Hamilton Indigenous Housing

News of the war in Ukraine, celebrities bitch slapping others and homelessness in Hamilton is crazy eh!  Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services lacks transparency and accountability. I received a report about property manager Luke Johns removed tenant's property at Kenatah Housing Complex on Candlewood Drive without written reason or explanation. The tenant owned an expensive swing that was not blocking any entrance and was good for her son who has autism.    I've known Luke Johns since the days when he was a basic cleaner for KMHC. We are not friends, we don't hang out however he was polite, respectful and always ready to help when needed. A young man who reminded me of my son. As the years went by he moved to the UNH maintenance dept then an advocate for natives in the community and one of the organizers for the Pow Wow at Gage Park.  He proposed to his girlfriend at the Pow Wow circle in front of everybody which I thought was corny but it is what it is At native cele...

  Recently by invitation I dropped by KMHC for a brief chat with a female tenant friend we talked about our good health and a possible job opportunity in the future.  At the end of our conversation I was about to leave when a second tenant friend Bernadeene came out to drop off clothes for the needy and when she was done we started to chat, the conversation was deep and serious regarding family issues. Soon after former security tenant Brenda B.came out with a cheerful greeting. I have to say my conversation with the ladies were enjoyable, no drama or gossip. :) As fate would have it, Bernadeene and I were in mid conversation when Aunt Opie aka Joan Frame exits the building. She still looks like a bag lady who's now gained 30 lbs.   I haven't had a conversation with Aunt Opie/Joan Frame in nearly 5 years and I don't intend to start now. Wouldn't you know it as soon as she saw me she hovers around us pretending to look in her purse while listening to our conversation....

  This blog post is a tribute to the two women I knew when I lived at KMHC.  Native Elder Miss Catherine is the first Aboriginal person to occupy the KMHC building and was a tenant until yesterday when I got word she passed away peacefully. Just shy of 90 years old this woman I believe had a good life. One of the many memories I have is when I first moved to the KMHC building she greeted me in the Ojibway language. Soon after many times I would sit with her in the courtyard and she would share stories of her earlier life. You know, I don't think she had a nasty bone in her body, always optimistic and full of life.  She never got involved in mean gossip/rumours that goes on in the building, always friendly...at least with me. :) RIP Miss Catherine, my condolences to her family.     Recently I was told due to the early stages of dementia tenant 'Stormy' was transferred to a nursing home. I never knew her real name yet it really didn't matter.  'Stormy' was a ...

It's been a difficult month for KMHC, for starters Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services ignored requests for pest control from tenants during COVID-19 lockdown claiming exterminators will not do any jobs. Which is not true. Finally it got so bad that management was forced to fumigate the KMHC building a few weeks ago and treatments are still on going.  Selected tenants were put in hotel rooms while exterminators in white suits do their job. SMH Death is a part of life yet it's never easy when one loses a family member. Tenant and friend Judy lost her sister Milly who was also a KMHC tenant in November. I called Judy to offer my condolences, we had a nice chat, a Celebration of Life for Milly will be held at their home reservation up north in the near future. Glad to say KMHC tenant Joan Frame aka The Toothless Wonder will not be involved.:P Tenant Bernadeen is a former next door neighbour, a true believer in the Creator and FB friend. She recently also lost a family member and I...

It's been exactly 3 years since I moved out of the KMHC building and no regrets. I don't miss the constant noise of police sirens, ambulances and fire trucks going by and it's been awhile I've seen any police cruisers. You see KMHC is sandwiched between HPS central station and their special investigations new building. I still keep in touch with the tenants at KMHC, Keenadah and other homes via social media, phone and when I'm downtown. Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services management cannot stop me from interacting with tenant friends. A few months ago I was talking to a friend at the KMHC entrance when Luke Johns the OAHS property manager walks by with some old bald guy and didn't say word to me. Good on Luke I liked him since the days when he was the KMHC cleaner mopping floors. However these days I hear a lot of criticism on his lack of leadership and complacency. Lately I notice the neighbourhood around KMHC has changed drastically. The homeless and drug addi...

  A few weeks ago I got word another KMHC tenant pioneer has suddenly passed away Linda Wallage.  I decided to wait awhile to share my thoughts. Many years ago I remember when Linda took over the position as receptionist at Urban Native Homes Inc head office on Albert Street.  I liked her immediately she was bubbly and friendly to us tenants who dropped by to pay the rent.  Later she became UNH director Janis Lewis-Deeley's assistant, I recall one time at Gage Park UNH's held a summer picnic for tenants. Many tenants showed up for the food but the UNH organizers didn't arrange any games or contests for the tenants to participate. As I watched from the background I can see the picnic event was sinking fast.  Suddenly Linda Wallage got up and shouts encouragement to tenants to play kick the ball and came up with other games.  Months later I gave her a compliment on how she saved the picnic she replied 'I had to do something, it was so boring!' we both laughed...

Breaking News!  A few days ago I was surprised when I heard homeless tents were popping up around the KMHC building and one male tenant had to chase them off the property.  Today I'm told squatters have invaded the KMHC building specifically a top floor unit. A person claims to be a new tenant and somehow manage to gain access to the building plus entry to a unit.  Police were called to kick the squatters out yet one person still claims to be a tenant. She sounds like a nutcase I wouldn't be surprised if she's a friend of tenant Aunt Opie. Never before has a incident like this happen at KMHC. I remember the KMHC grand opening ceremony city officials and local native dignitaries were in attendance it was called the first of it's kind in Canada by offering housing to senior aboriginals experiencing homelessness. Now look at it.  Plus Candlewood Dr complex has a waste disposal issue that still hasn't been resolved. My KMHC tenant friends are annoyed and do not feel saf...