Happy New Year!

1/1/2020

The end of a year, and in this case the end of a decade, is a natural opportunity to pause and reflect.

Our Furniture Bank Adventure: 6 months in

12/3/2019

Six months ago, we started Redwood Furniture Bank.

Back in June, we put some excellent partnerships and supports in place, secured some warehouse space, and started asking for furniture donations. Soon, we were ready to start sending furniture back out the door to help people.

We need new ways to measure success — here are some ideas

7/9/2019

by Alison LaMantia, Redwood supporter

After having the chance to chat face to face with Rhonda, Director of Housing and Family Support at Redwood Park Communities, I walked away wondering how some people become so full of goodness.

I thought how interesting it’d be to study people like Rhonda so we can understand more about what leads to such selfless humanity.

I’m curious because I think we need more of that in our world — more whole-hearted, non-judgmental love for all humans.

The flip side of "giving back"

6/18/2019

We are very happy to share this guest blog post by Noelle Kirk, where she shares about her personal experience volunteering with Redwood.

Photo Credit Onekingslane.com

Albert Einstein was once quoted as saying “Only a life lived for others is worth living” and I couldn’t agree more. Over the last 5 years, my role and involvement with Redwood has been a varied one. I have cleaned apartments, delivered food, gathered clothing or donations (and served as a very unqualified stylist), washed dishes, babysat children, eaten delicious food and shared many a cup of coffee or tea.

One thing that has been constant however, is that many of my best memories have been made, and continue to be made, over food and around the table. Whether it was stirring chocolate over a stove during an Easter chocolate making event or drinking coffee and holding babies while sitting around the living room at United House, I have so many beautiful memories of food and community.

The Redwood Furniture Bank

6/3/2019

One could wonder, why would Redwood start its own Furniture Bank?

We've got not just one good reason, but two.

YIMBY Week - Humanizing Homelessness

5/13/2019

Earlier this year, I saw the tweet pictured here: "You have more in common with every homeless person than with any billionaire. Pass it along."

And the response: "People want to believe this isn't true, but it is. It's far more likely any of us could become homeless than become fabulously wealthy."

Neither homelessness nor billionaire status should define an individual. First and foremost, they are human beings, and at Redwood we feel pretty strongly that every person has worth.

Stereotypes of those experiencing homelessness persist, however.

Are YOU a YIMBYer?

5/1/2019

Later this month, Redwood will launch Barrie's first YIMBY week, and all YIMBYers are invited!

What's YIMBY?
YIMBY stands for "Yes In My Back Yard" and it is a social movement that has risen up in cities all over North America to combat NIMBYism, or "Not In My Back Yard."

Most people agree that homelessness is a shame, and that affordable housing needs to be developed, but some people say, "Yes, somewhere else, but not here."
(You know, YSWEBNH ...just kidding, that's not a thing.)

The YIMBY movement looks a little different in each city. In some places it involves activism around zoning bylaws. But we think the REAL reason people don't want "other" people in their neighbourhood is because they just don't know them yet.

Being a Redwood Second Suites Landlord

4/24/2019

With rent soaring in Barrie and affordable housing units so hard to come by, we need to look at creative means to increase the affordable housing stock. The City of Barrie has committed to create 840 new affordable units by 2024.

Sometimes affordable housing projects get pushback in our community, with residents saying "Not in my backyard!"

But Redwood has partnered with a growing number of homeowners who not only say "Yes, please, in my backyard" but "Actually, in my basement!" The results have been amazing.

The Value of Second Suites: A Realtor's Perspective

4/10/2019

This is a guest blog post by Linda Paisley, Real Estate Sales Representative.

When I initially meet with real estate clients, the conversation can often turn to questions regarding Second Suites. Buyers are interested in the option for a second income, and sellers are curious about boosting the resale value of their home. I can speak to both benefits, as well as the value to the community when we increase affordable housing options.

Ms. Lucy Pino

3/27/2019

This is a guest post by Sara Peddle, Executive Director of the David Busby Centre.

When Sean Richardson heard about the naming of Lucy's Place, he sent Sara this photo that he had taken. It is believed to be one of the last photos of Lucy, taken in 2014.

Every day people impact their community in many different ways without even realizing that they have done so.

I - Inspirational
M - Movement
P - Positive
A - Action
C - Community
T – Together

Lucy's Place

The motel conversion project at the former Barr’s Motel has been a collaborative labour of community love for the last couple years. As we drew close to opening the doors to provide safe and affordable housing for individuals experiencing long term homelessness, we needed a name for our project worthy of it’s vast importance in our community.

We engaged people who have had experience in homelessness to weigh in with their thoughts for naming this building. It did not take long before a theme emerged.

Heartbreakingly, we have lost way too many people experiencing homelessness over the years, but one person had made particular impact on the community as a whole.

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