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| End Homelessness Winnipeg Newsletter: May 2021 View this newsletter on Mailchimp Spring Resource Guide With new COVID-19 restrictions in place until at least May 30 in Winnipeg, it can be a challenge to know where to access shelter, safe spaces, outreach supports, food and washrooms. Download, print and share this Spring Resource Guide to help all our neighbours keep connected through this third wave of the pandemic and beyond. The Guide shares essential listings of critical services in our community, with a helpful map of shelter and safe space locations on the reverse side. Recording of April 7 Event on Ending Homelessness On Wednesday, April 7, a free virtual event addressed the steps needed to end homelessness in our city. From Crisis to Connection – Ending Homelessness in Winnipeg featured people with lived and work experience -including local Indigenous voices- sharing expertise and perspectives. Speakers included Elder Charlotte Nolin; End Homelessness Winnipeg’s Betty Edel; Jacob Kaufman and Adrienne Dudek from Main Street Project; and Angelina Pelletier from Ndinawe. The discussion was moderated by Right to Housing Coalition Provincial Working Group Chair, Kirsten Bernas. Nearly 300 people participated in the event, which was organized in collaboration by Kíkininaw Óma Strategy to Support Unsheltered Winnipeggers; End Homelessness Winnipeg; Make Poverty History Manitoba; and the Right to Housing Coalition. Watch a recording of the event here.  CEO Retirement and Recruitment End Homelessness Winnipeg’s CEO, Lucille Bruce, has announced her plans to retire this summer, following 3.5 years of transformative leadership. Lucille’s work with End Homelessness Winnipeg caps a career-long commitment to Indigenous-led approaches for housing and healing. She previously served as Executive Director of the Native Women’s Transition Centre; Executive Director of Village Clinic; Interim Chairperson of the Manitoba Urban Native Housing Association; and Indigenous Co-Site Coordinator for Winnipeg as part of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s At Home/Chez Soi Project. This important work localized Housing First from an Indigenous perspective to address Urban Indigenous homelessness. Lucille recently shared her story with the Humans, On Rights podcast, which can be heard here. End Homelessness Winnipeg’s Board of Directors has launched an executive search to recruit the organization’s next CEO. For details, please click here. Ekosani, Miigwetch, Maarsii, Thank you! |
“Lissie Rappaport is playing a leadership role in the campaign to end homelessness in our community. The daughter of Lynn and Alan Rappaport – and granddaughter of Rabbi Sholom and Elaine Rappaport (oleh hasholem) is currently the Manager of Housing Supply at End Homelessness Winnipeg.”
Read more from the Jewish Post and News: https://www.jewishpostandnews.ca/8-features/810-end-homelessness-advocate-lissie-rappaport-credits-her-zaida-forinfluencing-her-career-path
“Tiny homes could be part of the solution to Winnipeg’s homelessness problem, says a local social service agency specializing in housing for at-risk people.
End Homelessness Winnipeg has surveyed people experiencing unsheltered homelessness regarding the type of housing they’d like in order to transition away from encampments, explained Lissie Rappaport to the Winnipeg Sun on Tuesday. The consensus among those surveyed was small cabins.
Rappaport said tiny homes for those experiencing homelessness have popped up in several North American cities, including Seattle and Oregon.”
Read more from the Winnipeg Sun: https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/tiny-homes-could-hold-key-to-homelessness-problem
Lucille Bruce has informed the Board of Directors and staff of her plans to retire at the end of June, following 3.5 years of transformative leadership.
“End Homelessness Winnipeg is leading the change in Winnipeg from managing homelessness to ending it,” she shared. “This role offers an incredible opportunity to work with a dedicated and highly capable team on vital priorities for our community.”
“Lucille brought passion, experience, commitment and great leadership to the role of Chief Executive Officer of End Homelessness Winnipeg,” said Board of Directors chair, Jason Whitford. “Lucille will be missed by our Board of Directors, staff and partners working in the area of ending homelessness. Lucille is well deserving of rest and relaxation, following tremendous accomplishments throughout her career, where she has fulfilled roles of leadership professionally with dedication, empathy and expertise. Although several challenges lie ahead to fulfill strategic objectives of End Homelessness Winnipeg, Lucille’s efforts as CEO have provided a solid foundation for ongoing progress. On behalf of the Board, I wish Lucille all the best in her retirement and many years of health to enjoy with family and friends. Kitchi Miigwetch Lucille!”
Transformational Change
Lucille Bruce joined End Homelessness Winnipeg in January, 2018. Over the course of 3 years, she stewarded transformational change, transitioning End Homelessness Winnipeg to become an Indigenous non-profit, with predominantly Indigenous staff and board members reflective of the population impacted by homelessness in Winnipeg; as well as Community Entity for Reaching Home, administering federal homelessness funding locally. Her collaborative leadership style has ensured inclusion of Indigenous people and people with Lived Experience at all levels of the organization’s work, and successful coordination of a COVID-19 Response for Winnipeg’s homeless-serving sector. She has spearheaded partnerships for The Village Project and Housing Through Collaboration: innovative, Indigenous-led housing to address critical gaps in the city’s housing continuum.
Indigenous-led Solutions
Lucille’s work with End Homelessness Winnipeg caps a career-long commitment to Indigenous-led approaches for housing and healing. She previously served as Executive Director of the Native Women’s Transition Centre; Executive Director of Village Clinic; and Interim Chairperson of the Manitoba Urban Native Housing Association. From 2009-2013, she was the Indigenous Co-Site Coordinator for Winnipeg as part of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s At Home/Chez Soi Project. This important work localized Housing First from an Indigenous perspective to address Urban Indigenous homelessness. Lucille recently shared her story with the Humans, On Rights podcast, which can be heard here. As she steps away from her role as CEO, she will continue to share her expertise and wisdom in an advisory capacity for research and community-based projects.
The Board of Directors is launching an executive search to recruit the organization’s next President and CEO.
On Wednesday, April 7, 2021, a free virtual event addressed the steps needed to end homelessness in our city. From Crisis to Connection – Ending Homelessness in Winnipeg featured people with lived and work experience -including local Indigenous voices- sharing expertise and perspectives. Speakers included Elder Charlotte Nolin; End Homelessness Winnipeg’s Betty Edel; Jacob Kaufman and Adrienne Dudek from Main Street Project; and Angelina Pelletier from Ndinawe. The discussion was moderated by Right to Housing Coalition Provincial Working Group Chair, Kirsten Bernas.
“We need to really focus on the humanity of people, and not the labelling of people,” said Betty Edel. “The biggest thing that people need to recognize is that homelessness can happen to any of us, if we don’t have the proper supports in our lives.”
“People who are experiencing homelessness have been marginalized, and not treated with the respect that they need,” added Jacob Kaufman. “A shelter does not feel like a permanent home for someone. And that’s a big thing that we tend to forget about, is that people want a home.”
“There are things that we can do,” offered Angelina Pelletier, “tangible steps that can be taken to transform these systems that we’re working with and to help mobilize solutions.” Pelletier encouraged participants to engage elected representatives on housing issues, and to approach people experiencing homelessness from a place of compassion and respect.
Nearly 300 people participated in the event, which was organized in collaboration by Kíkinanaw Óma Strategy to Support Unsheltered Winnipeggers; End Homelessness Winnipeg; Make Poverty History Manitoba; and the Right to Housing Coalition.