Skip to main content

Food And The Community Room

Food...it’s a great way for people to interact, socialize and have a good time, when the European settlers came to North America they were offered food from the Natives not expecting anything in return, a sign of our great ancient hospitality. :)
Boy! Times have changed since way back then today I was privately informed by a staff member when KM provide snacks or light meals to the tenants they must fully participate in all programs ie: bingo, seminars and meetings or they will be banned from future events. I can recall many times during a program some tenants will walk out either because they are bored or too tired to sit any longer.  Gawd! Even the person who gave me the news knew this was lame, I mean all this fuss over a couple of sandwich wraps.  :P
I'm totally ashamed how the elderly natives are treated in this place.....a majority of tenants are on a fixed income barely making ends meet, I believe when a non profit organization offers to feed a group of tenants it should be unconditional.  I will never understand KM Housing Service Coordinator’s way of thinking, I say bring back former HSC Mr. Allen Pelletier now he was a man of the people. 
Anyway the good news is I figured out a plan...We can bring our own lunch then we can come and go as we please. Sort of like a Tenants Only pot luck event. :)

In regards to the importance of food, recently a new tenant moved in the building we were chatting with the newbie and she mentioned she didn't have any food. Immediately I and another tenant gathered what we could spare from our cupboards and offered it to her unconditionally.  :)

October 3, 2011 Today there is a note posted on the bulletin board Denise Maracle the person who told me about the new rule is no longer with the organization.  Coincidence perhaps?...I don't think so her contract was to end on November 28th and now she's gone.  I wish her well.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poor Working Environment

My unit is located near the KMHC office, along with a friendly wave or hello I see the junior staff going about their business in a cheerful manner with the exception of one employee.   You would think KMHC has a pleasant working environment but that is not the case.   March 2016 is when Urban Native Homes head office was forced to move from their former spacious location to the cramp basement level of KMHC.   There were approx. 8-10 staff members at the time.   Then the Urban Native Homes financial scandal broke out and soon after the current UNH acting director’s illicit past became public knowledge, everyone was worried will they have a job.  Fearful meetings going on in the community room, the rumor mill was in full rotation while I just stood back and observed the panic.   Check your search engine it states this building location is Urban Native Homes head office yet that is not correct.  There is no real head office, the organization has s...
110 comments
Read more

Koo Gaa Da Win Manitou

I hope one day we can truly say there is a haven where older natives who experienced homelessness can find a place to call home and have the resources available for the best quality of life in their golden years. Koo Ga Da Win Manitou Housing Complex has a long journey in order to reach that goal. Perhaps more funding is needed or better trained/experienced outreach workers who can relate to tenants concerns and health issues. Programs that would interest all tenants as a whole would be nice. Most important we tenants must try to get along with their neighbours. (as the good book says "Love thy neighbour") I've been here less then a year and I've observed alot, we have a diversity of tenants living in the building from different reservations and walks of life. Some have problems with alcohol, prescription drug addictions, physical disabilities and slight mental disabilities. The one thing we all have in common is our health concerns, from chronic back pain to deadly...
1 comment
Read more

The End Is Here

Urban Native Homes Inc. will no longer exist.   Today and tomorrow Ciy of Hamilton/Ontario Aboriginal Housing Human Resources Dept. are interviewing UNH staff and other applicants in the community room.   Who will be rehired and who will be fired!   I just hope they choose wisely. Tonight I heard Christine Lenze, her mother Ingrid Nosel and the rest of their family and friends has left UNH. This evening before I left for the gym I ran into receptionist Melissa Wissner in the hallway.   She was waiting for her job interview and had a message for me from former UNH caseworker Crystal Mackenzie.  Crystal wishes me good luck and it was a pleasure working with me.  I was surprised by the message and I wish her the best too. :) My blog site has accomplished what I started out to do some years ago by publicly outing the mismanagement of Urban Native Homes Inc.  It's been a long arduous journey. I would like to thank anonymous and the others for thei...
18 comments
Read more