Calgary Housing Helps Young Henna Artist Give Back to Her Community

Najibah is a 20-years old and has grown up in Calgary Housing. Her story illustrates the important impact safe, affordable housing has on community building. Najibah shares that the affordability of CH has alleviated financial stress, making it possible for her to focus on her studies without worrying about high rent. “CH is a big blessing,” she says. She has recently graduated from the Digital Marketing program at SAIT. She is excited about the flexibility of digital marketing and the potential to work from home and help with childcare.

Najibah shares that her mother instilled in her from a young age the importance of helping others. Her mother has always been ready to help their neighbours, by shoveling snow, bringing groceries or even through a friendly smile. Her neighbours shared that her family will care for the sick and elderly, and they’ve seen them cleaning up the community.

One of Najibah’s biggest passions is henna. She’s been doing henna with her sister since she was a little girl. She fondly recalls practicing henna designs on her mother’s hands, drawing everything from traditional patterns to dinosaurs. Najibah and her sister are now very talented henna artists, and enjoy organizing community events where they can do henna with their neighbours. Najibah shares that her mother would be so proud of the designs she did as a little girl, and would even wear them on her hands at EID and show them off to her friends.

“My mother is so involved in the community – inspires me 100% impacted how I socialize in the community, and how I connect in my community” says Najibah. Community initiatives, Najibah believes, are vital as they encourage people to engage in positive activities. “I like this initiative; it really encourages people to do positive things,” she says. Such events provide a platform for those who might be shy or lack support to participate and connect with others. She also shares that Susanna, one of the Housing Support Specialists has been vital in helping her organize and attend community events.

Looking ahead, Najibah plans to organize community events in collaboration with CH, where she can share her love of henna with her neighbours. These gatherings are crucial, especially for elderly neighbors who may experience isolation. Simple acts like saying good morning or offering a friendly hello can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness. “Even if you can’t shovel snow, say hello,” Najibah says, highlighting the importance of small gestures in building community.

The Nominate a Neighbour award celebrates community building in CH properties, as well as the ways our neighbours can encourage and inspire us. There will be a new winner announced each month, so please send your nominations to chccommunications@calgary.ca before the end of the month to be considered. You must be a CH resident to nominate a neighbour. Learn more and access the nomination form here.

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“We work with everyone in the community” says Nadia; the Community Hubs Supervisor at the Mustard Seed Neighbour Centre in the Calgary Housing Company Manchester Complex. She has worked with the Mustard Seed for four years, but has volunteered with the organization since 2010. She has a background in social work, which she studied at Mount Royal University after moving from Indonesia.

Nadia still finds each day at work exciting and “it always amazes me the resilience and perseverance of people”.

The Neighbour Centre model is new to the Mustard Seed, with the Manchester Neighbour Centre opening in 2019. COVID delayed the full time opening of the Neighbor Centre until October of 2021. Ray Nijiku from Calgary Housing Company was instrumental in the opening of the Neighbour Centre. He saw a need in the building for community and employment supports and helped get the Mustard Seed connected to the space.

“We try our best to be client led” shares Nadia as she describes the impact of programs offered at the other Mustard Seed Neighbour Centres in Calgary. She shares the story of one woman who started to volunteer three months after getting sober. The woman has now been sober for over a year. She loves people and loves acting as a host, bringing visitor’s coffee and helping connect with them. Through the Neighbour Centre she has also found her passion in writing poetry, and is hoping to at some point go back to school. She’s currently working on learning how to use a computer, but is always very insistent on trying it first herself before she asks for help.

Nadia shares another client success story. One of the residents in the community near Manchester was looking for help in finding her husband a job. Her husband got connected to the Employment Coach at the Neighbour Centre. He attended job workshops and, a short while later, he wrote in to say ‘thank you’ and that he had been hired for the job he was seeking as an auditor with an oil and gas company.

Nadia shares this detail because she says “we don’t just help people get by. It’s not just entry-level jobs and places like McDonalds. We help people move forward in their careers and find jobs where they will be challenged and continue to grow. But, we can’t do it alone, the client has to be motivated as well”.

