Civic Engagement

Houselink  provides opportunities to residents, community participants, staff and volunteers to get involved through civic engagement and advocacy initiatives.  Some of these activities include:

Social Issues Committee:

Open meetings for all residents and participants of Houselink on the topic of social issues.  These meetings involve information sessions on a variety of social issues topics, identified and chosen by those most concerned and impacted.   Some activities include; the environment, ODSP special benefits, and the mental health act.  Field trips to City Hall to observe city council meetings, as well as Queen’s Park and the Legislative Assembly.  Discussions and involvement in upcoming government elections.

Art Exhibits:

Art exhibits of participants’ art are sometimes organized in restaurants or galleries.  Check out some our member art on our website.

Mad Pride:  

Each year Houselink participants and staff play a large role in helping create and execute Mad Pride.  Mad Pride is an arts, cultural and heritage festival orchestrated by psychiatric survivors, consumers, mad people, and a variety of folk the world has labeled “mentally ill”, and our many friends and family who wish to support us in solidarity. For more information visit www.madprideto.com

The “Link” Committee:

This committee plans and and creates this quarterly newsletter which is made available all Houselink residents and participant participants.  The committee is made up of six Houselink participant participants who help produce the newsletter, including editing, layout and design.  Topics of articles are written by many resident and participant contributors and have included:  Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, New Years’ resolutions, memories of childhood and The Dream Team.

Stitching Our Own Social Safety Net

A new advocacy campaign called “Stitching Our Own Social Safety Net” is a partner initiative between Houselink, The Dream Team, Christian Resource Centre and the Health & Strength Action Group.  It provides a platform for people living with mental health challenges, including those who are homeless, marginalized and living in poverty to take action!.  Whether the issue is health care or housing, education or poverty reduction, every part of the social safety net is being unraveled before us in Ontario.  It has gotten to the point where we as citizens and taxpayers must step up to stitch it back together ourselves, and we intend to our part.