible. The work of providing help, support and home to a neighbor is nothing new, and people of faith tell many stories that inspire. Stories from today, or stories from a thousand years ago; we want to hear them! Share the stories of compassion, hospitality that inspire you and your community so that their sharing can inspire others around Edmonton.
Submit stories and insights to mike@interfaithhousing.ca
Contact Us:
Mike Van Boom
CRIHI Housing Ambassador
Mike@interfaithhousing.ca
(780) 554-2703
Religious and spiritual communities working to end homelessness in Edmonton
