House of Friendship has a long history of walking alongside its neighbours, starting when a women’s prayer group rose to the challenge of hunger and poverty in downtown Kitchener. They knew they couldn’t solve every problem, but they could solve this one. They started feeding the men warm, home-cooked meals to those that needed it.
Since 1939, House of Friendship has been there. As a multi-faith organization, we honour our heritage and history every day.
At the same time, when we walk alongside community members in need, we approach them with a desire to treat them the way they want to be treated, allowing everyone to be their true selves.
Today, we recognize the incredibly diverse and vibrant community that Waterloo Region has become. This is reflected not only among the individuals we support through our four program areas of Addiction Treatment, Food, Housing and Neighbourhoods, but also amongst our staff, volunteers and supporters.
At House of Friendship (HOF), equity is central to our mission, values, and quality of service. Our Equity Plan and our Truth & Reconciliation Indigenous Equity Plan guide how we build inclusive, respectful, and accountable practices across our organization.
We recognize that systemic inequities, racism, and the ongoing impacts of colonization continue to affect people’s access to housing, health, food, and community supports. HOF is committed to addressing these realities through intentional planning, continuous learning, shared accountability, and meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.
House of Friendship’s Equity Plan guides how equity, inclusion, and fairness are integrated into all areas of our work, including program design and delivery, people practices, leadership and decision-making, and community partnerships.
The plan focuses on:
Through this plan, HOF strengthens accountability and ensures equity is a shared responsibility across the organization.
House of Friendship’s Truth & Reconciliation Indigenous Equity Plan (TRIEP) outlines our organizational response to the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. These Calls were selected because they speak directly to the systems, people, and relationships that shape how HOF supports Indigenous participants and communities.
Indigenous participants are treated with respect, experience freedom from discrimination, and are able to access ceremonies, medicines, and culturally meaningful supports where appropriate. Relationships are transparent, and commitments are honoured.
(Aligned with Calls to Action #10, #22, #43)
Programs and services integrate Indigenous definitions of wellness across mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions, alongside Western approaches to care.
(Aligned with Calls to Action #22, #43)
Indigenous partners are engaged in co-design, evaluation, and learning. Data practices respect OCAP® principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession), and accountability is shared.
(Aligned with Calls to Action #92, #43)
HOF is committed to educating staff and leadership on Indigenous history, including residential schools, treaties, and the legacy of colonialism, and to increasing Indigenous representation across the organization, particularly in frontline and wellness-related roles.
(Aligned with Calls to Action #23, #57, #62, #63)
We understand reconciliation as an ongoing responsibility that requires humility, listening, learning, and sustained action.
To support equity and reconciliation in practice, HOF has adopted the use of Circles as a way of working together. Circles help create safer spaces for dialogue, equalize voices, and foster trust, shared leadership, and accountability. They strengthen relationships and build a sense of community across staff, participants, and partners.
House of Friendship also applies the principle of Two-Eyed Seeing, which brings together the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing and Western approaches. This approach supports balanced decision-making that honours lived experience, cultural knowledge, and evidence, leading to more inclusive and responsive services.
HOF is committed to measuring progress to ensure accountability and continuous improvement in equity and reconciliation.
We measure progress by:
Reflective practices, including Circles, support shared learning and help ensure that progress is informed by lived experience and community voice.
HOF has taken concrete steps to turn commitments into action, including:
HOF’s Equity Plan and Truth & Reconciliation Indigenous Equity Plan are living commitments. They guide how we learn, act, and hold ourselves accountable. Through this work, House of Friendship continues to strengthen quality, trust, and impact while contributing to a more just, inclusive, and compassionate community for all.
The following Calls to Action were selected because they speak directly to the systems, people, and relationships that shape how House of Friendship supports Indigenous participants, staff, and communities. Our response focuses on cultural safety, service quality, shared accountability, and continuous improvement.
Call to Action | What It Calls For | How House of Friendship Is Responding |
|---|---|---|
#10 | Education systems that are fair, well-funded, culturally respectful, and accountable so Indigenous learners can thrive | We embed culturally respectful learning into staff development and leadership education, support Indigenous-informed learning opportunities, and apply accountability measures to ensure learning leads to practice change. |
#22 | Recognizing and integrating Aboriginal healing practices in health and wellness services | Programs use trauma-informed, Two-Eyed Seeing approaches that respect Indigenous definitions of wellness across mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions, including access to ceremonies and medicines where appropriate. |
#23 | Increasing Indigenous representation within the workforce, especially in frontline and wellness roles | Hiring practices and workforce planning prioritize equity, inclusion, and relationship-based recruitment, with a focus on increasing Indigenous representation in frontline and wellness-related roles. |
#43 | Using the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a framework for reconciliation | UNDRIP principles guide organizational decision-making, policy development, partnerships, and accountability within the Truth & Reconciliation Indigenous Equity Plan. |
#57 | Educating staff and leadership on Indigenous history, including residential schools and colonial impacts | Mandatory learning and ongoing education support staff and leadership understanding of Indigenous history, residential schools, and the legacy of colonialism. |
#62 | Teaching the truth about Indigenous peoples, treaties, and residential schools | Learning initiatives and organizational resources support truth-telling, historical awareness, and understanding of treaty relationships. |
#63 | Training public servants to understand Indigenous history and rights | As a community-based service provider, HOF applies these principles through staff and leadership training focused on Indigenous rights, responsibilities, and culturally respectful service delivery. |
#92 | Aligning hiring and organizational policies with UNDRIP principles | Organizational policies, people practices, and governance structures are reviewed and aligned with UNDRIP principles to support fairness, dignity, and accountability. |
To learn more about our approach to equity at House of Friendship, please reach out to our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Director, Charmaine Sheahan, at charmaines@houseoffriendship.org, or call her at 519-742-8327, ext. 143.
