Shows
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 27: The intersections of being LGBTQ+ and living on the streets with Rev. Evan Smith“The intersections of being LGBTQ+ and living on the streets”
As we close season 3 we’re joined by Rev. Evan Smith. Evan shares his story of living on the streets of Toronto, the homeless community who supported them, and what it was like to watch the abandoned building you were living be torn down while your belongings were still inside. Evan also shares how the intersection of LGBTQIA+ youth and homelessness could keep rising if we don’t stand firmly against discrimination in the years ahead.
Follow Evan's work:
https://www.westdaleunited.ca/
...
2025-04-081h 02Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 26: SHOW & the need for Federal Social Housing with Brian Paul“SHOW & the need for Federal Social Housing”
This week we’re joined by Brian Paul who shares the amazing work being done by his team at Supportive Housing of Waterloo (SHOW). Brian chats about the need for the federal government to help dispel myths about homelessness, and to return to being in the business of creating social housing stock to create more affordable housing across the country.
Follow Brian and Supportive Housing of Waterloo
https://www.showaterloo.org/
https://www.facebook.com/showaterloo
Follow The Hub's work:
ht...
2025-04-011h 01Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 25: A Better Tent City with Jeff Willmer“A Better Tent City”
This week we break down the story of one of the shining examples of Housing Justice in KW. Former city planner Jeff Willmer shares the history of A Better Tent City, and how this self-organized tiny home community came to be as an independent and grassroots response to homelessness in the city. Jeff shares how a few ordinary citizens took an idea, some land and an unwillingness to settle for the status quo and became a model for housing justice that has already started to be replicated in other parts of the province.
...
2025-03-251h 15Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 24: Tiny Homes, Relationships + Restorative Justice with Jay Straus“Tiny Homes, Relationships + Restorative Justice”
This week we’re joined by Jay Straus the Transitional Housing Lead at the Working Centre and Site Lead for the Tiny Home Shelter on Erb’s Road, Waterloo. Jay shares his own personal experiences of being homeless, and how he came to the be with The Working Centre. He also shares how ‘The Cabins’ transitions 20% of their residents to more permanent housing, and how they navigate conflict with neighbours and what restorative justice means in the context of the community.
Follow Jay and The Working Centre:
https://www.theworkin...
2025-03-181h 03Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 23: Faith, Harm Reduction & Housing Justice with Rev Michiko Bown-Kai“Faith, Harm Reduction & Housing Justice”
As we begin the second half of season 3, Rev. Michiko Bown-Kai joins us to chat about the role of faith and justice and unpacks how churches can engage with politics by understanding it as “how we order our relationships”. Michiko also shares their insights on harm reduction and where we go next in a province that seems to be moving backwards when it comes to confronting the drug poisoning crisis.
Get connected with SHAWR and the Waterloo Region Alliance to End Homelessness our housing advocacy projects:
https...
2025-03-111h 07Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 22: Busting Myths about CTS Sites + Addiction with Gemma RickerBusting myths about CTS Sites + Addiction
As we begin the final 5 episodes of season 3 we invite Gemma Ricker to return after her first episode in season 1 to expand on what it looks like to evolve our understanding of addiction, safe supply and to bust a few myths about CTS sites. Gemma offers the perspective of a "regular, everyday citizen" in the two years since she has left front-line work, and gives us a roadmap for how we can advocate and make positive change for our neighbours when we're not in the field of housing or housing supports.
2025-02-111h 01Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 21: Innovating how we help people. With Tony D'Amato StortzInnovating how we help people
As season 3 continues we sit down with Tony D'Amato Stortz, Author of "A Home of their Own: A Guide to Building a Tiny Homes Community", and principal founder of Better Street, whose team has launched 143 Tiny Homes in the past year. Tony shares his candid thoughts on how empathy and helping people can meet innovation not just in the tiny home communities he's helped to form, but in how we reach residents who are resistant to shelters and emergency housing in their neighbourhoods. We also chat about how to improve the national...
2025-01-281h 09Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 20: Why destroying encampments and closing CTS sites will never work. with Rob DeutschmannWhy destroying encampments and closing CTS sites will never work
This week Waterloo Regional Councilor and former mayor Rob Deutschmann joins Adam to give his perspective on the use of lawsuits against encampments and the Ford government wielding legislative power to attack people in poverty instead of attacking poverty itself. Rob also talks about why he won’t join those who call for the destruction of more encampments, and why Doug Ford’s decision to shut down consumption sites make neighborhoods less safe, and healthcare weaker.
Follow Rob's work:
2025-01-2149 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 19: Who is profiting off homelessness? With David AltonWho is profiting off homelessness?
