 Dani Bartlett  Susan Macphail  Abe Oudshoorn  Shelley Yeo

Planting the Seed Susan Scott visits London in 2008 London Public Library took the lead

Growing a Dream Small group of women’s advocates began to: Dream Vision Engage Create Participatory Mindful Patient

Visioning

Mission Together, in an open forum, we will focus on safe, sustainable housing for women. Through dialogue, research and lived experience we will initiate, engage and be the change to promote security of housing and safe communities for all women from coast to coast to coast. Vision Building and sustaining a national network to improve women’s access to safe, secure and affordable housing.

Primary Objectives To provide a forum for service providers, community members, policy makers, government officials, academics, change agents and women with lived experience to come together to promote safe, sustainable housing for women. To provide a venue for developing and sustaining a national network for participatory and collaborative respon- ses.

Making Connections Women & Girls with Lived Experience Community Agencies Academia Policy Makers Change Agents Public National Partners

Funding City of London – seed funding Sisters of St. Joseph – loan & gift Small Local Fundraiser Partnering Agencies 300 for $100 Registrations Ministry of Community & Social Services (Provincial) - $10,000 No Corporate $$$

2011 Forum 100+ women with lived experience shared their stories

Lived Realities Hearing their Stories … ageculturepoverty class housing mothering nationality health HIV/AIDShomelessness drug involvement race education gender identification trafficking violence abusecolonizationimmigration ability mental healthincarceration sex work isolation language regional specific realities sexual orientation unemployment

The Shoe Box Project

What Women Said “It wasn’t therapy that helped me, it was self awareness and knowing others have been through the same thing.” “A great forum and important forum for Canada. I really hope our voices will be heard in Ottawa. Invite me back – I have so much more to say and share.” “…Wish some politicians could have been here to listen/observe–municipal/provincial/federal.”

“Research, new programs, panel discussions are fantastic but none of it matters unless all levels of government hear the voices of All Our Sisters. Our stories will make the change, our stories will impact the people…look at what our stories have already accomplished.”

Outcomes 118 women - subsidized from coast to coast to coast 528 delegates Created a network - website, social media, newsletter Provided safe space for women to share their stories Raised National Awareness

Provided a venue for researchers to share/learn Women created their own projects Created/demonstrated a unique model for women’s participatory, leadership and community organizing/collaboration Money in the bank Outcomes

Maintained the network Continued to meet as a community Advocated for women’s specific community plans locally and across the country Hoped for a “New Community” to take on All Our Sisters Reviewed the 2011 Outcomes and set to move forward with 2014 Forum Developed/enhanced relationships locally and nationally

May 2014

2014 Funding City of London ($15,000) Sisters of St. Joseph ($26,000) Ursuline Sisters ($20,000) Unifor – local & national “Change for 100” Campaign Ontario Ministry of Community & Social Services ($5,000) London Coordinating Committee to End Woman Abuse Centre for Research & Education (Western U) Circle Centre, Women’s Centre for Spirituality, Activities & Earth Alberta Federation of Labour Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support & Integration BPW London Partnering organizations No Corporate $$$

Back to Vision … What does “Being on The Edge” mean to you? Overwhelmingly mentioned political strategizing, lobbying and advocacy addictions, impact on children, rural/urban issues, culture, self-care, working with limited resources, transgendered community and cross-sectoral organization.

Connecting to “The Edge”: Speaking Truth Politicians listening to us Story & Policy – Personal & Political Edge is more connection Need deep feeling and clear thinking “What does home mean to you?” Research

Challenging “The Edge”: Stepping Out of the Box Build Energy for Action Push the edge of even more inclusivity Push the edge of belonging What do we want from a National Housing Strategy?

Leading “The Edge”: A Call to Action Building a “Manifesto” Taking it to the streets ! “Saying It Out Loud” Zero in - Demand public policy change …

New Partners YWCA Homes 4 Women Unifor Ursuline Sisters Sisters of St. Joseph

Holding the Women Central Projects Shoe Box Stories, Rug Hooking Display, Sister Dolls, Heart to Heart Pins, FirstVoice Video Travelling Banner Advisors Jewellery story Proud Hosts 30% of attendees were sponsored

The Story of the Travelling Banner

Remembering Our Sisters

The Revolution : Taking it to the Streets

Outcomes 328 people involved 101 women with lived experience were subsidized – accommodations, travel, registration Reached fundraising goal! Women with lived experience were presenters – Central Working with Next Community

Community Plan on Homelessness for Women & Girls – London Research Project - A Foundation for Ending Women’s Homelessness in London Homes for Women – A Housing First Approach Adapted for Women. Received funding for a 2 year project Outcomes

Dialogue + Research + Lived Experience = Empowerment = Solutions = Knowledge = Community

We Learned About the Increased Need For:  Client-centred care  Systemic change  Reducing stigma  Impact of Lived Exp.

We Have Acquired → Knowledge → Skills → Expanded Network

Created New Pathways to Supporting Women

Call to Action!

We Celebrated ….

“To share my story at 68 – that things can improve & get better… There is Hope”

Thank you