Sun May 20: Housing First as a Successful Means to End Chronic Homelessness

Our Event starts at 11am on the second floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue)

Hoping that the third time is the charm, our featured speaker will be Michelle Bilek! Previous two attempts in having Michelle speak to our group had been thwarted by illness (March 18th) and bad weather (April 15th ice storm).

Michelle Bilek

Michelle Bilek*, is with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (caeh.ca), formed to build a national movement to end homelessness from the community up. What’s missing is a practical, community-based approach that shifts the focus from managing homelessness to a system focused on ending it. We need to move from crisis responses (like shelters and soup kitchens) to solutions – permanent, appropriate, safe and affordable housing with the support necessary to sustain it. Michelle will share how Canadian communities can end homelessness by outlining the critical ingredients of a community-based plan such as Housing First, supporting affordable housing options, housing sharing, renting secondary units for Housing First clients, innovative building solutions and developments.

Erika Werry

Our featured musician will be Erika Werry. Erika Werry is a band leader, singer, songwriter and has a background in classical and modern dance. Her song material is inspired by travels and day-to-day experience, and through a love of classic French and English literature. The songs are short and fun, often with tongue-in-cheek lyrical humour and sometimes with devastatingly poignant lyrics on relationships. A consummate performer, Erika sings and dances through her fast-paced sets. Her songs are delivered with her signature vocals, in a “… lovely… grainy alto”.

To RSVP to this event, please visit our Meetup page.