Trinity’s Outreach Mission of Affordable/Supportive Housing grants an additional $100,000 in December 2024

Affordable Housing

Dec 23

The Ad Hoc Affordable and Supportive Housing Committee, consisting of Janet Howitt, Mark Breathwaite, Diane Vandeberg, Dave Rutherford, Mac Summers and Cathy Baer, met a number of times in 2024. In January, they met to recommend a grant of $15,000 to the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre for support of first and last month’s rent in facilitating lease agreements for newcomers to Canada. In June they met to review information provided through our partnership with the Waterloo Region Community Foundation. With $90,000 to grant, the following grants were approved:

$40,000 to oneROOF Youth Services for their Lifeline program. This program is a lifeline to youth experiencing homelessness; it offers them a safe place to be themselves and receive the support they need to change the trajectory of their lives.
$40,000 to Food4Kids Waterloo Region for their School Break Program. This program will provide food to support children living with severe food insecurity during the summer when they are unable to access school nutrition programs.
$10,000 to Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP) for their Shelter to Community program. The Emergency Shelter to Community Housing program will provide housing solutions that are people-centered, outcome-focused, instill hope and reflect a Housing First/Focused approach to prevent, reduce, address and eliminate men’s homelessness. This grant will provide men living in the Edith Mac Men’s Shelter with customized move-in kits as they transition to permanent stable housing.

This past summer, Supportive Housing of Waterloo (SHOW) was given a grant of $20,000 to purchase a trailer so they could store significantly more food from the Food Bank.

In November 2024, the markets were up allowing Trinity’s Legacy II to grant an additional $100,000 to support its Outreach Mission of Affordable and Supportive Housing. The Ad Hoc committee recommended to the Board, the following grants:

$50,000 to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region;
$50,000 to oneROOF Youth Services

At our visit to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, Nicole Marinelli, Manager of Food Procurement and Distribution Services, shared with Dave, Janet, and Cathy, that when she started at the Food Bank in 2016, 1 in 20 families were accessing the Food Bank and now it is 1 in 8 families. In 2016, a $1.00 donation provided three meals, and now, $1.00 only provides two meals. Our donation of $50,000 is very significant.

Our $50,000 donation to oneROOF Youth Services will allow for six additional shelter beds and repairs to their existing building. Again, a very significant donation!

In 2024 alone, Trinity’s Outreach granting totals $225,000! Once again, Trinity’s granting has made a huge difference to those who need us the most in our community.

Respectfully submitted by Cathy Baer