Patsy Shaw and Linda Herrington

Neighbours Patsy Shaw and Linda Herrington, residents of McCauley West for Families a 4-plex for large families built in 1992, share a lot of common ground. They both experienced challenging times growing up, experienced incredible hardship, including living in some terrible places. But they are strong, and today, they are able to provide their grandchildren and other family members a wonderful, loving home.

Their commitment extends outside the home as well. For example, they are active volunteers in their church, the nearby school, and other inner city organizations. They feel privileged to live in Inner City Housing, having come from similar backgrounds; and they're not only next door neighbours - they're the closest of friends.

Having lived at McCauley West for 16 years now, it seems as though Patsy has adjusted seamlessly to the inner city housing community - and the neighbourhood itself. However, things weren't so easy at first.

"It took about a year to grasp that I finally had a place to call home," she says.

It's hard to believe that Patsy, with her warm, fun-loving charm, was a bit of a loner when she first found housing. But that's exactly how she felt as a result of growing up without decent and safe living conditions.

"I remember one place that had no heat - you could literally keep frozen meat in the bedroom closet," she describes. "At another condemned place, I had to seal holes in the baseboards to keep out the roaches... I was constantly checking for 'critters' in the cupboards. I also learned the best way to trap mice was with bacon grease on the trap."

Perhaps the most striking experience from her childhood that Patsy still recalls, is sleeping underneath her grandparents' bed because their house was cramped full of people.

"Without a home," she explains, "you just feel worthless. You don't realize you have potential."

Potential is what she certainly has now, and anticipates a brighter future for her grand kids as well. Her volunteer work at the Mustard Seed helps people on the street get a good start in life. Patsy and the other volunteers teasingly refer to themselves as "go-getters" – because they 'go and get it done'.

Linda, Patsy's next door neighbour and friend, has lived at Inner City Housing for eight years. She and Patsy met at a support group called 'grandparents raising their grand kids' at Norwood School. Today they enjoy baby sitting for each other, attending Sacred Heart Church and generally watching out for one another.

Linda too, can recall memories of slum housing like the time her grand daughter Chantal woke up from her sleep screaming because a mouse was on her face. "It was truly horrible because Chantal had been very sick, in and out of hospital." Like her neighbour Patsy, Linda too remembers having to sleep in cramped quarters, sharing a single bed with at least two siblings. Today, the young children in her home have their own beds, and the older ones have their own rooms. Linda states that things have changed for the better now that she and her grandchildren are living comfortably in a safe, decent and affordable home.

Stability has changed the lives of the grand kids enormously. They enjoy bringing their friends over to the house, there's more room for them to live and play and they're involved in the community. For example, they take guitar lessons at Sacred Heart, and are actively involved with the Boys and Girls Club and Norwood School programs.

For inner city residents who find themselves in the situation Patsy and Linda once did, their message is clear: "Don't lose faith... Don't quit... Learn to trust people because there are people in the community who really care."

Ray Chorney

Our Casual Labour Pool creates opportunity for Residents At Inner City Housing, we always have an open door for those who want to make changes and help themselves. One of the best ways we can do that is by providing casual labour opportunities for our residents.

The Labour Pool is an important part of what we do. Even though it's called casual labour, Inner city housing prides itself on being a fair and equitable employer.

Wages are higher than at temp agencies, and we are more flexible and cater to the needs and abilities of the residents who wish to work. Everything is above board, and all residents who are employed in the casual labour pool must fill out a revenue Canada tax form, and are required to report the income to their benefits worker if they are on social assistance or disability pension.

The casual labour pool requires time and commitment by our salaried staff, which must administer the paper work and organize jobs to do, as well as support or work alongside the residents who are doing jobs for us. But it is worth the time spent!

Ray Chorney has graciously offered to tell some of his story to our supporters. Ray, who is currently a resident at AuClair Manour, is a valued participant in our resident casual labour pool.

Ray will be the first to admit that housing and a stable lifestyle did not come easily.

"Before Inner City Housing, I spent my nights on the mats at a downtown shelter," he explains. "After waking up on a mat, the only thing that mattered was scratching enough money with some buddies to get something to drink... anything to drink. I've drank some pretty bad stuff."

Ray can't explain how, exactly, someone gets to that point. He does, however, recall how he had been dealt a real blow some years before. While he was still relatively young, Ray was diagnosed with some very serious and potentially terminal health problems.

"Feeling no hope, I decided I was going to 'go out with a bang'," he says.

Ray remembers waking up in a hospital one day while his ribs hurt. "It was because I had CPR done on me the night before... I remember when my doctor gave me 'that' look... she seemed truly upset, looked right into my eyes and told me my heart was swollen with fluid - and that I should start to prepare to die. I knew it was the truth. I was dying, I felt it, and I was barely in my `40s."

Today, Ray is known by our maintenance team as a sober, hard working, dependable employee.

It started last summer when seasonal work was available. He started painting fences but now helps with some of the finer finishing work in the suites, as they are prepared for new tenants. He also tends to the common areas and the yard at Project 3.

Ray is feeling quite good these days.

"I met with my doctor a couple of weeks ago and she gave me clean bill of health," he says proudly.

And what does the future hold for Ray today?

He is taking small steps now, like getting his drivers license so people don't have to drive him around to various jobs.

But his real goal is to enroll in Nechi Training at Poundmakers Lodge so he can be an addictions counsellor.

"That's one goal, but I could also get certification in computer aided drafting."

When asked about his housing situation, Ray states, "When you pass out in a shelter, all you think about is drinking and drinking. I didn't care about my appearance or anything else. You won't ever see me back there... Life is good right now, and I owe a lot of it to the Edmonton Inner City Housing Society."

Besrat Zerai and family

Former Inner City Housing Residents Purchase Their Very Own Home

By Cam McDonald, Executive Director

There are wonderful moments we are able to experience as we do our work at the Edmonton Inner City Housing Society.

A marvelous example of this is when an individual or a family moves out of inner city housing, and takes the time to personally describe to us how important their housing has been for them. We can truly sense that their gratitude and appreciation is coming from the heart.

That is exactly what happened in our dealings with the Zerai family. Besrat Zerai, his spouse Youdanas, and their preschool daughter moved into Norwood 2 when it opened in early 2004. Youdanas was expecting a child when they moved in and, two years later, a third child was born.

Besrat operated a City cab, and was simultaneously able to get his certification to be a machinist. He worked long hours while his wife stayed home with their three young children. Once some of the children were in school, Youdanas went to school to obtain certification in early childhood development. It had been her long term goal to open a day home.

During their fifth year living at inner city housing, the Zerai family finally had enough income to manage a mortgage; that is when Besrat gave notice to vacate. Before leaving us he invited me to see his family's new home.

Late one afternoon I travelled to the suburbs to see their new home. Besrat and Youdanas were wonderful hosts and it was easy to see that they were happy. As always, the children were friendly and smiling.

"You have helped us so much, we will never forget what you have done for us," said Besrat.

Please share with us in wishing the best for the Zerai family in the future.