In part 2 of Adam's conversation with David Alton of SDCC we dig deeper into what it means to re-frame our ideas of 'risk', and what allyship can look like by challenging unjust housing systems. David also challenges us to think about who is profiting from homelessness and why they think waterloo region just might be exceptional in it's approach to housing.
Follow Social Development Centre Waterloo Region's work:
https://www.waterlooregion.org/
Get connected with SHAWR and the Waterloo Region Alliance to End Homelessness o...
2025-01-1433 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 18: Why can't big tech companies fix housing? With David AltonWhy can’t big tech companies fix housing?
As we kick off season 3 Adam is joined by David Alton of Social Development Centre of Waterloo region. In Part 1 of our 2-part conversation, David shares their experiences as a facilitator of lived expertise for SDCC going from working on housing in a city like Toronto with the backing of Google, to transitioning to grassroots work and emphasizing community dialogue and lived expertise. David shares their insight on what the wealth of a big tech company can’t do and why corporate, top-down approaches won’t work withou...
2025-01-0743 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 17: Why have synthetic drugs changed housing supports forever? With John NeufeldWhy have synthetic drugs changed housing supports forever?
In part 2 of our conversation with House of Friendship Executive Director John Neufeld, Adam and John discuss the historic change that synthetic drugs have had on combatting poverty and homelessness. John also shares his outlook for 2024 and the challenges of reminding legislators that although Winter is Coming, housing injustice does not go on break for the summer.
Follow House of Friendship's work:
https://houseoffriendship.org/about-us/
Get connected with SHAG our advocacy project:
https://www.trinityunitedkw.ca/shag
...
2024-03-2637 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 16: How can youth groups and young people lead to change? With John NeufeldHow can youth groups and young people lead to change?
This week Adam is joined for part 1 of our conversation with House of Friendship Executive Director John Neufeld. John shares the role that youth groups and mentorship played in developing his passion for housing justice, poverty reduction, and creating spaces of belonging. John graciously points the spotlight back onto The Hub and Trinity Church’s work to highlight the key role investing in young people plays in creating a future where no one is left out in the cold, and what “servant leadership” meant to him and...
2024-03-1926 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 15: How do we create permanently affordable public housing again? With Kirsten WrightHow do we create permanently affordable public housing again?
We’re joined once again this week by housing systems engineer Kirsten Wright as we continue to zoom out and look at housing on a systemic level. Adam and Kirsten discuss the need for legislators, cities, and provinces to embrace experimentation when it comes to finding solutions for housing. We also confront the question of public housing, which has largely been abandoned by our civic leaders for decades. To get involved in some great housing advocacy groups check out the links below:
For info on...
2024-02-2033 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 14: How do Amazon & Uber undermine affordable housing? With Kirsten WrightHow do Amazon & Uber undermine affordable housing?
We’re joined this week by housing systems engineer Kirsten Wright as zoom out and look at housing on a systemic level. Adam and Kirsten discuss the emergence of the “Sharing Economy” and how a more interdependent society can transform housing for the better. We also look at the underside of this development, and how large corporations exploit a sharing economy to create a deeper divide in wealth and housing.
Subscribe to keep up with our show. New episodes every Tuesday through March
For info o...
2024-02-1343 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 13: Can Developers Build Cheaper Housing? With Dan DriedgerCan Developers Build Cheaper Housing?
This week we're joined for the second part of our 2-part conversation with Dan Driedger of Beyond Housing, as we get deeper into how Beyond Housing manages to stay financially sustainable while also building affordable housing. We also chat about what it means to create community fabric, and the stories of success Dan has seen amidst the challenges of the current state of housing.
Follow Beyond Housing's Work:
https://beyondhousing.ca/
Follow our work:
https://linktr.ee/Thehubcommunity
www...
2024-02-0655 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 12: Who are the Unseen Victims of the Housing Crisis? With Dan DriedgerWho are the unseen victims of the housing crisis?
On this week's episode, we begin part one of a two-part conversation with Dan Driedger the director of Beyond Housing (formerly called Menno Homes). We hear how and why he went from a successful career in the for-profit industrial sector to a full-time role working for an Affordable Housing non-profit. Adam and Dan discuss Beyond Housing's work supporting the unseen victims of the housing crisis.
Follow Beyond Housing's Work:
https://beyondhousing.ca/
Follow our work:
https://linktr...
2024-01-3038 minWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 11: Can Politicians change Housing overnight? With Mike MorriceCan Politicians change housing overnight?