“CHC residents have a lot to offer” Nadia says, noting that the key to relationship building is building trust first. Many of the events they host in Manchester are focused on steadily building relationships and encouraging residents to open up. That can be as easy as a monthly coffee chat where residents can pop in and meet their neighbours. It also gives them a chance to meet the staff at the Neighbour Centre and learn a little bit about the programming that is offered.

Other programs they offer include a monthly clothing pop-up, with many new and gently used items available for affordable prices. They also have a full time advocate who can help with everything from AISH applications to basic needs referrals. The Employment Coach offers one-on-one coaching for up to a year, along with resume support, job interview support, and referrals for work gear. They aren’t there to write resumes, but rather empower people in their job search.

Nadia says that the work they do here isn’t focused on homelessness, but rather poverty reduction and helping prevent homelessness. The Neighbour Centre is for everyone in the community regardless of income level. They’ve adapted their space and the programming they offer to fit of the community and to continue to be client led.

Some of the programs offered at the Neighbour Centre include: advocacy, employment coaching, counselling, spiritual care, free wi-fi and laptop usage and more!

The Neighbour Centre is located at: 5757 2nd Street SW.

Click here for the hours of operation and this month’s calendar of events at the Mustard Seed Neighbour Centre.  

The post Empowering Neighbours to Be Community Leaders appeared first on Calgary Housing.

LAMDA is a mental health and housing support agency. They’ve partnered with Calgary Housing Company for over 30 years and work as community advocates for those experiencing mental illnesses.

LAMDA was founded by Dr. Mary Dumka. Dr. Dumka is a psychiatrist who was overseeing care for several clients in the same building in SW Calgary. She saw the need for supportive living for her clients and so began the LAMDA society. The organization opened its first building in 1990 with funding from the Alberta Heritage Fund. Several residents at the building have lived there since it opened. LAMDA operate out of two Calgary Housing Company apartment buildings, providing valuable community supports and psychiatric supports to those residents.

CHC recently reached out to LAMDA to discuss the last 30 years of partnership and the work they’ve been doing with residents.

Could you talk about the importance of community supports for someone living with a mental illness?

Community supports are fundamental to happy and successful independent living for those with mental illness. Any marginalized group needs community support to live a healthy independent lifestyle and those with mental disabilities are no different. Having a home is basic to stability, leading to wellness and resilience. However, the idea of having a home is often not possible for people who experience mental illness, because most of the specialized housing is transitional, attached to residential treatment programs, and often segregated. At LAMDA, having a home in the community often results in a feeling of having family. Friendships are formed and care is freely given and received among the tenants.

What are some of the barriers someone with a mental illness faces when navigating service providers and how do your support workers help with that?

Communication and technical issues to begin with. Organizing schedules and appointments and accessing transportation to get to the services and service providers can be a challenge. Our staff helps tenants with organization, transportation, and communication with service providers. Once trust, respect and a relationship are built, our staff assesses and supports tenants. Staff also can communicate with the service providers to share concerns and insights.

What are some facts about Schizophrenia that people may not know?

Many people do not know the prevalence of the illness and that it can be managed successfully with proper supports and usually medication.

About 1 in 100 Canadians have schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is not an IQ issue. In many cases schizophrenia can be managed with medication. There is a full spectrum of symptoms and treatments. It is a disease that requires regular and ongoing assessment and management. When supports are offered in a timely fashion, our tenants can continue to lead meaningful and productive lives.

What are some common misconceptions or stigmas people might have about Schizophrenia?

It is not curable, but is manageable with support, consistency, medication adherence, and stable housing.

There is a common belief that many with schizophrenia are violent and “crazy” and will never lead “normal” lives. These types of things hit the news and are such a misconception. Many people with schizophrenia go on to getting married and having families, have paid employment or volunteer, and have a sense of purpose and great quality of life. In fact, according to recent research, persons with schizophrenia are more likely to be the victims of violence than to perpetuate violence.

Do you offer skill development to residents? If so, what kinds of programming do you offer?

We have just been approved for a Home Improvement Program that will offer computer classes for our tenants. In house computers will be available for residents to access.

Staff also assist residents with activities of daily living if needed.

Staff assess when a resident needs extra assistance but the goal is to allow for as much independent living as possible. Skills such as cooking, shopping, socializing, exercise, hobbies, and banking are fostered.

