Tenant LOOP - Fall 2022

R-PATH Reports: TCHC Accessibility Build Standards in action

Sometimes, it can be hard to imagine how accessibility modifications might help you function better in your home. That’s why the Responsible Personal Accessibility in Toronto Housing (R-PATH) Committee and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) are working together to create two new videos about accessibility in your home and community.

TCHC Accessibility Build Standards in Action will be a live-action video featuring members of the R-PATH Committee. Watch as we demonstrate features that can make your home and community more accessible.

For instance, did you know TCHC can install pull-down inserts to help you reach items in your top cupboards? We demonstrate this and other features in kitchens and

Still images from the two videos

washrooms, as well as building elevators and automatic door openers.

Top 7 Questions about Unit Modifications will be an animated video that takes you through the process of applying for a unit modification. Follow our tenant on his journey to living independently in his home.

The video will show you:

• The forms you need.

• How TCHC decides which modifications you need based on your medical questionnaire.

• How TCHC staff can help.

• How much it costs. Spoiler: TCHC covers the cost of modifications.

Both videos will be launching this fall, so stay tuned!

Learning outside the classroom

How the community’s giving spirit shaped Ibrahim Rfifi, a 2022 Ted Rogers Scholarship recipient. In 2022, Rogers Communications awarded Ted Rogers Scholarships to 350 students across the country for their exemplary community leadership and volunteerism, as well as financial need. The renewable scholarships offer $2,500 for up to four years, helping to make education more affordable.

As a community partner, TCHC was proud to nominate 15 deserving recipients from our communities. One of those recipients is Ibrahim Rfifi, who currently lives in Scarborough, but grew up in Regent Park and moved out in 2020 due to the revitalization program.

“When people think of Regent Park, they think of crime, poverty, homelessness, mental health, revitalization,” said Ibrahim. “My experience growing up in Regent Park is something I’ll never forget.”

At the age of 12, during the month of Ramadan, Ibrahim asked his father if he could help assemble meals at sunset

Scholarship winner Ibrahim Rfifi

for people to break their fast at his local mosque. This was his very first volunteer experience – and the most memorable.

“For a month, I would arrive at the mosque three hours before sunset and worked hard with everyone to prepare meals in time for sunset,” remembered Ibrahim. “When sunset finally came, we gave out the food to the community. Whether they were Muslims or not, the joy and gratefulness expressed by the people receiving this food was something I will never forget.”

“I hope to one day be an example for younger people in my community just as the people who strived to make my community a better place were to me.”

Ibrahim specifically recalls the diversity, and the community spirit of giving back.

“Ever since I was young, I would always observe that older people in my community were doing difficult tasks in order to support the community,” said Ibrahim. “This includes my father, whom I look up to

as a community leader, who has organized many events with TCHC, my local school, the local mosque and the Toronto Police Service. They really set the example for the children growing up – including me. I wanted to contribute as well.”

curious person, he’s passionate about problem solving and leveraging engineering to help people.

“I want to help make current prosthetic limbs more accessible to people in need by making them more affordable in production through mechanical design,” said Ibrahim. “Access to medical technology such as prosthetic limbs is a privilege, especially in developing countries. This vision I have of designing prosthetic limbs to be more globally accessible will help millions of people worldwide.”

“I want to help make current prosthetic limbs more accessible to people in need.”

Ibrahim and his father

“I hope to one day be an example for younger people in my community just as the people who strived to make my community a better place were to me,” said Ibrahim.

The education and development of community is close to his heart. Today, Ibrahim volunteers as a computer lab instructor at the Yonge Street Mission for the Regent Park community. He plans to continue to invest his time and effort by volunteering as a tutor for Pathways to Education in Regent Park. It is an organization that helps students to get their high school diplomas by providing financial, academic, and mental health support.

Ibrahim is currently studying mechanical engineering at York University. A naturally

Through its partnership with Rogers, TCHC is able to support young leaders like Ibrahim to reach their full potential.

“Tuition for engineering is hefty so every dollar helps,” stated Ibrahim. “If this scholarship did not assist me with my tuition I would not be able to attend university in turn making my goal of becoming a mechanical engineer just a dream. I’m extremely grateful for this scholarship.”

TCHC remains committed to helping youth reach their full potential, as well as to removing financial barriers to education and achieving their dreams. Learn more about the Ted Rogers Scholarships by visiting about.rogers.com and entering “scholarship” into the search bar. Also, check out the extended story in Tenant LOOP Plus at torontohousing.ca/tenantloop.

Inspire. Educate. Transform.

One tenant’s journey to increase climate action in our communities

Zamani Ra is on a mission to change the mindset around climate education and personal impact, one conversation at a time. She is the Executive Director of CEED Canada (Circular Environmental EDucation), a not-for-profit environmental awareness organization. Zamani’s workshops make climate action simple, convenient and culturally relevant for tenants in social housing.

In her own words, “CEED provides environmental education where we focus on civic engagement with underserved communities. We are looking to transform where we’re living by doing this work.”

