Publication – Project Genesis

Campagne de visibilité FRAPRU

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La clé, c’est le logement social !

You have the right to refuse a rent increase!

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See the fact sheet below for more information.

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Download the annual report (PDF)

Project Genesis: Highlights 2017-2018

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A better future is possible

On the path to a better future

Helping people, and improving living conditions

This past year, staff, volunteers, and student interns at Project Genesis’ Storefront drop-in centre provided 9,215 in-person and follow-up interventions.
We assisted people from 134 countries of origin, ranging in age from 17 to 97 years.
Of the Storefront’s total interventions this past year, 3,388 were related to housing issues, including helping tenants address problems such as lack of heat in winter, and obtain needed repairs in their dwellings. 1,547 interventions were related to pensions, including assisting seniors to apply for and resolve problems in receiving benefits. 1,462 interventions were related to welfare issues, such as determining eligibility and helping vulnerable people access essential aid.
We also provided assistance on a range of other issues, including accessing low cost housing, obtaining family allowance benefits, and resolving Medicare problems

Being a part of the change you want to see in the world

“There’s a saying: ‘Be a part of the change you want to see in the world.’ As a member of the Anti-Poverty Committee, you feel part of that change.

Sometimes if you have a problem, others will have a solution. It helps so much to know your rights. It is empowerment. You really feel like you are making a change, be it when writing open letters, sharing information, hearing other people’s views, learning new skills or meeting politicians in our community who can make a difference politically.

I have brought petitions, flyers, and information about housing and welfare from Project Genesis to other places, to make sure that people know their rights. It’s heartwarming to know that in Project Genesis, there are people who work and volunteer here that are making a great difference in people’s lives. Everyone’s hearts are in it.”

Lisa, Project Genesis volunteer

Educating and sharing knowledge

Our Outreach team knocked on 1,577 doors in the neighbourhood this past year, to assess housing conditions and provide information to tenants.
We gave workshops and distributed 2,200 pamphlets in 12 languages, informing local residents of their rights and responsibilities.
Each year, we provide workshops to our volunteers and members, to foster a respect for diversity. Themes we touched upon this past year included racism, homelessness, rights of migrants, and gender diversity.

Investing in our community’s future

“As a social work student, I aspire to advocate for the social rights of everyone, regardless of their situation.

Through their very inclusive approach, Project Genesis gave a good idea of what it looks like when an organization stops at nothing to fight for and make sure that each one of their service users understands their rights and has them respected.”

Lucky, Project Genesis student intern

Creating a better future together

“I don’t remember how I first heard about Project Genesis, just that it was the place to go when you needed help.

I first went to the Storefront with passport problems. Then…I used their services again to resolve my husband’s pension problems. They were so helpful that I asked how I could repay them…that’s how I became a member of the Home Advocacy Services.

After a training period, I began visiting people at their homes, offering our Storefront services to those who were physically unable to come to us.

My activities convinced me we needed to lobby for improvements in anyone’s life.”

Betty, former Project Genesis volunteer

Not only was Betty Vineberg a dedicated volunteer, but her desire to improve the lives of those in difficulty led her to bequeath a legacy gift to Project Genesis.

We are sincerely grateful for Betty’s gift; her commitment to a better future will make a difference in the community for the years to come.

Thank you to all our donors for contributing to a better future!

Our Annual Report 2017-2018

Download the annual report (PDF)

Interested in more?

Donate to Project Genesis’ Anti-Poverty Work in Memory of John Kinloch

Report: Left out of the Triangle: The impact of the Namur – Jean-Talon Development on Mountain Sights residents // 10/2017

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October 2017

The impact of the Namur – Jean-Talon Development on Mountain Sights residents

Download the annual report (PDF)

Project Genesis: Highlights 2016-2017

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Project Genesis – together for social and economic rights

Albertha, volunteer on the Housing Rights and Anti-Poverty committees

Individual Services

Through our often-bustling Storefront drop-in centre, as well as our modest yet vital Home Advocacy Services program, Project Genesis assists individuals and families with their immediate difficulties.

This past year, this work was sustained by 57 volunteers and 11 students and interns, who gave their time as front-line advisors, receptionists, and support volunteers.

Storefront

This past year, we provided 8,842 in-person and follow-up interventions through our Storefront, and also responded to thousands of telephone calls.

3,193 of our Storefront interventions were related to housing issues, such as addressing problems of mould and vermin, and helping tenants respond to rent increase notices.
2,240 of our Storefront interventions were related to welfare, including assisting people in determining their eligibility for accessing benefits.
Our Storefront provided services to people from 128 countries of origin, and in addition to English and French, our volunteers and staff offered services in 11 languages.