LAMDA staff supports include liaison with tenants’ individual mental health service providers, but do not involve treatments or interventions. First and foremost, LAMDA is a home.

One of the reasons for LAMDA’s exceptional success is that it is a safe and permanent home, not a temporary residential treatment facility. The role of a person in the support of housing is one of a “tenant” not a “client”, and the tenant “carries the keys” and is in power to make decisions about his or her own lifestyle.

What resources should someone access to learn more about schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, Calgary Chapter and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

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National Volunteer Week runs April 24 to 30.

Gerre Johnson has been running the Community Pantry program in the Calgary Housing Company-managed Manchester 3 building on and off for over a decade. It’s pretty much a full time job for her to get the monthly pantry boxes together. “There’s always something to keep me busy”.  She volunteers, she says, “because it is a way to give back to all the people who have helped me in life.”

The boxes are dropped off with residents the third week of the month. They’re not intended as a full grocery shop, but rather to hold people through to pay day “when they really feel the pinch.” Any resident of the two CHC Manchester high rise buildings can participate if they are in need.

Each family or individual participating is given an order form listing available dry goods. Gerre and her team of volunteers get to know everyone and tailor the food to their need, family size, likes and dislikes. They want the food to be eaten and the families to be happy, so they accommodate individual preferences to the best of their ability. The boxes of food consist of dry goods, and then, if needed, diapers, cleaning supplies, and hygiene supplies. For families, they try to offer healthy foods and healthy snacks that kids can take with them to school. Chips, chocolate, and other less than healthy snacks they leave for the adults. They used to distribute fresh produce and meat, but, unfortunately, limited funding and inflation has prevented them supplying those items recently.

The program started 10 years ago after a group of residents got together to plan programming for the building. A movie night or games night was suggested first, but Gerre wanted to do something she saw as more meaningful. The pantry started off as a table in the lobby of the building. It quickly grew into a full room. After taking a pause for a few years the program relaunched eight months ago in its current space.

As a resident herself, the program has given Gerre a way to connect with her neighbours and build community. Her team of five volunteers are all residents as well. She explains that by getting to know her neighbours, she can better understand their needs and how the Community Pantry Project can help.

“I can’t see people do without” Gerre shares. She speaks about one resident who, a month after moving in, still didn’t have any furniture. First, the Pantry bought her a recliner, but then they saw she didn’t have a mattress either. Eventually the group helped her get cups, plates, and everything she was missing from her apartment.

”She was so grateful and called me an angel. I said we’re not angels, we just love to help! When residents move out I ask if they have any furniture they aren’t taking, and I check thrift stories. People can be so nervous to ask for something, but there’s no reason to live without it.”

The pantry is located on the ground floor of the building near the entrance. Residents are always passing by and popping in to say ‘hi’. The room transforms on packing day, as the team of volunteers set up shelves and face the products forward (to check expiry dates). It looks like a mini grocery store! While volunteers pack boxes for residents, another team of volunteers works behind the shelves to restock and keep the packing line moving.

Gerre is concerned about funding and explains the program has greatly expanded in need. Previously they served 10 families, but now they’re serving over 65 families. She estimates they only have three months of funding left. (Anyone interested in contributing can make a monetary donation to the SHARP Foundation and indicate on the donation it is for the Community Pantry Program).

The post National Volunteer Week Profile: Gerre Johnson and the Manchester Community Pantry appeared first on Calgary Housing.

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Spring is here! We’ve compiled some helpful resources from the City of Calgary on springtime activities you can do with the whole family, springtime activities specifically for kids, and spring cleaning and gardening resources available from the City! See below for:

• Spring time Activities
• Activities for Kids
• Spring Cleaning and Yard Prepping
• Gardening Resources

With any outdoor activities, please be sure to follow COVID-19 public health restrictions including limiting gathering sizes.

Springtime Activities

The City of Calgary offers a variety of options for outdoor activities in the community. Take a look at a few options below.

Calgary Parks Self-Guided Walking Tours

Explore Calgary’s diverse and amazing parks at your own time and pace. Self-guided walking tours highlight stunning landscapes, rich history, diverse ecosystems and interesting wildlife.

