A monthly publication by the Capital Region Interfaith Housing Initiative (CRIHI)
December 2020
IN THIS ISSUE:
An Excerpt from a Martin Luther Christmas Sermon
Learnings from Plenary 2020
Boardwalk Partnership with Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
Update on Housing and Homelessness Efforts in Edmonton
Two January initiatives from Interfaith housing
Volunteer opportunities
Hello everyone!
Greetings from all of us at Interfaith Housing Initiative.
As we enter into this season of celebration, we continue to be mindful of the challenges we face together:
Isolation from loved ones...
Outbreaks in our shelters and care homes...
Weariness from the long fight with the pandemic in our frontline warriors...
The relentless search by our leaders for the best course of action in responding to the pandemic...
May this be a season of prayer for us, and of care for those in the margins.
In this issue of the Neighbourly, Interfaith Housing reviews some of our learnings from Plenary 2020. We also celebrate a new partnership underway between Boardwalk and Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers.
We have an update on recent developments on the housing and homelessness front. And we're excited to announce two new projects we are launching in January.
Together, we are doing some pretty amazing things. Thank you for continuing to walk with us as we work together, learn together and stand together for the life and health of all in our communities.
From the Interfaith Housing Steering Committee
Interfaith Housing Plenary 2020
Thursday, September 24, 2020 - 9:30 to noon
Life Church (formerly Evangel Assembly)
Plenary 2020 was a new experience for us. Covid restrictions required us to think outside the box with how we could gather. We hosted both online and in-person gathering with masks and social distancing. We had our first remote presenter, and hosted breakout sessions both in-person and via zoom. It was different but meaningful, and for the most part it went pretty smoothly.
But as always, it was rich in content and we had much to learn from each other and from our partners from across the city.the city.
If you were not able to attend, the video from our event can be viewed by clicking on the image below:
Interfaith Housing's update spoke to our recent and continuing work:
The launch of our TogetherWise program in 2019
Our Public Conversation on Harm Reduction and Abstinence in 2019
Working with local networks of faith communities
Our new project in Covid-19 to help encourage and strengthen local neighbour connections, especially for people who are low-income, newcomers, or indigenous. (To be launched mid-January)
Our annual Interfaith Works Project with Habitat for Humannity (Cancelled until Covid resolves)
Our work on a Jubilee Mortgage Program
The possibility of a looming housing crisis and how we might respond
We also learned a tremendous amount from our presenters and each other:
The Raging Grannies spoke to the needs confronting Seniors in continuing care. New AHS layoffs announced by the government may be of concern for those in long-term care facilities. Church-run homes often have more volunteers – with the pandemic, they are really missing the extra help!
Susan McGee from Homeward Trust talked about the enormous collaborative effort underway to care for the street population, and the Supportive Referrals program that provides short-term financial support to people engaging with partner agencies. She also spoke to concerns around evictions that may begin to rise as people face further financial challenges and encounter gaps in Government help. Homeward Trust has also seen a rise in our homeless numbers, which is the first time these numbers have grown in the last few years.
Jeremiah Basuric shared the Mustard Seed's perspective and effort on providing help and shelter to our neighbours on the street. He noted a continuing stigma where street folks are avoided because people think they are carriers for Covid-19, even when there was no outbreak.
Capital Region Housing has 9,000 people on their waiting list! It’s almost like winning the lottery to actually get into affordable housing.
Our thanks to Elder Tom Snow for his gracious welcome, and to Life Church for their wonderful hospitality, and to the Muslim community who provided us with delicious individually packaged baked goods.
Celebrating a New Partnership! Boardwalk Rental Communities, and
Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
All three levels of government play an important role in addressing housing and homelessness issues in our city and across the country. But there is so much important work being done outside government circles. Faith-based, Indigenous and non-profit service providers care for people on all fronts, including emergency shelters, soup kitchens, family counselling, and affordable and supportive housing. Recently, there has been a growth in participation as well by for-profit corporations.
Boardwalk Rental Communities provides us with a great example. For the last several years, they have been making an intentional effort to join the city-wide efforts in addressing homelessness and housing affordability. Boardwalk has 90 properties around Edmonton with 13,000 rental units. They have additional suites in both St. Albert and Spruce Grove.
As the City and Homeward Trust launched their rapid-rehousing effort with the housing first program, Boardwalk was one of the first participants in the program.
Recently, they have strengthened a relationship with Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN) to provide an affordable place to live for newcomer households. The arrangement brings mutual benefit to both partners as Boardwalk can fill vacancies, and EMCN can provide affordable housing for people who need it.
There are barriers to be overcome, but here’s how they have accomplished it:
Some of these folks may not have a credit history or are missing a down payment; both of which are required to secure a place to live. Thankfully, EMCN and Boardwalk have made a path that works for a lot of folks.
Here is a glimpse of how the arrangement works:
Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers serves as the entry point, works with people needing housing and then matches them to a place they can afford.
The credit check is waived if EMCN can vouch for their ability to pay.
A security deposit of $199 ($99 if a senior) is paid with the application.
The first month's rent is due on the first day of move-in.
They need proof of tenant insurance.
Boardwalk provides a $200 monthly discount for the first year. This amount tapers down in consecutive years with the hope the tenants can improve their employment and income.
This arrangement has been working quite well so far. Newcomers are looking for stability and are pretty good tenants for the most part. Boardwalk has also hired some tenants to work around the facilities. EMCN and Boardwalk share a desire not just to provide a place to live but also to support people in the community. To that end, they are discussing the idea of hosting programming in Boardwalk community rooms where they are available.