Find out more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/storefront

Home Advocacy Services

Through our Home Advocacy Services (HAS) program, we provide services by telephone and in people’s homes to those in our neighbourhood who are unable to come to the Storefront, including frail seniors, people with visual impairments, and those with mobility challenges. This past year, we provided 261 HAS interventions.

134 HAS interventions were related to income tax preparation. Trained volunteers prepared income tax returns for our HAS service users so that they could continue to access basic income benefits such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement and Shelter Allowance.
Besides income taxes, the most common HAS interventions were related to housing problems (69 interventions).

Read more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/home-advocacy-services

Ms. Everith Smith first came to Project Genesis in 1988. Since 2000, Project Genesis has been going to Ms. Smith, to the apartment that she has lived in for over 32 years…

She calls on HAS volunteers to help her respond to a range of housing questions, including annual rent increase notices.

Read the rest of her story at: genese.qc.ca/pg-an-inside-look

Home Advocacy Services

134 HAS interventions were related to income tax preparation. Trained volunteers prepared income tax returns for our HAS service users so that they could continue to access basic income benefits such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement and Shelter Allowance.
Besides income taxes, the most common HAS interventions were related to housing problems (69 interventions).

Read more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/home-advocacy-services

Volunteers Sriyani and Pinto

“A memorable event of this past year was when we went to the minister’s office in Quebec City…

Such events contributed to the Quebec government increasing their funding of social housing units in the March 2017 budget from 1,500 units to 3,000 units… We are fighting for other new Quebeckers who need social housing.”

Read Pinto and Sriyani‘s point of view at: genese.qc.ca/pg-an-inside-look

Community Organizing

Our Housing Rights and Anti-Poverty community organizing engages volunteers and local residents toward improving housing conditions and reducing and ending poverty. Our Outreach door-knocking team reaches out into our neighbourhood, providing information and support.

Housing Rights

Our Housing Rights team, including 57 motivated Housing Rights Committee volunteers, worked in strategic ways this past year for better local housing conditions for tenants.

We held monthly workshops, attended by a total of 177 participants, to explain and discuss the various types of social housing and to help households apply.
We distributed over 2,000 housing rights pamphlets in 11 languages, giving basic information on tenants’ rights and responsibilities, and inviting people to contact us if they needed help.
We informed 135 neighbourhood residents on their rights though our tenants’ rights workshops.

Discover more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/housing-rights

Bernadette, centre, with other Project Genesis volunteers

“What was important for me this year was the campaign to obtain a social fare at the STM for people living on a low income.

Along with many Project Genesis members, i was in many places of the neighbourhood to meet people, to talk to them about the campaign and offer them a declaration of support to sign.”

Bernadette, Anti-Poverty Committee volunteer

Anti-Poverty

This past year, our Anti-Poverty team, including 72 engaged Anti-Poverty Committee volunteers, worked to improve the financial situation of low-income households.

We advocated for a ‘social fare’ for public transit for those living below the poverty line, and opposed Hydro Quebec rate increases which will disproportionately affect low income households.
We advocated for a $15 Quebec minimum wage to improve the situation of low-income workers.

Learn more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/anti-poverty

Outreach

Our Outreach team visits apartment buildings in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, conversing with tenants and offering information on their housing rights, as well as letting them know about our services.

Outreach team

This past year, with 12 volunteers, we visited 56 buildings and knocked on 1,216 doors. We spoke directly with people in 416 households, and left information pamphlets when nobody was home. We also reached local residents in neighbourhood parks during the summer.
We responded to referrals from the Storefront drop-in centre, which identified local buildings in which tenants were having severe problems and could benefit from our services.

See more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/outreach

Project Genesis: Highlights 2015-2016

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Project Genesis – together for social and economic rights

Individual Services

This past year, this work was sustained by 61 volunteers and 14 students, who gave their time as front-line advisors, receptionists, and support volunteers.

Storefront

This past year, we provided 9,419 in-person and follow-up interventions through our Storefront, and also responded to thousands of telephone calls.

3,627 of our Storefront interventions were related to housing issues, such as addressing problems of mould and vermin, and helping tenants respond to rent increase notices.
2,258 of our Storefront interventions were related to welfare, including assisting people in determining their eligibility for accessing benefits.
Our Storefront provided services to people from 140 countries of origin, and in addition to English and French, our volunteers and staff offered services in 11 languages.