Choose from a range of walking tours across Calgary, with stops to help you discover local sites on your own.

Visit the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is open, including the north field. The Nature Centre is currently closed but portable washrooms are available outside the Nature Centre from May 1 until Thanksgiving weekend.

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is a natural environment – no bicycles or dogs permitted on site (except assistance dogs).

Book a Picnic Site at a Park in Calgary

Designated picnic site areas are available to the public at no charge, on a first-come, first-served basis (if not already reserved/booked.)

If you wish to ensure you have a site and exclusive use of the facilities at that site, you can reserve a site by obtaining a permit and paying the applicable booking fees.

Activities for Kids

The following activities for kids can be found along with many other great activities from the at home activities page at Calgary.ca.

Flowers and seeds in Calgary

Flowers are a sign of spring after a long, cold winter. They are a food source for many animals, including birds, insects and even humans. They are important for plant reproduction and they attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. They can also provide natural medicines for humans and some animals. And generally, they make Calgary an even more beautiful place to live.

Gardening

Gardening is a great way to get some fresh air while producing fresh homegrown vegetables. Additionally you’ll be helping the environment by growing your own food.

Learn about May flowers, planting flowering bulbs, how to build a terrarium, how to create a Vegetable Garden, how to build a self-watering planter box, and other backyard gardening tips!

Nature journaling

Nature journaling helps families discover, and rediscover, their natural world. It’s also a great way to get outdoors, reduce stress and boost energy levels.

Pick up your sketchbook and let nature journaling guide your appreciation of the outdoors while connecting you with your natural surroundings through art, writing and science. These resources will help get you started.

Yard Waste Disposal 

CHC Tenants who reside in a unit with a yard are responsible for yard maintenance including raking and mowing. Refer to the following information to help you with yard waste disposal.

City of Calgary Community Cleanups Schedule

Community Cleanup events save residents a trip to the landfill for items that do not fit in their waste and recycling carts or for residents who do not have cart service. This service is free of charge to all Calgarians.

Provincial regulations due to COVID-19 are in effect at all Community Cleanups.

Seasonal yard waste cleanup options for 2021

Weekly green cart pickup returned the last week of April and you can also bring yard waste to a City landfill for free from April 19 to May 30, 2021.

This is useful for residential households that would like to dispose of extra material quicker or for yard waste that is too large for your green cart.

What items are considered Yard Waste?

Refer to the City of Calgary residential recycling and disposal search tool for information on what is considered yard waste, and how to dispose of waste properly.

This search tool can be used to search how to dispose of all types of waste items through City of Calgary waste and recycling services.

Gardening Resource 

CHC residents are encouraged to grow plants in a way that is suitable for their residence. Tenants with front and back yards can grow plans including flowers and vegetables, but please check with your Property Manager before doing any major work in your yard. Potted plants are easy to grow almost anywhere, and some properties also feature community gardens. Reach out to your support staff for information on gardens at your residence.

Information on Green Cart compost giveaway

Complimentary compost (made from the food and yard waste collected through the Green Cart program) is available for residents to use in their yards and gardens this spring.

Compost is available for pickup by online appointment only, from May 10 to June 26 at Shepard and Spyhill landfills during operating hours.

Backyard gardening for pollinators

Commercially bred flowers with big showy blooms that may be pleasing to us are often sterile and provide no nectar or pollen for native pollinators. To help pollinators find the appropriate resources in our urban jungle, consider planting native wildflowers with varying bloom shapes, sizes and flowering seasons. Flowers in shades of blue, yellow, white and purple are most attractive to bees.

Helpful tips for designing your garden

Learn how to create beautiful and low maintenance garden beds which work in all areas of your yard.

The City of Calgary’s YardSmart resources can help you create a beautiful, productive yard that’s easy to maintain and suited to Calgary’s unique climate. Following basic YardSmart principles will set you up for gardening success in Calgary.

The post Springtime Resources for CHC Tenants appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Construction at the Village Commons has wrapped up and CHC’s partner carya has moved in – exciting developments that bring us one step closer to realizing the vision of a new community hub at Calgary Housing Company’s East Village Place.

