Homelessness – TWC Interactive

From A Better Tent City to Cabins on Ardelt

Joe Mancini September 13, 2026

A Better Tent City (ABTC) was a remarkable shelter project that grew out of a plan developed in January 2020 by Ron Doyle and Jeff Willmer to respond to growing homelessness. With the formal shelters all full, Ron and Jeff wanted to create better shelter options compared to random encampments. Two years later, during a cold and muddy November, the cabins of ABTC were moved to the Ardelt property by agreement with the City of Kitchener and the Waterloo Region District School Board.

Developing Supports at the 97 Victoria Campus

Stephanie Mancini September 13, 2026

We have boldly stated that 97 Victoria is a place of hope. This statement seems to stand in stark contrast to the reality we are witnessing each day at St. John’s Kitchen. The vision behind the 97 Victoria campus is shaped by a deep acceptance for people in the present moment, that holds a space for the change that is possible.

Extending Support at St. John’s Kitchen

Stephanie Mancini September 13, 2026

The expansion of our hours to 24/7 has been a full-on effort, as new people join our team – the staff teams and the volunteer teams that now fill seven days a week, as we offer 3 meals a day, and respond actively to urgencies in the middle of an ongoing community drug alert. We are stretching, and it feels like a miracle that has come together so we can be present with people who are weary of living outside without the ability to rest securely.

The Impact of St. John’s Kitchen Warming Centre

Cathleen Gretchell June 5, 2026

This winter, The Working Centre opened an Overnight Warming Centre at the new St. John’s Kitchen, opening the doors at 8:30 pm and closing by 8:00 am. For three months, the Overnight Warming Centre provided a continuous overnight place to stay, reducing the daily search for shelter space. The open intake ensured that people could count on the space being available. At the same time, we ensured those using the space were registered as unsheltered.

Developing A Social Medicine Hub

Joe Mancini June 5, 2026

Every day at St. John’s Kitchen we witness a drug crisis that continues to grow. We see sons and daughters, sisters and brothers lost to a drug trade that leaves lasting scars and horrific damage to body and psyche. We know it is a violation of human dignity and community solidarity. How can we respond to help reduce the level of poverty, the lack of connection, the lack of housing, the bitterness of being left to fight for one’s own survival?

Inclusion Through Opportunity

Michele and Rob Way June 5, 2026

The success of Hockey Helps the Homeless in Waterloo Region is driven by an incredible local committee—deeply passionate, generous with their time, and committed to this work. Their work and heavy lifting translates into supporting 6 local charity partners who collectively work hard to support those experiencing homelessness in our community.

Overnight Warming Centre at St. John’s Kitchen

Stephanie Mancini March 1, 2026

It has been an exceptionally cold and snowy winter, and the impact on this for many we support is significant. Those living in encampments, outside, or who are precariously housed, face significant risks to their health and well-being. St. John’s Kitchen has been a day-time refuge for people during this winter – a place to get respite from the cold, to enjoy a warm meal and coffee, and to connect with many community services in one central location. We are able to keep eyes and ears on people who are most vulnerable and help to buffer the effects of the harsh winter as we focus on wellness, connection, and belonging.

Meditation on Making Home

Thomas Fraser March 1, 2026

As we go about our days, we are each drawn into zones of seeming familiarity. Work, family, routine, the ordinary fabric of everyday life—sometimes so familiar as to be taken entirely for granted. But if we pay close attention, we may be struck by the hidden depths of the everyday. Suddenly, the face of the other ceases to be just another passing shape; instead, I am seized by a living Thou, revealing depths of vulnerability and transcendence.

How an Inhospitable Labour Market Increases Homelessness

Joe Mancini September 1, 2025

Canadians are asking why the number of unhoused people has grown steadily over the past ten years. In Waterloo Region alone, there are over 2371 people are unhoused.

It is widely agreed that the homelessness crisis is the result of poor housing planning. The supply of housing has not kept up with demand, causing rising housing prices. At the same time, housing became coveted as a commodity, which has added to inflated housing costs.

Stories of Determined Hope

The Working Centre September 1, 2025

A young man in his early 30’s repeatedly visited the Emergency Department – 1800 times in three years. He appeared to be shelter seeking, but in reality had an untreated/undiagnosed mental health issue. Our team advocated for a longer term mental health admission and visited him in hospital every day, building trust and offering support for his wound care and mental health. He was discharged to King Street Shelter and when that shelter closed, we helped support him to interim housing.

Tag: Homelessness

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