Hamilton Indigenous Housing

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...

Normally I don’t screw up but today it had to happen. A family member came for a visit and I decided to cook steaks for dinner we were so busy catching up on family news the steaks burned in the oven and it set off the smoke alarm. You’ll be happy to know my smoke alarm works perfectly.  Ha! It was funny watching the staff running around wondering what in the hell is going on and wouldn’t you know it Mrs. Deeley the Urban Native Homes Director was in the building.  I called in Charles the outreach worker to explain what happened I apologized and he was a good sport about it.  This was most embarrassing and will I cook again for visitors?…No way, it’s take-out from now on. ;) Since this topic is about funny and embarrassing moments at KM I have to mention the laundry room - aside from us tenants using it for laundry purposes the staff seem to use it for a place of solitude.  I remember one time last winter Ingrid came out of the office she was adjusting her partia...

This morning I got a “Attention All Tenants” letter delivered under my door in regards to the recycling room, it seems we have a tenant who’s not familiar on how to get rid of their trash.  Personally I rarely use the recycling room I’ve been here for almost 2 years and I have my own waste management system. I do have a beef - I don’t appreciate getting a note typed in large bold letters demanding we do this and we do that, then describing the contents of what was found “ Animal or human feces and a pair of bloodied pants ” etc is something I don’t need to know.  I can understand the male employee who cleaned up the mess was pissed off but come on people let’s use discretion in these matters.  You have cameras monitoring the hallways do a private investigation, use this equipment to find the culprit and perhaps fine the person and better still try educating them on how to recycle.  An open letter delivered to tenants will only cause finger pointing and start the r...

Yeah I know what you’re thinking but it’s true. I pitch in by doing some community work around this building.  After getting the tenants permission I recently washed the outside windows for unit 1-A and 1-B and my own unit and I trimmed the grass area in front of my main window. I’ve done this task many times this year and last year. I get compliments from the other tenants and some tease me into washing their windows the only problem is I'd need a ladder because they're all above ground level and I'm afraid of heights.  LOL I take pride in where I live, I can’t stand dirty windows or an unkempt lawn and my unit is always tidy.  Today one tenant who has a physical disability asked me to do some grocery shopping for him “No problem” I said. I then walked all the way to Food Basics on Barton Street to fetch some vittles for a fellow tenant.  not bad eh!  :) You know with all the shit that goes on around here I‘m glad I can still say… I do care. ♫ Happy Days ...

Today the staff hosted a Grandparents breakfast feast and bingo celebration. I have to admit the food presentation was excellent and as usual the outreach workers and program coordinator did a good job in making the tenants feel comfortable and welcome. I was fortunate to be sitting with some of the more likable tenants, we all had a great conversation going on.....when... Holy Moses! Out of the blue someone at the other end of table just had to make snide and threatening remarks.  I couldn't help thinking "who pissed in his corn flakes?" lol   Anyway Charles calmed the situation and we continued on with our breakfast. All in all it was an interesting morning. I didn't stick around for the bingo game...I'm not a fan of bingo but later I heard laughter and horsing around from the community room so I know the tenants had a good time. Congratulations to my fellow neighbor Deano he won a $25,000 gift card at the bingo game...Ooops! sorry I meant $25 gift card. ;) ...

There was a slight altercation in the courtyard this afternoon so I decided to test an outreach worker on their ability to trouble shoot and problem solve.  I asked to speak to one privately, we were in the office in the middle of a conversation then suddenly Cheryl the office worker walks in and sits down.  I’m strict on privacy so I politely asked if she would excuse us and she said NO. I gave her stern look and said “What!”  Then Lorraine the outreach worker explained there has to be another employee in the room during discussions.  I thought why Cheryl....the woman has a cold demeanor. Now when I request a private conversation with an outreach worker or anybody else for that matter I don’t expect a third-party.  Lorraine should have said something before we even started talking in which case I would have said forget it.  Urban Native Homes Inc. read this and read it well. Your policies Suck! :P   Will I use the KM outreach services again?…...

Just to be on the safe side and to cover my ass I recently decided to get professional advice from the law firm of  Wyatt, Purcell, Stillman, Shaughnessy & Embree LLP   in regards to my Native Housing blogs.  After the lawyer read Elizabeth Repchuck's letter and my posted response. He said I'm doing nothing illegal as long as I continue to post the truth and be honest in my opinions.  The truth is a valuable tool in the court of law.  :)   Truth and the Internet By Vinton G. Cerf Truth is a powerful solvent. Stone walls melt before its relentless might. The Internet is one of the most powerful agents of freedom. It exposes truth to those who wish to see it. It is no wonder that some governments and organizations fear the Internet and its ability to make the truth known.