Boardwalk has been at work with other organizations, including Catholic Social Services, and they came forward as a housing partner in response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. They also organize volunteering with Boyle Street Community Services and the Mustard Seed.
Housing affordability, especially for low-income households, remains a pressing concern. More than 20,000 Edmonton households continue to pay more than fifty percent of their income to rent. Solving this challenge will take all of us. Certainly, Boardwalk’s example is an inspiring one. Their efforts to join the fight against homelessness in Edmonton are something to be celebrated!
Looking for housing help? Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers can be reached at 780 424-7709.
Websites:
www.emcn.ab.ca
www.bwalk.com
Covid update for Edmonton homelessness effortsHere are a few points of interest on the housing and homelessness front:
The City of Edmonton is creating some bridge housing on the south side. Location has not been announced, but this will provide people with much needed shelter while they wait for permanent solutions. The previously announced Jockey Dorms also in use for bridge housing have their first folks now moved in.
Four new sites for Permanent Supportive Housing have been approved by City Council. The first two will have shovels in the ground very soon, with 17.3 million in federal dollars. This will provide around eighty homes for people carrying the burden of multiple complex needs, including: addictions, mental health, physical ailments or disabilities and trauma.
Above image is of Balwin Place; where the new announcements were made.
Troubling new statistics:
In September of 2020, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers conducted a survey that reached 324 newcomer families. The data from this survey shows that
58% of newcomer families dedicate more than 54% of their income to rent.
81 % feel that they are paying more than they can afford, which would be over 30% of their income.
Outbreak in the Street Community
We should also remember our street community as the past month saw an outbreak at the temporary emergency shelter at the Convention Centre. These folks have few options when it comes to staying isolated; especially in the winter months. Please pray for both our vulnerable neighbours and those who serve them.
A Portrait of Provincial Investments:
In November, a delegation from Interfaith Housing Initiative met with Minister Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing with the Province of Alberta. It was a very good meeting, and in it we highlighted the need for Provincial investments in Permanent Supportive Housing and Rent Assistance programs, along with Seniors housing and affordable homes for large families. Here is a summary she has provided us with of Provincial investments in affordable and supportive housing:
Two Interfaith Housing projects set to launch in January:
Helpisnextdoor.caCovid-19 has forced many Edmonton households into isolation and periods of stress due to loss of work and rising mental and physical health challenges. For those experiencing barriers and/or stigma due to language, culture, age, vulnerability, poverty or illness, the barriers are much greater, and people often have fewer supportive relationships available.
As Edmonton’s Interfaith Housing Initiative, we know that local neighbours can help meet some of these needs. Through this project, Interfaith Housing will develop and provide tools to support safe, local ongoing connections among neighbours during Covid-19.
Through this project, we will be engaging our network of diverse faith communities and our partners in housing and services to strengthen local neighbour connections, especially for indigenous, low-income and newcomer households. Resources to enable and inspire connection: Interfaith Housing is in the process of creating videos and resources with translations into eleven different languages. Here's the list:
We're pretty excited at how it is coming together, and are hopeful we can help people care for each other safely as the pandemic continues. Resources will be available in mid-January on www.helpisnextdoor.ca.
Fundraiser for Households Facing a Housing Crisis in Covid-19.In January, Interfaith Housing Initiative, in partnership with End Poverty Edmonton, will be launching a fundraiser to assist people in families in danger of losing their housing, or facing barriers in finding it.
All funds raised will be given in support of Homeward Trust’s “supported referrals program.” This program has been working for nine months now in partnership with eight active frontline service providers, including Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, and several other Indigenous and newcomer serving agencies.
The program provides, over a short term, the package of helps ordinarily given to stabilize new Housing First tenants. This could include damage deposit and the first month’s rent for a family needing a new place, helping find furniture, or providing assistance resolving major bills that are a barrier to stable housing.
The program has an established track record of success with 85% of those participating retaining their housing after six months.
We need volunteer help to make this campaign a success!
A key tool we will need is help creating and editing videos for this campaign. We hope to shoot campaign videos for this important fundraiser in the first half of January, 2021. .If you or someone from your community has skill or expertise in shooting or editing quality video productions, we would be glad for your help.
Interested to help? Please contact Mike Van Boom at: mike@interfaithhousing.ca, or by phone: 780.554.2703.
Got a Neighbourly Story? Let the Neighbourly share it!
One of the main reasons Interfaith Housing began this publication was to provide a place where we could tell stories. Stories about radical hospitality. Stories about generosity and sacrifice. Stories that inspire us all to step out, to extend warmth and welcome and love to our neighbours.
In this current crisis, we would like to put that purpose front and centre, but we need your help. Are you hearing stories that inspire you from here in Edmonton? Share them with us!
Tell us what your faith community is doing to care for each other or your neighbours.
Tell us how folks in your neighbourhood are watching out for each other.
Share the stories you see and hear that inspire you.
We are glad to share the news and learn together how we can best respond in service and love for our neighbours.Submit stories to the Neighbourly by sending them to: mike@interfaithhousing.ca
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
Volunteer with CRIHI on one of our working committees:
Help plan and organize events with Education and Advocacy
Join our steering committee to help us find meaningful ways to work together and learn together in addressing poverty and homelessness in Edmonton.
Email: mike@interfaithhousing.ca
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
