Inspiring Housing... Our Future forum

The first Milton Transitional Housing (MTH) forum titled HOUSING... OUR FUTURE was a wonderful exploration from multiple agencies on the need for affordable housing solutions in both Milton and across Canada. There is a clear gap with a 0.5% rental vacancy rate in Milton.

"75% of those affected by homelessness have children under 18"

said keynote speaker Brain Carney, CEO of Blue Sea Philanthropy.

Carney gave a very personal, open, honest account of his journey. He gave multiple examples demonstrating that this is a Canadian wide issue. "Money invested in housing solutions is better", he stated. "You are not alone. Other people are bothered too... Housing matters".

The forum including a distinguished group of panelists that included Alyssa Gremmen Program Manager of the POSSE project, social worker Jason Palmer from MTH, Melissa Hillier Client Services Supervisor at Halton Women's Place described how they had to turn away more than 400 women last year due to lack of capacity, Amber Armstrong Employment Support Worker at Community Living Burlington outlined the special work of Housing Alternatives Network Directive (HAND) supporting those families with developmental needs, and Maureen Andrews from Toronto Regional Police Service where she is Regional Controller for Commande. Andrews reflected;

"Helping one person at a time is really rewarding"

The work of these agencies, including Milton Transitional Housing is making a difference. Four people have now formally graduated from Milton Transitional Housing and achieved independent living. In these four years, MTH has helped 9 adults and 7 children, including those currently in the program. Carney's own perception is that MTH has "been punching above its weight and age".

Blue Sea Philanthropy are the charitable organization, based in Kitchener, behind the Coldest Night of the Year event. The date for the 2016 Coldest Night was also announced - February 20th, 2016. Tell your friends, family and community.

The forum was made possible through the Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. Congratulations to Donna Danielle for an excellent job hosting the speakers and the wider communication team and volunteers on such an important and well run event.

Look out for further coverage in the Milton Canadian Champion. There will also be a Charity Spotlight about Blue Sea Philanthropy on the Opencityinc.com blog in the coming weeks. You can review more from the forum by search #MTHforum2015 on Twitter. According to Hashtracking.com this created 27,000 impressions on Twitter.

Housing ...Our Future forum - #MTHforum2015

Come out this afternoon in Milton (November 21st 2-5pm) to the Forum on homelessness in our community. The forum is titled Housing ...Our Future.

It is an excellent opportunity to understand the continuum for those at risk of homelessness and the respective roles of soup kitchens, overnight shelters and transitional housing in providing support.

Brian Carney, Executive Director of Blue Sea Philanthropy – organizers of the Coldest Night of the Year walk across Canada – will be the keynote speaker. Following the keynote will be a panel discussion with participation from: one of MTH’s “graduate” clients, Habitat for Humanity, Halton Women’s Place, the Posse Project and several others.

Visit the Milton Transitional Housing Facebook page here for more details. We look forward to welcoming you at this great forum supported by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The forum starts at 2pm at the Milton Senior’s Centre Auditorium, 500 Child’s Drive, Milton L9T 5G2 (fully accessible).

Follow the forum on Twitter through #MTHforum2015 @MiltonTH1 or @opencityinc

Octavia Hill - social reformer

I have been reading Gillian Darley's book 'Octavia Hill - Social reformer and founder of the National Trust. This detailed read describes Octavia's how from the 1870s until her death she was the pioneer and driving force behind the establishment of social housing in poverty stricken London. Her influence and model spread to the USA, Germany and other cities in England. What we now refer to as affordable housing is largely because of her work. In 1898 Octavia wrote about what her workers would inherit "Not a system, not an association, not dead formulas. We shall leave them a few houses, purified and improved, a few new and better ones built, a certain record of thoughtful and loving management, a few open spaces, some of which will be more beautiful than they would have been, but what we care most to leave them is not any tangible however great, not any memory, however good, but the quick eye to see, the true soul to measure, the large hope to grasp the mighty issues of the new and better days to come - greater ideals, greater hope and patience to realise both." Tristram Hunt wrote "Octavia Hill was one of Britain's pioneering social reformers. From housing to civil society, welfare to open spaces, she blazed a trail for us to follow".

Garth Brown speaking in Milton on Monday April 15th

Garth Brown, landlord and affordable housing advocate will be speaking about his projects in Kitchener, Oakville and Burlington at Southide Community Church on Monday April 15th at 7pm. This regular bi-monthly gathering is a time to learn the latest progress from Milton Transitional Housing concerning the housing crisis in Milton and Halton, as well as get to know each other. If you are interested in hearing more about what we are doing, or getting more deeply involved as a volunteer, please join us on Monday, April 15 at 7pm at Southside Community Church, 7480 Derry Road (south side between the Sports Centre and the hospital).