Redwood Builds

It's our co-op student Cameron's last week with us in the Furniture Bank! Cameron is fun and he likes organizing things, making him a valuable addition to the FB team this semester. (We'll have an opening for a high school co-op student in the fall, if you know anyone who is interested.) Have a great summer, Cameron, and best of luck in your next adventures!

It was a pleasure to present the King Street project to Midland Town Council last week. Thank you to council for your thoughtful questions, and to Mayor Gordon for calling Redwood the ✨gold standard✨ for supportive housing providers. We appreciate your support and can't wait to see this project become a reality!

Let's take a minute to consider a broader definition of community infrastructure. 💡

When we hear the word "infrastructure," we usually think of things like:
✔roads
✔bridges
✔water systems
✔public transit

The systems that help communities function.

But what if housing is infrastructure, too? 🤔

Market housing.
Non-market housing.
Supportive housing.

Communities need a range of housing options to accommodate the full income spectrum of their residents.

Strong communities don't happen by accident.
They are built through intentional investments in the things people need to thrive.

Safe roads. Clean water. Reliable transit. Community spaces...And homes people can afford.

We’re all better off when we all have a home.

Thank you to for once again choosing to support United House! 💚 We are deeply grateful for the dedication of this group, which has raised and given away over $2,000,000 since its founding in 1970, helping make our community a better place. It was a pleasure to spend a morning last week with the women of the May Court Club and with so many valued community partners who were also receiving grants.

We are so grateful for the ongoing support for Jubilee House from the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area (CFOA). Naheed attended the CFOA Spring Granting Ceremony and accepted a grant that will provide each resident with a bus pass, a Good Food Box, and a grocery gift card for the next 6 months, supporting access to healthy food and transportation independence. Thank you! It is also always uplifting to be together with our community partners, all doing good work across the region that helps our communities be stronger. 💚

At our YIMBY Week event last week, our presenter said, "Canada spends $7B on homelessness services every year. I'm not sure we're getting our money's worth!"

And that got us thinking about what we are willing to pay for. 💡🤔

When people hear about funding for social or supportive housing, it can sound like an expense.

A cost.

A bill we are being asked to foot for other people.

But what if housing is an investment, not a cost?

Research consistently shows that supportive housing costs less than shelters, hospitals, enforcement, and crisis response.

The question isn't whether we pay. It's whether we will pay to manage homelessness or end it.

Every community invests in the future it wants:
Schools. Libraries. Parks. Roads.

Supportive housing belongs on that list.

When everyone has a safe, affordable, hopeful place to call home, we will all be better off.

Thank you, Connect Hair Studio, for sharing your time and expertise to connect with United House residents last week! 💇‍♀️ We all had a great day.

Happening tonight!! Bring a friend and join us for a YIMBY Week conversation about housing, homelessness, and community!

📅Thursday, May 28th, 7:00-8:30 pm
📍Redwood Headquarters (92 Davidson Street, Suite 1, Barrie)

Erin Dej will present her research to us about how attempts to hide homelessness actually backfire. This presentation will be followed by a local panel to discuss what a housing-focused response to visible homelessness could look like in Barrie and Simcoe County.

Panellists are: Erin Dej, Shelly-Ann Skinner (President, UpLIFT Black), and Andrew Scavarelli (Director of Homelessness and Housing, County of Simcoe).

Doors open at 6:30 for mingling and chatting, and snacks will be provided.

See you soon!

Last but not least, thank you to Deputy Mayor Prost, town staff, and our friends from The Guesthouse Shelter for helping us raise the YIMBY flag this week in Midland!

Woah! Our property manager Jen has just let us know that our Airbnb property in Midland is still available for the Saturday night of the Midland Butter Tart Festival. 🥧

If you want to attend the festival and keep the party going, we are located right on King St. Our unique second-floor rental, built in 1880, sleeps 6 with 3 beds in 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Bonus: this Airbnb helps fund our supportive housing communities while we work through the approval process to build 15 new affordable apartments at this address!

You can book this, or any Midland getaway this summer, here: www.airbnb.ca/rooms/867259857895944406