A Tribute To George Neil Day

Neil & I

This morning I got a phone call from Bonnie in regards to tenant Neil Day he was a neighbor of mine, she had some sad news to tell me....he passed away. :(
Whenever I ran into him in the hallway he'd always have a smile and a friendly greeting. Last year we went to the Pow Wow at Gage Park I would offer to carry his big heavy trunk filled with his Native dancing costumes he was thankful and was very proud of his possessions. During this time he was battling his demons and injured himself so many times that he was eventually transferred to a care center. Even though for some time he wasn't living here his belongings were still in his unit and he was paying his rent. Last week was the last time I personally talked to him he wanted to know if I was interested in buying his sound system and his bike plus he was looking forward to moving back to his unit, I said " Neil you're looking good Bro...you've gained some weight, must be all the fry bread they're feeding you" we laughed.
I gave him my phone number so we could make arrangements. I got a phone call from him a few days before he died we talked for a few minutes then said our goodbyes. When I got the news today I was in total shock he was a friend and the third person to pass away since I moved here.

I'd like to think he's now at a place doing what he enjoyed the most native dancing in full costume with a circle of friends. :)

RIP Neil

Comments

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...

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...

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...

Hamilton Indigenous Housing

Search This Blog