House of Friendship has always been a part of Linda Kruger’s story. Her mother, Agnes Eby, served on the board at House of Friendship in the 1970s. As a young university student, Linda volunteered, and covered the desk during weekly staff meetings. Similarly, Linda’s husband Chuck learned about House of Friendship while growing up at […]
A group of young men who connected through House of Friendship’s Boys in Leadership program are showing that they have what it takes to lead. Hiab, Rekik, Jaden, and Haben have created Youth Smile-Link, a program that offers many opportunities or youth like them to get together and have fun – and find a community […]
Jen will graduate from high school this year – the same year as her daughter. “It only took me an extra 20 years,” said Jen. “But I’m going to do it.” Now in her 40s, Jen became a mother as a teenager. She dropped out of school to care for her baby. Right at the […]
Marisa DeLuca loves that “a-ha” moment when a child figures out a homework problem. As a volunteer at our Adventure Learning program at Victoria Hills Community Centre, Marisa meets weekly with young students, providing support and encouragement. “I love seeing the development of the youth over the weeks, and being able to be a safe […]
A volunteer program at ShelterCare ensures that men experiencing homelessness can learn valuable skills to help them regain their independence. It also gives them a chance to give back. After losing his job several months ago, James has been staying at House of Friendship’s ShelterCare program. “I had never been homeless before, and I had […]
House of Friendship is excited to partner with Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo to provide HART Hub services in Waterloo Region. Through HART (Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment) Hubs, the Province of Ontario is investing almost $550 million to support people who are experiencing homelessness and living with addiction. Through the program, community members will connect with […]
You might not realize it to look at him today, but Stephen has always been a hard worker. He used to work six days a week at Food Basics in shipping and receiving. “Now, I couldn’t even do a day,” said Stephen. Stephen, now 66, was diagnosed with scleroderma three years ago – a fatal autoimmune […]
Cora-Lee is a survivor. As a child, she endured incredible abuse – from being thrown out a window as a baby, to being treated like a maid by her adoptive family when she was a teenager. Cora-Lee never felt accepted, and never felt like she fit in. With all of this turmoil and rejection, it […]
Dawn Gill’s recent career change might sound like a sharp departure from her long-time role as House of Friendship’s Development Officer. Certainly, her current position as Constituency Coordinator for her Member of Parliament invites a lot of questions about the ins and outs of political life. But she simply sees it as another way to […]
Dilara* came to Canada in search of a better life. She left her homeland of Turkey, after struggling with a difficult, abusive marriage. While Dilara had to leave her adult children behind, her 17-year-old daughter, Melek, joined her for the journey. Their dangerous trek to Canada took them through several countries, including Mexico and the […]