Village Commons is a new hub located in the heart of the rapidly developing East Village. It will be home to a wide range of programs in flexible spaces for community meetings, wellness classes, financial planning, empowerment, and more. Exciting and innovative features include a new art studio, family counselling centre, and an industrial-sized state of the art community kitchen. The space is also equipped with video and streaming capabilities to ensure programs and events continue to be accessible online.

With construction completed, carya has moved their operations on-site and is continuing to offer virtual programming – but the grand opening and community use of Village Commons will have to wait until public health and safety rules allow us to gather together.

Village Commons is the result of significant consultation and cooperation. In 2016 CHC purchased the property to preserve more than 160 affordable homes. Work began immediately to explore options for redeveloping the former Golden Age Club site to offer a space that would serve the residents of East Village Place and the broader community. In 2017, carya came on board as the partner with which this vision would be developed.

“Partnering with carya was the ideal solution,” says CHC President Sarah Woodgate. “This is an agency that has been supporting Calgarians for over 100 years and has both a history in this community and a vision for how to deliver that support for the future.”

“Our vision for Village Commons has always been a space where all Calgarians can come together and feel like they belong,” says Theresa Watson, CEO of carya. “While we can’t gather in this space just yet, we are thrilled it is now complete and ready for us to come together when it is safe to do so.”

To complete the partnership, CMLC was signed on as the project manager to lead the construction. As a driving force behind the overall East Village Master Plan, CMLC brought the expertise and vision to help realize this important community-focused project. In just 11 months and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team completed the design and construction of the project under budget which allowed the team to open the scope to additional add-ons.

“East Village is the place where Calgary’s future continues to unfold and we see that with opening of Village Commons which invites current residents and supports the evolving needs of the neighborhood,” says Kate Thompson, CMLC President and CEO.

Completion of construction at Village Commons is not the only development at East Village Place. Whitebox construction is nearing completion on commercial space on the ground floor of the building and CHC is actively exploring leasing opportunities with potential commercial tenants.

More information about the programs and services that will be offered at the Village Commons can be found at:  https://caryacalgary.ca/about-carya/village-commons/

You can learn more about CMLC and its work in East Village at: https://www.calgarymlc.ca/east-village-projects-page#projects-area-featured

The post Milestone Brings Village Commons One Step Closer appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Serve up fire safety in the kitchen with info and video resources provided by our friends at the Calgary Fire Department.

Most cooking fires start in the kitchen from overheated cooking oil or food left cooking on the stovetop unattended. Check out tips, links and video resources that will help you practice safe cooking habits in your kitchen all year round.

How to prevent cooking fires

• Stay alert and never leave cooking unattended.
• Check on your food regularly, use a timer.
• Heat your cooking oil slowly and keep the temperature below 200 degrees Celsius.
• Avoid cooking when you are sleepy or drowsy from medication, alcohol or cannabis.
• Keep your cooking areas clear of children, pets and materials that can catch on fire, such as potholders, towels, drapes and food packaging.

What to do during cooking fires

• If you have a grease fire, don’t use water to put it out. Keep the pot on the stove and slide a fitted lid over it to smother the flames.
• If it is safe to do so, turn off the heat and the exhaust fan to stop flames and gases from spreading.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from escaping.
• For a microwave fire, keep the door closed and unplug the appliance if it is safe to do so.

Links & Resources

Fire Safety & Prevention Tips from CHC

Fire Prevention Week info from CFD

Learn more about fire safety on the Calgary Fire Department’s website:

~ Fire Safety Equipment
~ Smoke Alarms
~ Home Fire Safety
~ Electrical and Gas Appliances
~ Building Fire Safety
~ Disposal of Smoking Material

Bedroom Fire Safety:  Few things are more frightening that waking up to a fire in your home. Watch this short video to see how to minimize the risk of having a fire start during the night, how to know if there’s a fire in your home and how to escape from a home fire safely.

Kitchen Fire Safety: The number one cause of home fires in Calgary is being unsafe in your kitchen. Watch this short video to see what kinds of things can cause kitchen fires, what to do in case of a kitchen fire and how to prevent these fires from happening in your home.

Fire Prevention for Seniors: Remembering When is a Fire and Fall prevention program for seniors. As we get older, we tend to spend more time at home. Take a few minutes to watch this informative video with some helpful reminders about how to stay safe in your home.

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