Back to the beginning

When major floods happened at her west-end Toronto Community Housing building in 2017, Zamani wanted to know why. An inspection showed items like “flushable” wipes and personal hygiene products caused the floods. This inspired her to educate neighbours on what garbage should go where, and why it matters. These first workshops started the curriculum at CEED Canada.

Tenant Zamani Ra, Executive Director of CEED Canada

Cultural relevance is key Zamani creates impact with culturallyrelevant workshops. In other words, the topics and actions are carefully tailored for the participants. “We do research to determine where you come from (outside of Canada). We take that information and embed it into our workshops. It unlocks the ability to figure out where to tap into the [climate] conversation, into the work, and the action.”

“What we do here matters… not just in our buildings, but to other people and places.”

Zamani notes that, as a person originally from the Caribbean, where sea levels are rising, “The work I do in Canada can contribute to a decrease in greenhouse emissions, lower sea levels and slow beach erosion.”

Growing one step at a time

As the interest in CEED grows, Zamani is working on financial grants and networking opportunities. She just took part in the City of Toronto’s “2022 Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program.” The six-month program ended with participants

pitching climate-related initiatives to judges. Zamani won first prize!

“I’m the winner, but the juicy stuff is being a part of this group and connecting with this international network of women,” she said, beaming. “I’m so happy to be part of this strong network of women and exchange of ideas.”

Part of the conversation

Listening to Zamani, you can tell that CEED is more than an organization. She lights up when she talks about her work, even when discussing the challenges she’s faced.

“It’s [the] bureaucracy and the lack of equitable lenses when looking at climate work,” Zamani says. “There is pushback from people in power who don’t understand the complexities of people they serve.”

A critical part of Zamani’s work is to create and strengthen relationships with partners and leaders in related sectors. To get a place at the table where the decisions are made. To push for decision makers that look like her and her neighbours.

“Environmental stewardship is a very White-led conversation. My mother and grandmother were farmers who did environmentally conscious activities…I

don’t see them in this narrative,” she stated. “People doing this work for centuries don’t have a voice at the table. We want to change that. [When] people make statements about what they want to see, people in power will actually hear that and make it happen.”

Materials used by CEED at their events

Zamani knows that it will take time to make these important changes, but she’s patient. “What we do here matters…not just in our buildings, but to people in other places.”

What’s next?

Zamani is working with the Women4ClimateTO and C40 Cities networks to set CEED Canada up to do work on an international scale. This will mean larger initiatives to help the City of Toronto achieve its climate goal of net zero emissions by 2040. These initiatives would also create opportunities where fellow residents would get paid equitably to continue this work.

When asked for a tip to help lessen climate impact, Zamani smiles. “Truly your most environmentally-conscious asset is your mindset.”

Are you interested in climate action in your community? Start a conversation with Zamani and CEED Canada by filling out the contact form at ceedcanada.ca. Also, check out the extended feature in Tenant LOOP Plus at torontohousing.ca/tenantloop.

“People doing this work for centuries don’t have a voice at the table. We want to change that.”

Fall conservation tips

Proper chute use: Use small bags to collect garbage and put down the chute.

Save electricity. Turn off and unplug electronic devices when not in use.

Conserve water by reporting leaky taps to the Client Care Centre for repair.

Conserve water by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth.

Download the TOwaste app to learn what goes in each waste stream.

Help prevent odours and pests by keeping waste enclosures clean.

Tenant Notices

Please review this section for important updates from TCHC

Vote in the upcoming municipal election on October 24

Learn more about municipal voting and upcoming job opportunities

Did you know that Election Day for Toronto is Monday, October 24, 2022?

Voting in the election means that you have a say about your local councillor, the Mayor, and services that impact your daily life. This includes childcare programs, public health, neighbourhood planning, and more.

Job opportunities

Elections Toronto is hiring Election Officials. You are encouraged to apply for a temporary paid election position and help your community vote in October.

More information

For more information about available jobs and how to vote on October 24:

• Go to Toronto.ca/elections

• Email elections@toronto.ca

• Call 3-1-1

Your City. Your Vote.

Apply for Tenant Action Funds

Do you have an idea for a project or initiative to address your community priorities? Get your community’s endorsement and submit an application form. Applications for Tenant Action Funds are due at the end of each month, and they will be reviewed the following month. Each applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000.

How to get an application form

• email taf@torontohousing.ca

• online at torontohousing.ca/TAF

• contact your Engagement Community Services Coordinator

Questions? Need help filling out the form?

How to submit an application form

email taf@torontohousing.ca

contact your Engagement Community Services Coordinator

Contact your local Community Services Coordinator (CSC). Don’t know who your CSC is? Call the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 and a representative will connect you with the right person.

TenantNotices

Fall fire safety tips

Keep your cooking area hazard-free by removing anything that can burn and cause a fire, including oven mitts, food packaging and wooden utensils. Always clean up food spills before using the oven or stove as spills can easily catch fire.

Keep candles at least 12 inches (30 cm) away from anything that can burn. Never use a candle in your bedroom or leave a lit candle unattended. Always snuff out candles before leaving the room or going to bed.

