Skip to main content

A Week At KMHC

As we approach the end of May I feel like sharing two amusing stories and poke fun at staff in effort to lighten up the joint.  Here’s one for HOW Lynda – how many staff are needed to fetch a glass of water from the water cooler?  Give up!  The answer is two, one person to refill the glass and the other to stand nearby to make sure she does it right. :D   I witness this when I dropped by to say hello to the ladies sewing circle.  Soon I could hear a strange sound like thighs rubbing together sure enough it was the HOW as she enters the room to fetch her water.  Her effort to be inconspicuous failed as I silently observed her walking back to the office.
The office announced they are closed early on Friday due to their monthly bedbug spraying the office cubicles and area.  Really!  Bedbugs are a possibility in the office!  Gosh who knew! :P  The only bug I notice has two short legs, chews bubble gum and thinks her shit doesn’t stink.  :D
Last week tenant Dean announced there is a moose meat dinner being held at some location in east Hamilton. Sounds like a great idea right!  So Tim the driver loads up the van filled with native elders and off they go.  When they arrive at their destination they find out there is no such event being held.  So now what!  Drive around town looking for moose meat or go back to KMHC building.  What an embarrassing situation for the tenants.  I find it amusing that KMHC staff would even listen to Dean’s imaginary suggestions without calling ahead for confirmation.  Dean’s new Indian name is “Wandering Moosehead”  :D
Tenant news:  Tenant Curtis has left the building and moved on to be closer to his family. Unfortunately he was not well liked by most in the KMHC community.  Before he moved out we had a chat in the courtyard he openly admit he didn’t care what people thought of him.  Call him what you will but I never had a disagreement with the man during his tenancy possible reason is we didn’t hang out together.  Near the end of our conversation I said to him, look toward moving out as another chapter in your life who knows what awaits ahead. :)  Then one Saturday morning he silently loaded up a rented van and left KMHC forever.  
Remember my next door neighbour Deloris!  She’s in the process of moving her belonging out too, unfortunately due to health issues her family though it would be best to relocate her to a seniors care facility.  It’s a wise decision and I will miss her, you may remember my previous blogs where a few times I came to her rescue after the smoke alarm tripped in her unit over careless cooking.

Here’s a new section titled “Unanswered Questions” - A few days ago two police cruisers came to the KMHC building asking for the UNH’s Acting Director!   Tim the driver is displaying a stuck up attitude could it be the arrogance of youth or sucking up to management! :P

Enjoy the sunny weather and yes even Indians wear sunscreen.  :)


tk

Comments

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...

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...