Hamilton Indigenous Housing

Keeping with the critique theme on my blog site, last week I wrote a letter to H.O.W. Lynda Jones complaining about the misuse of the “24 hour Notice to Enter Unit” and a few other issues.   I felt my tenant issue was overdue and in the end I describe Urban Native Homes Inc. as a Mickey Mouse Organization.   Grey FOB Key A KMHC tenant asked me to write about her predicament and I’m more than happy to oblige.   What would you do if you lost or damaged the small FOB key that unlocks the building entrance doors!   You would go to the office ask for a replacement then perhaps be billed for the replacement….end of story.   Well hang on to your keychain folks.   H.O.W. Lynda Jones chooses not to follow procedure instead the tenant must pay $25.00 up front in order to get a new FOB key.   I thought is she for fucking real!   One time years ago I lost my building keys on the bus so I called Darryl the maintenance guy and he came to the build...

Today is National Aboriginal Veterans Day in Canada. To be honest I wasn’t aware of this date I assume all those who served in the wars are remembered on November 11.   We have two male tenants at KMHC who served in the military so whenever the opportunity arises I listen to their stories. :) My step father was in the Canadian Armed Forces he served, fought and survived WW2.   After the war he obtained a job as a bulldozer operator for an excavating company in Toronto.   I have strong memories of him as I grew up, he was a disciplinarian and tough on me yet there was a gentle side to him.   He was the typical Canadian fisherman every Friday after work he would load up his big old 1960’s Pontiac Parisienne with his fishing gear and bring (drag) me along.   I say (drag) because I didn’t always want to go.   Georgian Bay was filled with many of his favorite fishing spots, he taught me all aspects of freshwater fishing and today I miss it.   He wo...

My Kitchen Area. Well readers I’m elated to announce after many moons I finally have the right size refrigerator in my unit. Due to past experience I wasn’t sure UNH’s would respond to my second maintenance request for a refrigerator exchange from a vacant unit next door.   So I took the initiative to ask tenant Mr. Longboat after he moves out could I exchange refrigerators he agreed and left the keys on the table.   I decided to clean the interior and exterior of both fridges which are in good working order thus the KMHC office won’t freak out.   Surprisingly last Monday I received a phone call from UNH’s staff member Missy regarding my work order request.   I gave her the update on the refrigerators then we moved on to the shower door repair.   This morning Dr. Phil arrived with his medical bag and we worked on fixing the shower door.   Yipee!   No more drafty showers and water spraying on the floor.   I am a squeaky clean happy tenant. :) ...

Last week at the KMHC front entrance Marilyn Wright of De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre in Hamilton dropping off bushels of fruit and vegetables for the native elders.   I took what I could use from one bushel and put the rest back for the other tenants.   Unfortunately there is one tenant who doesn’t know the meaning of sharing.   The woman grabbed two bushels and claim one is for another tenant.   Ugh!   Her actions annoyed me but I looked away and proceeded to my unit.   Thank you Marilyn Wright for thinking of us. :) Last week I ran into tenant Howard in the hallway he’s respectfully the longest resident living at KMHC.   He wanted to speak to me and to my surprise he asked my permission to do his laundry after 11 pm.   The laundry room is near my unit and the machines are quite noisy at times, picture a train passing your home at high speed.   I replied sure keep the laundry door closed there will be no disturbance....

Contractor At Work.  Urban Native Homes Inc. downsized staff especially maintenance and the effects are apparent. ie: A refrigerator brakes down and the UNH’s office handed out gift cards to the tenant to compensate for the spoiled food.   The proper procedure is to have a appliance supplier handy for such emergencies and funds available to pay for the replacement.   Also contract maintenance to the KMHC grounds was the shits this summer. Last Friday KMHC tenants received a “24 Hour Notice To Enter Unit” taped to their doors announcing there will be unit inspection carried out by a hired contractor on today’s date.  That’s fine with me last time we had a unit inspection was years ago when we had a superintendent.  So yesterday getting ready for the inspection I gave my unit a complete shakedown and prepare to ask questions regarding maintenance to my unit and will there be a follow-up.   I plan to be present when the contractor knocks on my door....

Please support your local food bank Native Women’s Centre emergency food bank program is cutting back to every 60 days for long time food bank users.   From my understanding the cut backs are necessary due to the large volume of users.   I highly praise the program they do a remarkable job for the native community I mean how many food banks in Hamilton actually deliver to the applicant’s home in all kinds of weather!   Two women are assigned to drive around the city in a white unmarked van delivering food boxes.   I was surprised after speaking to the ladies to hear some natives get verbally abusive with the delivery personnel which is why a NWC agreement is issued to each applicant.   Fuck up by being disrespectful then the food bank user risks suspension or completely cut off.     I’m glad to announce none of the KMHC tenant elders are among the abusive group. Two KMHC tenant elders are working on a bake sale for the first week of November. ...

Beware!  The Borrower.  :) Here's a Native superhero comic character and the message has meaning.   There are a few natives @ KMHC who like to borrow stuff and if you’re lucky you may get paid on cheque day.    ;) A funny story - During the summer whenever I saw the tenants sitting on the park benches deep in conversation I’d try to sneak up and scare one.   I’d get a laugh watching their reaction and they knew I meant no harm.   It’s was great at first nobody was immune I was like a cat approaching its prey I moved with stealth and cunning until the tenants got wise.   Using their Indian skills they would stake out the area for sneaky Tony and one night my shenanigans backfired.   I was about to pounce on one unsuspected tenant when suddenly I was attacked from behind.   I didn’t see tenant Linda creep up from behind and poke me.    Scared the shite out me!……yep paybacks are a bitch.   The group of tenant elders...