On October 24, 550 supporters, community leaders, volunteers, partners, staff, and friends gathered at Bingemans Marshall Hall for Friendship Dinner 2026.
Together, we celebrated an extraordinary moment in House of Friendship’s history: the upcoming opening of Cedar Village, the official introduction of Friendship Village as a connected housing campus, and the announcement of Phase 2, which will bring 70 new affordable housing apartments to Waterloo Region.
Throughout the evening, the message that everyone deserves a place to belong remained at the heart of every story shared from the stage.
Board Chair Alan Uffelmann reflected on a year of momentum for House of Friendship and the collective effort that has brought Friendship Village to life.
He reminded guests that home is much more than a building. It is stability, dignity, and community. While Friendship Village represents a remarkable achievement, it is also a reminder that the work of addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in Waterloo Region continues.
The evening celebrated what is possible when a community comes together with a shared commitment to creating pathways toward health, housing, and belonging.
In her first Friendship Dinner as CEO, Jennifer Scott shared her own journey to leadership and reflected on the importance of connection, compassion, and community.
Jennifer spoke about the importance of creating environments where people feel safe, valued, and welcomed. Drawing inspiration from House of Friendship’s beginnings in 1939, when three women welcomed men experiencing homelessness in for a warm meal, she reminded guests that the organization’s work has always been rooted in the simple act of helping people belong.
Today, that same spirit continues through programs in housing, food insecurity, addiction challenges, and neighbourhood supports through 40 locations in Waterloo Region.
Jennifer highlighted the growing housing crisis in Waterloo Region and the urgent need for innovative solutions that support not only housing, but healing, connection, and long-term stability.
That vision is at the heart of Friendship Village.
One of the most exciting moments of the evening was the public introduction of Cedar Village, House of Friendship’s newest supportive housing building that will soon welcome 100 residents home.
Guests also learned that Cedar Village is part of something larger.
For the first time, House of Friendship shared the vision of Friendship Village as the name of the entire housing campus, bringing together:
Together, these buildings create a connected housing continuum that supports people as they move toward greater stability and independence.
Unlike traditional housing systems that often require people to leave behind their support networks as their needs change, Friendship Village is intentionally designed to keep residents connected to their community, relationships, and supports throughout their journey.
It is a model that recognizes belonging is part of healing.
Guests also heard from Jen McGuire, Cedar Village Program Development Manager, whose keynote address brought the vision of supportive housing to life through stories of resilience, courage, and hope.
Drawing on more than a decade of experience working alongside participants, Jen challenged the audience to rethink what success looks like.
Success is not one-size-fits-all.
For some people, success may mean reconnecting with family. For others, it may mean learning a new skill, building confidence, improving their health, or taking a first step toward independence.
Take a look to hear directly from participants:
At Cedar Village, residents will receive individualized support through five key program areas:
These supports will help residents pursue goals that matter to them while building a future grounded in stability, dignity, and hope.
Jennifer Scott also shared exciting news from the Welcome Home: Friendship Village campaign.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, community groups, businesses, and supporters across the region, all 100 apartments at Cedar Village have been fully furnished.
When residents move in, they won’t walk into empty units. They will walk into homes that have been thoughtfully prepared by a community that believes everyone deserves a place to belong.
While the opening of Cedar Village represents a major milestone, guests also received a glimpse into the future.
Jennifer announced that Cedar Village is only Phase 1 of Friendship Village.
Once residents move into the new Cedar Village building, the current Charles Village building will be redeveloped as Phase 2 of the campus. In its place, House of Friendship plans to build 70 new affordable housing apartments, significantly expanding affordable housing opportunities in Waterloo Region.
Friendship Village is not the finish line, it is the next step in House of Friendship’s ongoing commitment to creating innovative housing solutions that help people move from crisis toward stability, belonging, and independence.
Friendship Dinner 2026 was a celebration of community.
We are deeply grateful to our volunteers, sponsors, donors, elected officials, community partners, planning committee members, and guests who joined us for this special evening.
We extend special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, the RBJ Schlegel Family Foundation, and to all of our Transform, Inspire, Hope, and In-Kind sponsors whose generosity helped make the evening possible.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who continues to believe in a Waterloo Region where everyone can belong and thrive.
Because of your support, more people will soon walk through the doors of Cedar Village and hear two words that can change everything:
Welcome Home.
📸 View our event photo album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1531478632337867&type=3
▶️ Watch event videos:
Learn more about Friendship Village: https://houseoffriendship.org/friendshipvillage/
