Volunteer Outreach – Project Genesis

Empowering tenants

PG — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:01:20 +0000

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”

“My strong belief in social justice led me to volunteer locally as a part of Project Genesis’ Outreach team.

The experience has opened my eyes to the housing injustices that exist in our community, be they vermin, insects, parasites, improper heating or abusive rent increases. We have seen them all and often in batches.

However, 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 and to end the abuse.”

Edy, Outreach volunteer

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My Experience: Keeping rents affordable

PG — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 03:19:00 +0000

Mark, Outreach volunteer

Each time a tenant can stop themselves from being victimized, it is a victory; these individual victories contribute to the ideal of a society that is accessible for everyone.”

KEEPING RENTS AFFORDABLE

“Through our targeted goal to share information about rent increases, we helped countless residents understand their rights and encouraged them to stand up to their landlords.

Each time a tenant can stop themselves from being victimized, it is a victory; these individual victories contribute to the ideal of a society that is accessible for everyone.”

Mark, Outreach volunteer

Helping people fight for their rights

PG — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 22:07:37 +0000

Tariq, Outreach volunteer

“Why we do this is to help people fight for their rights – so that people can change their lives.”

HELPING PEOPLE FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS

Tariq was reading the Montreal Gazette one morning when he happened upon a short write-up about the work of Project Genesis. Originally from Pakistan, he’s now been a member of the Outreach team since June 2011. In addition to weekly door knocking, he has also volunteered in the Individual Services Storefront to help act as an interpreter between Storefront users and advisors when there have been language barriers.

On his involvement with Outreach, he says, “We go out every Thursday, making a little bit of an improvement in our society. We help people from different backgrounds and countries. Why we do this is to help people fight for their rights – so that people can change their lives.”

Tariq, Outreach volunteer

Interested in more?

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Storefront

Caring about local residents

PG Editor — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 00:14:00 +0000

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.”

“Being involved in Outreach means being part of a strong team of volunteers and community organizers who share a goal of improving the housing situation in Côte-des-Neiges.

My volunteer colleague Yvanna and I were doing Outreach at a neighbourhood park where we met a lady who was out with her kids. We spoke with her and found out that she was having some difficulties with her landlord, who wanted to repossess her apartment. She had been living there for many years and her rent was quite low. The landlord and his wife were giving inconsistent information to this lady and her husband; she suspected that perhaps they were not sincere in wanting to repossess but rather were just trying to get her to leave her apartment in order to find a new tenant who would pay a higher rent.

Because the situation was somewhat complicated, we recommended that she come in to our Storefront so that she could learn about the legal criteria for repossession and discuss her options with an advisor. She had already heard about Project Genesis, and agreed that it would be good to come by for help with her situation. For me, encounters like this reinforce the message that Project Genesis is made up of people who care about Côte-des-Neiges residents and are available to help them exercise their rights.”