Lunch and Learn at A Better Tent City with Laura Hamilton
Channel: Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
Date: 2021-04-08

A life to air reality zoom presentation during the Better Tent City Living Report at Lot 42 community kitchen showcasing Kitchen Coordinator Laura Hamilton and residents of A Better Tent City who are making Lunch. A Better Tent City is a neighbourhood of Tiny Houses that are living at 41 Ardelt Place on an industrial lot where there is a large warehouse that was transformed into a fully functional and outfitted cultural centre by Landlord Ron Doyle. He graciously allowed people in the homeless community in Kitchener to live on his lot with the support and help of Nadien Green who was evicted from her variety store location in downtown Kitchener due to her allowing homeless people to shelter there before the COVID lockdown last year. 

Within that year a lot has happened but what is truly wonderful is the sense of community developed through the generosity and commitment of strangers who are now friends and the philosophy of compassion for folks who are experiencing homelessness and for a variety of reasons cannot access the regular shelter system and are not able to acquire housing any time soon. This is an opportunity to connect to the very real sharing time in this community and to meet some of the people who are living here while learning lunch from Laura one of the best culinary artists I have ever met with a heart of gold and a commitment to grassroots recovery and housing as a human right. She owns her own tiny house which she plans to retire to but for now she helps to form the heart and soul of a Better Tent City.  

We break away from time to time to catch members of the Unshetered Campaign as well as Lot 42 Going Mobile making food deliveries. Food security is one of the greatest challenges for people who are experiencing homelessness or precarious housing. Its is becoming a growing challenge for anyone forced to pay rents beyond what they can afford and if you become homeless especially in a pandemic it can be virtually impossible to find nutritious food you afford. Hunger is a reality for many people but it doesn't have to be.