Find out more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/storefront

Home Advocacy Services

121 HAS interventions were related to income tax preparation. Trained volunteers prepared income tax returns for our HAS service users so that they could continue to access basic income benefits such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement and Shelter Allowance.
Besides income taxes, the most common HAS interventions were related to housing problems (104 interventions).

Read more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/home-advocacy-services

Christian and Jacinthe, father and daughter, both Storefront volunteers

Abi, reception volunteer

“I am trying to survive with these struggles in my life and I am very thankful to Genesis for helping.

They are approachable. They help you and they are very kind.”

Read Rodolfo’s story at: genese.qc.ca/pg-an-inside-look

Community Organizing

Housing Rights

Our Housing Rights team, including 57 motivated Housing Rights Committee volunteers, worked in strategic ways this past year for better local housing conditions for tenants.

We held monthly workshops, attended by a total of 188 participants, to explain and discuss the various types of social housing and to help households apply.
We distributed 750 housing rights pamphlets in 11 languages, giving basic information on tenants’ rights and responsibilities, and inviting people to contact us if they needed help.
We informed 135 neighbourhood residents on their rights though our tenants’ rights workshops.

Discover more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/housing-rights

Anti-Poverty

This past year, our Anti-Poverty team, including 78 engaged Anti-Poverty Committee volunteers, worked to improve the financial situation of low-income households.

We advocated for a ‘social fare’ for public transit for those living below the poverty line, and opposed Hydro Quebec rate increases which will disproportionately affect low income households.
We worked to reduce prejudice towards those receiving social assistance, by providing workshops and presentations on the realities of welfare.

Learn more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/anti-poverty

“(For me,) the most important way of fighting poverty is by fighting for housing.”

Read Kim’s point of view at: genese.qc.ca/pg-an-inside-look

Outreach

Emil, Outreach volunteer

This past year, with 18 volunteers, we visited 72 buildings and knocked on 1,441 doors. We spoke directly with people in 572 households, and left information pamphlets when nobody was home. We also reached local residents in neighbourhood parks during the summer.
We responded to referrals from the Storefront drop-in centre, which identified local buildings in which tenants were having severe problems and could benefit from our services.

See more at: genese.qc.ca/pg/outreach

“When you hear what other people have gone through, you can relate –
it can help you, it can inspire you, it can motivate you.”

Read Sandra’s experience at: genese.qc.ca/pg-an-inside-look

Community Forum Report: Blue Bonnets: From Vision to Reality // 06/2015

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June 2015

In collaboration with the Corporation de développement communautaire de Côte-des-Neiges (CDC de CDN) and the architectural firm Rayside-Labossière, Project Genesis co-organized a community forum to develop a collective vision for a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood on the former Blue Bonnets racetrack site.

The forum welcomed over 175 participants, including local residents and members of 37 local community groups. Presentations included descriptions of the site and its characteristics, an overview on principles of development and urban planning issues, and how to ensure that the development meets housing needs in Côte-des-Neiges. Participants engaged with each other through 28 workshops, where they shared their ideas and hopes for the development of the site.

The report “Blue Bonnets: From Vision to Reality,” produced by Rayside-Labossière, synthesized the work of the forum and proposed the next planning steps.

Click on the image to view the report

Download the annual report (PDF)

Rapport : L’organisation d’une justice à deux vitesses // 06/2015

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(In French)

Juin 2015

À la Régie du logement, la priorité des causes mises au rôle est déterminée par un système de hiérarchisation. Ce système, qui détermine les délais d’attente qui peuvent dépasser deux ans pour des locataires aux prises avec des problèmes d’insalubrité, a souvent été dénoncé comme étant très opaque. Comment est-ce que la sévérité des causes est déterminée et comment le préjudice des partis est-il pris en considération?

C’est ainsi que les chercheurs et chercheuses du Département des sciences juridiques de l’UQÀM, en collaboration avec Pro Bono UQÀM et Projet Genèse, ont entrepris une étude des jugements de la Régie du logement. En se basant sur une analyse de ces jugements, sont enfin disponible des statistiques indépendantes qui démontrent le fondement arbitraire de la catégorisation des causes mise au rôle. Celle-ci ne repose sur aucune base légale et se fonde sur une interprétation arbitraire de la notion de préjudice sérieux.

Download the annual report (PDF)

Project Genesis Brief: Un projet de loi discriminatoire qui accroîtra les inégalités et les exclusions sociales au Québec // 20/12/2013

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December 20, 2013

(In French)

Here’s Project Genesis’ Brief on Bill 60, better known as the proposed Charter of Québec Values. The organization submitted the Brief in December 2013 within the public consultation held on the Bill. The Brief is available in its original French text.

Download the annual report (PDF)