Key Note Address - Nadine Green - The Philosophy of Compassion
Channel: Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
Date: 14/04/2021

Enjoy hearing about the Better Tent City experience from the horses mouth as they say. From the core team of people keeping it all together and who made it happen through decisive actions kept together by Nadines personal philosophy of compassion. Accompanying Nadine to answer various questions about operations and needs of A Better Tent City are Jeff Wilmer, Laura Hamiltion and Alvin O'dea. 

This conference is dedicated to the memory of Ron Doyle who set the bar for willing landlords and their moral compasses. 

Host: Heather Majaury's notes. 

The reality is Tiny House neighbourhoods need champions and lands. They don't need your pity or your judgements. They do need your support.  This one needs to be made legal within City limits and it is best accommodated and serviced with some sort of building that can be refurbished or reused or built quickly for kitchen dining bathrooms and showers and for collective gathering. One day the lock downs will end. 

It is the Region of Waterloo with the power to do so that can move beyond the trial period of this sanctioned pilot program and commit to A BETTER TENT CITY. 

My personal disclaimer do not hold my views against my colleagues. They are mine but I believe in them fiercely. 

If developers create a mess then developers should clean it up. If landlords neglect a property then landlords should lose their titles. And cities can reclaim private properties for the benefit of all residents especially homeless constituents. The way things are going with the management of our current local economy they may become a substantial voters block. 

Meanwhile,  listen to the experts on a Better Tent City. In this zoom account of how so much was done in only one year during a pandemic and ask yourself what can we do now. 

Housing is a human right. Tiny Houses don't solve homelessness. They are a creative response with a low carbon footprint to fill a gap that says no one should be left behind and forced to attempt to survive without a shelter that can be called home and respected as such.