Never leave doors propped open or let strangers into your building. Keep all common areas free of clutter. Protect your community by reporting tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 416-222-8477 (TIPS) or call TCHC’s Community Safety Unit at 416-921-2323 .

Visit torontohousing.ca/firesafety for more fire safety tips.

Contest: Favourite fall books

It’s the beginning of October and that means fall is officially in full swing. For many of us, it means the perfect time to relax on a park bench while enjoying the colourful leaves on display, and leafing through a great book.

Whether it’s an intense political thriller or a lighthearted celebrity biography, share your favourite fall “page-turner” with us and your entry could be chosen at random to win one Chapters Indigo gift card with a $50 value. The winning entry may also be featured in the next issue of Tenant LOOP. This contest is only open to tenants of Toronto Community Housing.

Contest entries can be sent via:

• Email to TenantLOOP@torontohousing.ca

• Direct message to our Facebook page at facebook.com/TorontoCommunityHousing

• Mail to 931 Yonge St., 7th floor, Toronto, ON M4W 2H2 (Attn: Tenant LOOP)

Please send your entries by Monday, November 1, 2022.

Congratulations to Paulette, the winner of our “Go to summer place” competition from the summer issue. Paulette’s favourite place in Toronto is Dufferin Grove Park, where you can visit the Farmers Market every Thursday, make an amazing pizza with its outdoor pizza oven, or soak your feet in the wading pool. It’s also a great spot for a picnic. Paulette has won two Cineplex tickets, so she can take in a fall feature with a friend. Enjoy the show, Paulette!

Your community through your eyes

Focusing a lens on where you live

Are you inspired by something in your community, have a story to tell through your phone or mobile device, or simply enjoy taking photos of inspiring architecture and community creativity?

Toronto is a vibrant city, and TCHC communities are an important part of that. Nobody knows this better than our tenants, which is why we’d like your help in bringing this to light with our readers. “Your community through your eyes” will be a new feature in Tenant LOOP, where we’ll regularly showcase photos of TCHC communities taken by tenants. These photos can be of anything community related, such as buildings, parks, public art, etc. (due to consent laws, photos of people will only be accepted if they cannot be identified in the photo). By doing this, we’d like to shine a spotlight on parts of our city that some of our other readers may not know too much about, discover stories of interest, and help us appreciate the communities that we live in.

If you would like to share a photo of your neighbourhood, please email it to tenantloop@torontohousing.ca, along with your first name, a brief description of the photo, and the name of the TCHC community it’s from. You could see your photo in a future issue of Tenant LOOP.

Youth empowering youth in Regent Park

The Youth Empower Youth (YEY) group was formed three years ago in Regent Park to help identify opportunities to better support youth needs in the community. It was also formed to increase awareness about the supports and services available to young people.

The YEY group is made up of tenant youths, youth workers, community leaders and TCHC staff. Over the past two years, they have launched several successful initiatives. This includes mental health workshops, art projects, and women's selfdefense classes. Their most well-known and impactful program is the Youth Crisis Care Fund. It provides emergency funding to youth aged 12 to 29 who are facing a crisis. The program allows them to use emergency funding for necessities like food, temporary housing, and medical prescriptions.

When asked how YEY created their initiatives, members said it was based on feedback they heard from other youth living in the Regent Park community. "Our programming is based on the research findings from the survey and focus groups that we held," said Raisa Chowdhury, a

member of the YEY group. "From the 350 youth that participated, we were able to create a one-pager of the research findings and see what youth really wanted."

The growth and impact of the group have caught the attention of TCHC staff. In August, TCHC hosted a networking event where YEY members received recognition and tokens of appreciation from TCHC President and CEO Jag Sharma, as well as members of the Development team. “Because there’s so much changing in Regent Park, youth are the ones that will stay in this community for future years,” said Raisa. “It’s important for them to make these connections and know what’s happening in the community.” To find more information on YEY and their programs, you can visit their website at youthempoweryouth.com. Also, check out the extended story in Tenant LOOP Plus at torontohousing.ca/tenantloop.

Read YEY’s feature on CBC News!

CBC News recently produced a story about the YEY group and their work. To check it

Members of YEY and TCHC staff with TCHC CEO Jag Sharma (back row, third from left) at an August networking event

Your comment Our solution

comment: I’m living with

I’ll

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unit

solution:

you need

self-identification (self-ID) process is available. This process allows tenants who experience barriers to accessibility

identify themselves to

Housing.

from your form will be added to your building’s fire safety plan. This plan is available just to first responders or site staff. It will only be used to make sure you get the help you need during an emergency or building evacuation. The Self-ID process is voluntary and confidential and is meant to help keep you safe.

How to get in touch

Scan the QR code or visit tchc.qrd.by/tenantwebsitesurvey to take this quick 10-minute survey.

Let us know how you use our website and how we can improve its design and function for tenants.

Our goal is to launch a new website in Spring 2023 that is informative, engaging and accessible. The survey is anonymous. Your contact information for the gift card draw is stored separately from your survey results.

Please share this survey with other TCHC tenants to help us gather more feedback!

This contest is only open to tenants of Toronto Community Housing.

Help us redesign the TCHC website and you could win a $50 gift card!