Hamilton Indigenous Housing

Since I had two visits from the police over KMHC and Ingrid & John Nosel’s strange behavior I decided to post a blog about the boys in blue.   Over the years I’ve learned to appreciate and respect what these men and women do to protect the community, it’s not an easy job. I worked for many years at the Festival Banquet Hall as the security doorman, Albert my boss has friends on the police force and every now and then the officers would drop by on a Saturday night to say hello to us and have a quick bite to eat then back on patrol.  The Festival hosted many police wedding receptions and other police events and it was a blast.  They really know how to celebrate a wedding with a great sense of "police humor", on duty officers would drop by for a minute to congratulate the happy couple then jump back in their cruisers.   During the evening they took pictures of the bride in her beautiful wedding gown and the groom pretending to be pushing a police car.   Ha! I...

Yesterday there was a uncompleted sloppy typed letter delivered under my door from Urban Native Home Inc. “ 24 hour notice to enter”   I have no problem with inspections as long as it’s done in moderation.   The last one I had was on November 22, 2012 at 11.45 am. The Super and Charles did a though job.   There’s not much that could happen in two months that would merit another inspection. Today UNH’s top maintenance guy Darryl Powell and his sidekick Trevor Owen showed up just after 11 am.   Moments before the inspection I stated a few points about the written notice.   The tenant’s name and a UNH’s employee’s signature were missing from the letter also the reason for the inspection was not written down.  I found out yesterday after calling a lawyer: by law the landlord MUST have a good reason for entering a unit and put it in writing.   Darryl was cool about my complaints and I asked that he pass it on to the office. Ground rules approved by the...

One of the bleakest times in our Canadian history is when Native children were forced into Residential Schools and the emotional and physical abuse these poor kids had to go through.   I personally don’t know any Natives that experienced it but I have read the stories and watched the documentaries. As a fallout of the residential schools many suffer throughout their lives from post traumatic stress disorder, paranoia, fear of others and unresolved anger issues, drug abuse and alcoholism. Tonight I was talking with a fellow tenant, during our conversation something revealing came up…HSC Ingrid Nosel as a child was a victim of the Native Residential School System in Manitoba which would explain her anti social behavior, unnecessary fear and inability to relate to others.   Now it’s starting to come together, here I was thinking she’s a bitch but in reality she’s acting on how she was treated growing up in a Residential school.   A while back I posted how KMHC rules trea...

This afternoon I got a knock on my door it was PC Terry Oliver of the Hamilton Regional Police Dept.    He wanted to know the events that happened yesterday on the street between me and John Nosel. I told him exactly what I wrote in my previous blog and I stand by my statement.  According to the officer John Nosel denied he was taking pictures but was playing video games.   Right!  What 60 year old man plays video games on a white camera phone raised up to eye level and clicking one button.:P   The officer nodded when I said it’s not right to take pictures without the person’s consent. He asked if I had any mental health issues I replied no, I didn’t take offence to his question I understand he’s doing his job.   Then he asked what started the problem between Ingrid and I, I immediately said “it’s because of this blog” and nothing to do with my tenancy.    The officer said Ingrid is afraid of me, which I replied her fear is totally u...

Hey bloggers about hour ago I was talking with my fellow tenants at the entrance of the building, as I was leaving I noticed John Nosel, Ingrid’s husband taking pictures of me while sitting in his parked van.   I thought what the fuck is he doing?   So I approached him and asked “why are you taking pictures of me?”  He rolled down his window and shouted “you got a problem Queen!  You fucking faggot this is a free country I can take pictures of whoever I want”  I looked at him and said is that the best you can do as far as insults, I then walked away. You know it’s really bad that KMHC aboriginal tenants have to put up with shit like this. John Nosel is not a staff member nor is he a tenant. I remember a few years ago John & I had a civil conversation I asked where he met Ingrid he replied at church.  Now when I think of it this is what religion does to people makes them narrow minded and unable to see outside the box.  :P As far as I know there ...

Former UNH’s Financial Administrator Tammy T. and I have been keeping in touch via e-mail since she quit the job. Due to family emergencies and partly UNH's she thought it was a good idea she quit.  In regards to my blog site I’ve been complimented for being clever, smart and she agreed with some of my opinions. She especially gave me insight on Director Janis Lewis and I have all the scoops on what goes on at head office   I won’t be posting in detail on what we chatted about as per Tammy’s request.   When I first met her I immediately liked her, she has a great personality, sense of humor and a nice looking woman. *Raises A Glass Of Diet Coke*  Cheers Tammy and I wish good luck in your future. :) Anna Burning is her replacement, yesterday I received a letter stating I owe $15 dollars to the rent which I paid off today.   I mean really!   She sends a strong worded letter threatening me of eviction over $15 bucks. She pissed off a lot of tenants w...

When I was first offered the unit near the office I was apprehensive to accept it but at the time I had no choice it was the only one available.   I didn’t like the idea of staff and tenants being so close together.   UHN’s policy: the staff is not allowed to fraternize with the tenants. It’s a good idea if the office was at a different location or had its own floor and entrance.   The KMHC is a small building every day I see at least one employee in the hallway going about their business or outside having a smoke. The interior of the office is so cramped and small I remember the first time I can here I was not impressed.  An unfinished warehouse area in the back and two small rooms in the front, staff were actually bumping into each other. The Community room is small about the size of a bachelor apt actually I’m sure that’s what it originally was, it has a built in closet and sink. This week at KMHC was uneventful, I had a maintenance problem that needed to be fix...

Today I decided to see former Urban Native Homes outreach worker Stephanie Hagar at her place of employment in hopes of having a chat about KMHC.   She agreed and our conversation covered a lot of areas. When she was here I found her to be full of young vibrate ideas and I could tell she really cared about the tenants. She worked here for 6 months and was off for 3 months on sick leave. When she came back to work on the very first day Ingrid Nosel threw her under the bus meaning she was terminated.  I know this because I witnessed it, she ran out of the building in tears.   Ingrid claims she dressed inappropriately and didn’t like her suggestions on how to improve KMHC also co worker Joseph Anton warned her UNH’s was considering legal action because she was off work for so long.      Personally I found her likeable and was a good worker and never did she dress like a slut or a bum, she came to work looking like a lady of fashion.  Perhaps the HSC w...

The holidays was crap at KMHC You see there are some aging Aboriginal tenants who are not feeling well, some are alone and some get depressed over the holidays.   I feel bad for these folks because this is it for them…the last stop before the retirement home. :( The KMHC Christmas luncheon was a bust. Many of the regular tenants didn’t come perhaps they had other plans or didn’t think it was worth it.  I notice when the HSC was in the community room she really didn’t blend in with the crowd. She just sat the other end of the room by herself brooding while our group was laughing and enjoying the food we all prepared.   UNH’s staff Franklin, Teresa, Linda and a temp employee (I can’t remember her name) these are the only 4 staff members from head office that attended the luncheon when last year the room was packed.  This year no Santa, no Director to make an inspiring speech, no board members, no Native prayer, no smudge ceremony.  That’s a lot of “No’s for ...