To open Season 2 of our podcast, we sat down for an in-person interview with Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice to find out. Mike and Adam discuss what the public needs from politicians for tangible progress in affordable housing, and how the public can press politicians to act now for housing justice for all. We also chat about the ‘legislated poverty’ that holds many of our neighbours, particularly those with disabilities, trapped below the poverty line, and how the system isn’t broken: it was built this way.
Follow Mike's...
2024-01-2347 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Season 2 Intro and TrailerWhen I was hungry did you feed me? When I was thirsty, did you gave me drink? When I had no place to stay, did you shelter me?
It’s these words of Jesus that inspired our affordable housing podcast “Winter is Coming” With winter returning so is our podcast where, in Season 2, we continue to ask how we go from housing crisis to housing justice? We'll hear from frontline workers, developers, political leaders and affordable housing experts on where we go from here to make housing truly enshrined as a human right.
This season we’ll...
2024-01-1607 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 10: Leah Logan - Overcoming NIMBY + People-centered developmentIn our final episode of Season 1, Adam sits down with Leah Logan of Indwell. As Waterloo's regional manager for affordable housing developer Indwell, Leah has been working at many ends of the spectrum. From design and development to forging relationships with neighbourhoods and local residents, many of whom are not initially sold on the idea of affordable housing in their communities.
Leah talks about the Indwell approach to people-centered development, and how they work to overcome the "Not in my backyard" or NIMBY attitudes of many of our neighbours who are resistant to the idea of affordable ho...
2023-03-141h 03
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 9: Joe Mancini - Antidotes to Bureaucracy and the Success of a Shelter with no RulesThis week we are joined by co-founder and director of The Working Centre Joe Mancini. For over 40 years Joe and his partner Stephanie and countless Working Centre staff and volunteers have been combatting poverty in Kitchener-Waterloo and carrying out "common work" as the antidote to the kind of bureaucracy that maintains poverty and housing injustice. Adam and Joe talk about how the pandemic has changed their work, and the success of a shelter that found innovation by having no rules.
Follow Joe and The Working Centre:
https://www.theworkingcentre.org
https://www.theworkingcentre.org/volunteer/83
2023-03-071h 07
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 8: Cathy Baer - How Churches can change HousingHow can local churches help move us from Housing Crisis to Housing Justice? And how can they go from learning to action? This week Adam is joined by affordable housing advocate Cathy Baer to explore those questions. Cathy is a member of Trinity United Church in Kitchener, and long before Trinity helped make this podcast possible, they were advocating for and supporting affordable housing with their time, energy, and resources. Cathy joins us to share how Trinity went from simply being aware of the housing crisis, to actively making an impact as a church, and offers a roadmap for...
2023-02-1448 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 7: Katherine Bitzer - Encampments & How we RespondThis week Adam is joined by Katherine Bitzer.20 years ago Katherine started a 6-month contract with the Working Centre in Kitchener and with no end in sight she remains as committed as ever to working to address the housing crisis. A member of Trinity United Church's affordable housing committee, Katherine discusses our neighbour in encampments, and the proof that the Working Centre exemplifies; that there is another way to do housing and do it justly.
Follow The Working Centre's work:
https://www.theworkingcentre.org/
Follow our work:
www.instagram.com/hubstagrams
www...
2023-02-071h 06
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 6: Danielle Strickland - Changing how we do life together + IMBY HomesWe're back from our Holiday break with our newest episode! This week Adam sits down with author, pastor, and world-renowned global justice advocate Danielle Strickland to talk about her story, changing how we do life together and the epidemic of loneliness. We also find out about her work with IMBY Homes, and how it's so it's using tiny homes to change housing forever.
Follow Danielle's work:
https://www.imbyhomes.org/
https://www.daniellestrickland.com/
Follow our work:
www.instagram.com/hubstagrams
www.facebook.com/hubworship
https://www.t...
2023-01-311h 00
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 5: Gemma Ricker - Supportive Housing + Safe SupplyOn this week's episode, Adam connects with friend, Hub community member, and supportive housing worker Gemma Ricker to talk about her past time at the Working Centre's University Avenue Supporting Housing project. We talk about how supportive housing differs from emergency shelters, and the intersection of housing justice, safe supply, and the opioid crisis.
Follow our work:
www.instagram.com/hubstagrams
www.facebook.com/hubworship
https://www.trinityunitedkw.ca/about-the-hub
Follow The Working Centre's work:
https://www.theworkingcentre.org/
For more on how we fight...
2022-11-011h 04
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 4: Kirsten Wright - Re-engineering the systems of housing + community wealthElection season has come and gone but winter is still coming for our neighbours who have been targeted by housing injustice.
This week Adam is joined by systems design engineer Kirsten Wright as we start to explore how our entire system of housing can be transformed to take us from housing crisis to housing justice. We also explore how we forge a path towards cities invested in community wealth, and what it takes to create perpetual affordability in housing.
