Take a closer look at the work of Project Genesis through the eyes of volunteers, members, interns, staff, and service users!
Perseverance and helping others
Priscilla, Housing Rights Committee volunteer
“I am learning a lot and I am meeting a lot of different people. Seeing different things and learning makes a lot of difference in my life.”
Fighting poverty by fighting for social housing
Kim, Housing Rights Committee volunteer
“The most important way
of fighting poverty
is by fighting for housing.”
Learning, and being inspired to make a change
Sandra, Outreach volunteer
“When you hear what other people have gone through, you can relate – it can help you, it can inspire you, it can motivate you.”
Help with addressing financial difficulties
Rodolfo, Storefront service user
“I am trying to survive with these struggles in my life and I am very thankful to Genesis for helping.”
How one good turn can lead to many others
Judith, Storefront volunteer advisor
How far does the long arm of an original idea reach?
Who knows where it will stop?
Encouragement and Support
Estrelita, Storefront service user
“Some places try to discourage you when you ask for support, but at Project Genesis, you don’t feel judged; you feel welcomed.”
People living in poverty speaking out
Susan, Anti-Poverty Committee volunteer
“That is how people’s lives are saved – when they find out where in the community they can get help.”
The Storefront: Sorting out welfare woes
Storefront staff reviewing a file
When Ms. B.’s monthly welfare cheque was somewhat mysteriously cut by over $400, she was referred to Project Genesis by a friend.
Offering services for those with limited mobility
Djamel, Home Advocacy Services volunteer
“(Our work) helps service users avoid delays or problems with (various programs) and receiving their benefits.”
Standing in solidarity with those in difficulty
Camille, Storefront advisor and student intern
“Project Genesis is unique in the way it situates individuals…in the context of a community, ready to stand with them and equip them to take action.”
Supporting a social rate for public transit
Anti-Poverty Committee participants
“When you can’t afford a bus ride, you’re stuck!”
Video: “Prochaines sorties barrées” (mostly in French)
Featuring Anti-Poverty Committee volunteers
Ce film documentaire illustre comment différentes «barrières» socio-économiques entrainent et surtout maintiennent dans la pauvreté
Video: “The Rental Board discriminates against tenants”
A video exploring how delays affect the lives of tenants who turn to the Rental Board as a recourse for problems in their apartments.
Solving problems
Menachem, Storefront advisor and student intern
“The complexity of this case…suggests that without our intervention, Ms D may never have received welfare.”
Video: “Evaluation des résultats par et pour le communautaire” (in French)
Featuring Outreach volunteers
The Centre de Formation Populaire (CFP) produced a video on the evaluation of Project Genesis’ Outreach program.
Gaining insight and building solidarity
Russell, Anti-Poverty Committee volunteer
“(This activity) was an eye-opener…and it built solidarity amongst ourselves while fuelling us to engage in further actions.”
Home Advocacy Services: The heat is on!
Volunteer advisor consulting with Storefront staff
Ms. K. is a 91-year-old woman living alone. Although her apartment was very cold, her landlord refused to turn on the heat.
Obtaining benefits for a single mother in a time of crisis
Catherine, Storefront volunteer advisor
“We were able to ensure that welfare would take the place of the job training payments during her period of treatment and convalescence.”
Caring about local residents
Line, Outreach volunteer
“Project Genesis is made up of people who care about Côte-des-Neiges residents and are available to help them exercise their rights.”
Helping people fight for their rights
Tariq, Outreach volunteer
“Why we do this is to help people fight for their rights – so that people can change their lives.”
Negotiating bureaucratic delays
Geneviève, Storefront advisor and student intern
“Staff were instrumental in guiding me…so that I could confidently take the next steps in working towards a resolution for Mr. G.”
Blue Bonnets: Engaging people in our neighbourhood
Kurt, Housing Rights Committee volunteer
“I was so proud that this was something we orchestrated ourselves, and that we succeeded in making local people aware of this important issue and getting them involved.”
Participating in positive change
Albertha, Housing Rights and Anti-Poverty Committees volunteer
“I believe that as we continue to persevere, by actions and letters of concern to the government about poverty and homelessness, there will be positive changes in the near future.”
Working towards a solution
Aissatou, Anti-Poverty Committee volunteer
“Through our committee, we continue to work towards a solution – and I think there is one out there. We need to ensure that people are treated with dignity.”
Increasing confidence for a Home Advocacy Services user
Dua, Individual Services volunteer
“Since he lost his vision some years ago, Mr. T finds it difficult to manage his paperwork, so he asked our Home Advocacy Services for help”
Breaking the silence surrounding poverty
Chris, Project Genesis community organizer
“These important actions…were undertaken to meet an enormous challenge: breaking the silence surrounding poverty in our community”
Opening new avenues of hope
Brigitte, Storefront volunteer advisor
“It felt good to provide information concerning financial assistance and housing options, empowering her to make effective change in her life.”
Empowering tenants
Edy, Outreach volunteer
“Nothing has been more gratifying than to reach those tenants who kindly open their doors to us and agree to take action to empower themselves”
