All Our SistersNational Network

Security of Housing & Safe Communities for Women Coast to Coast to Coast

Dani Bartlett Susan Macphail Abe Oudshoorn Shelley Yeo

Planting the Seed

• Susan Scott visitsLondon in 2008

• London Public Librarytook the lead

Growing a Dream

Small group of women’s advocates began to:

Dream

VisionEngage

Create

Participatory • Mindful • Patient

Visioning

MissionTogether, 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.

VisionBuilding 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 - 2011• 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 Forum100+ women with lived

experience shared their stories

Lived RealitiesHearing their Stories …

age culture poverty class housing mothering nationality

health HIV/AIDS homelessness drug involvement race education gender identification

trafficking violence abuse colonizationimmigrationability mental health incarceration

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

2011 - 2014• 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

www.alloursisters.ca