Follow our work:
www.instagram.com/hubstagrams
www.facebook.com/hubworship
https://www...
2022-10-251h 17
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 3: Steph Stretch - Housing + Local PoliticsElection day is coming! This week Adam sits down with Steph Stretch; city council candidate in Kitchener's Ward 10, to talk about how she went from concerned neighbour, to volunteer, to non-profit work and now local politics.
Listen in on the critical role of local government, building relationships with people and organizations who are street-involved, and how we can go from taking little bites to really developing teeth in the fight to go from housing crisis to housing justice.
Follow our work:
www.instagram.com/hubstagrams
www.facebook.com/hubworship
https://www.trinityunitedkw...
2022-10-1851 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 2: MP Mike MorriceThe Hub and Trinity United Kitchener are excited to bring you a new podcast series this fall! We're inviting you to listen, share and invite friends to check out "Winter is Coming: A podcast about Housing Justice in Kitchener-Waterloo and Beyond"
In our second episode, Adam chats with Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morice about his work as a community leader in KW, from his seat in the house of commons, and how just housing practices can help us combat "legislated poverty", particularly for our neighbours who live with disabilities.
Follow our work:
www.instagram...
2022-10-1149 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastWinter is Coming: A Housing Justice Podcast - Ep 1: Laura Mae LindoThe Hub and Trinity United Kitchener are excited to bring you a new podcast series this fall! Premiering Tuesday, October 4th we're inviting you to listen, share and invite friends to check out "Winter is Coming: A podcast about Housing Justice in Kitchener-Waterloo and Beyond"
In the debut episode, Adam chats with NDP MPP Laura Mae Lindo about her own story with housing justice, and her work from Queen's Park and locally on the traditional lands of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples, or what we now call Kitchener Waterloo.
2022-10-041h 01
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hub @ Trinity Podcast - Episode 1: Lori-Ann is Walking the CaminoThis fall The Hub brings a new series designed exclusively for our friends at Trinity United Church. Join us as we explore the everyday lives and lives of faith of members and friends of Trinity U.C. Kitchener!
2022-09-1347 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hubcast Ep 7: Dr. Bethany Ricker Was Wrong (and she still feels guilty about the banana bread incident)
Fresh off graduating med school and set to move to the west coast we're joined by our friend the now DOCTOR Bethany Ricker (congrats Bethany!) to chat about what's changed in her life and faith over the years and why she never ever worked as kitchen staff in all her years at camp.
2021-06-071h 04
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hubcast Ep 6: Chad Buisman Was Wrong (and he’s eaten WAY too much plastic and wax)
Our favourite viral instagram influencer stops by to chat about things he's gotten wrong, setting kitchens on fire, a horrendous first experience at the camp he fell in love with, and one of the most beautiful experiences of receiving communion he's ever had.
2021-05-3058 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hubcast Ep 5: Adam Cresswell was Wrong (and he spoils the 2016 movie ’Arrival’)
In the next of our interviews with the hosts Adam shares about the many hot takes on movies he's gotten wrong over the years, dangerous mishaps at Ryerson Camp and where he's gotten it dead-wrong in faith and life. Oh and he totally spoils a movie. Sorry, everybody.
2021-05-2454 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hubcast Ep 4: Janelle Cowley was Wrong (and why did she yell at that lady in church??)Our friend Janelle joins us to chat about disrupting her childhood church, the first time you make a mistake in front of the whole class, and how she grew in understanding women in the church.
2021-05-151h 18
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hubcast Ep 3: Dan Wagg was Wrong (and he wants you to give Nickelback a second chance)Everybody’s favourite dude Dan Wagg joins us to chat about the music he’s been wrong about, how he weaselled out of chores as a kid and the trap of comparing your life and faith to the people around you.
2021-05-0756 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hubcast Ep 2: Tim Watson Was Wrong (And Destroys Camp Property)In the first of our interviews with our hosts we find out about how Tim’s life and faith has grown and changed, those teenage moments when you realize you’ve spent years using a word that doesn’t exist and the times he got it at wrong at Ryerson camp.
2021-04-2644 min
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastThe Hubcast Ep 1: Olivia Schultz was Wrong (And Re-Distributes Potato Chips)Our friend Olivia joins us to chat about some hilarious childhood experiences in missing the mark and reflects on how she’s grown and changed in her life and faith.
2021-04-031h 05
Winter is Coming: A Housing Justice PodcastEpisode Zero: The Hubcast TrailerKiegan and Adam chat about the idea behind this season of the Hubcast.
2021-04-0310 min