Life Stories of Displacement Social Development Centre WR

Brad Ullner, a longstanding member of Disabilities and Human Rights Group speaks of the needed advances to be made for accessibility and inclusion in Waterloo Region.

Jeffrey Beckner, a member of Disabilities and Human Rights Group speaks of the many impact of limited physical mobility.

Myron Steinman, a longstanding member of Disabilities and Human Rights speaks of challenges for persons with mental health illnesses.

Jackie Prada, a member of the Disabilities and Human Right Group speaks of lack of opportunities for advancement for person with disabilities.

Eviction Prevention Peer Worker Jenaya Nixon with Mike Farwell.

The audio interviews were prepared for the regional council's Committee of the Whole meeting on August 11th 2020, addressing the humane side of trauma when the systems fail the most marginalized in our communities - especially the Indigenous and reacialized residents. The delegations were asking for more alternative housing and especially, more alternatives to shelters to ensure dignity and the respect of human rights of the residents we have left behind. The community movements are coming together across the region, to provide direct supports, bare witness & make sure the unsheltered voices are not erased. 

What the regional staff offered as dorm-style shelters, at this point addressed only the homeless single men who entered the system during COVID through the Radisson and Kaufman YMCA pandemic response spaces, but does not at all address at least 400 residents who are not in the shelter system. This point was not addressed at all by the staff nor the council.