• Home
• Mission
• Current & Past Issues
• Information Links
• What we do
• Calendar
• Launch Meeting
• Launch Photos
• Contact

Conference Highlights

On September 20, 2011 the North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF), the Canadian Augustinian Centre for Social Justice (CACSJ) and the MultiFaith Alliance to End Homelessness (MFATEH) co-sponsored a conference on housing and homelessness. The conference took place at the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Toronto. There were about 80 people in attendance.

For a full summary of the conference click here

To see some photos from the conference click here

Keynote Speakers

Senator Hugh Segal

Senator Segal spoke about “radical hospitality” whereby we have room at the table for everyone. The Senator called for radical surgery to address some of these problems so that people can live in freedom from want or fear. Senator Segal also reminded the participants that eliminating poverty is the central purpose of social policy. There was a call to stop deciding for poor people. In conclusion he inspired the group with positive words of encouragement saying that we will get it done!

To see more about Senator Hugh Segal click here

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott, from the Wellesley Institute, opened his talk discussing the international context in which Canada finds itself. He pointed out that it is important for all citizens to be aware and follow the trends in Federal, Provincial and Municipal funding policies. He reminded the group that year 2014 is the time that many of the Federal-Provincial agreements are ending and will need to be renewed. Michael also spoke of some programs that are meant to help the poor – such as the Rentbank Program and the Emergency Energy Fund and the Universal Housing Benefit. He cautioned that all people need to read and follow these programs very carefully.

To see more about Michael Shapcott click here

Interfaith Panel

The morning panel addressed the impacts and current responses to the lack of housing in the community. Panel members included:

Hanita Braun, Director, Project Management at Veridoc Development, spoke of the regulations and rules around housing project from conception to construction to people moving in.

Valerie Elliott-Hyman represented the MultiFaith Alliance to End Homelessness. She spoke of the need for all faith based groups to advocate for housing. Housing is good for people, good for the economy, good for society and good for all citizens.

Carol Howes, from Covenant House, described the wide range of services and programs offered by Covenant House.

Beth Wilson, a researcher from Social Planning Toronto, has been involved in organizing a coalition of a wide range of groups who have an interest in the housing. This group prepared documents, all-candidates meetings and public forums around the topic of housing in order to have this issue put on the agenda during the Ontario election campaign.

Brigitte Witkowski, Executive Director of Mainstay Housing, spoke about this non-profit agency which provides housing for mental health consumer-survivors. Mainstay rents are geared to incomes and are subsidized by the government.

 

To see more about these panelist click here

Breakout Discussions

After lunch break-out sessions were conducted by dividing the participants into three groups to further discuss this issue. There were four questions to be addressed by each group:

• What are your experiences with the lack of affordable and adequate housing and its negative impacts?

• How does your organization respond to the needs of the poor? What are some examples of names of actual programs available?

• What advice would you give to another organization that is just beginning to think about ways to help poor and vulnerable people?

• What are some of the supports (infrastructural, financial, political) that your organization needs to move forward in responding to the needs of the poor?

For some of the ideas presented during the breakouts click here

Panel of Faith Leaders

At the end of the day, a panel presented their views based on what they were hearing from the various break-out groups. Panel members included:

Sheikh Alaa Elsayed from the North American Muslim Foundation spoke of the necessity to work together, and that the issue is a community issue and not focused on any one group or culture.

Rev. Sherman Hesselgrave from the MultiFaith Alliance encouraged all participants to keep their idealism and their goals and not lose heart.

Rev. Emeka Obiezu O.S.A. from the Augustinian Order at the United Nations spoke of the structural issues that allow homelessness and poverty to exist, and that the participants need to take action on these matters.

Rabbi Tina Grimberg from Congregation Darchei Noam focused on the human face of the homeless person as a person first and that our faith demands that we take care of our brothers and sisters.

 

To see more about the afternoon panelists click here

Closing Statement

At the conclusion of the day, Lisa Romano-Dwyer read a statement of purpose, the declaration from the conference participants. During the conference it was available for participants to read and sign a document endorsing its intent. It speaks of the purpose of the conference, what was learned from the speakers and panel members, and the plight of the homeless people in Toronto. It reminds us all of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations and the vote by Canada in December 1975 to ratify the International Rights Treaty. It calls upon the government, religious leaders and others to advocate for a National Housing Strategy, and proclaims the hope that the dialogues from this conference serve as a model to activate peaceful, prayerful and collaborative interfaith approaches to this social justice issue.

To read a copy of the Statement of Purpose click here

 

The final prayer and blessing was given by Fr. Francis Galvan O.S.A.