Citizens for Cambridge is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to harnessing the passion, ingenuity and commitment of Cambridge citizens to support the development of a better community for all.
Housing Over Parking Project (HOPP)
This exciting Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region campaign supports the development of a prototype for an innovative affordable housing project over a parking lot in Cambridge, Ontario.
Citizens for Cambridge has partnered with Habitat in the development of this exciting project and we are doing everything we can to ensure its success. Our support includes assisting in the raising of $25,000 in donations to support the development of a prototype.
Waiting lists are long and involve years of waiting for affordable housing of all types. In Cambridge, over 1,500 families are currently on the waiting list for affordable housing. This Habitat project is focused on this challenge.
Affordable Housing
Citizens for Cambridge is focused on promoting the development of more affordable housing for our community.
Affordable Housing generally refers to housing for low-to-moderate-income households priced below the average market rent or selling price for comparable housing in a specific geographic area.
Currently, there are over 7,000 people on waiting lists for housing in Waterloo Region. Aggressive action by our community and all levels of government is essential.
Out of concern with the impact of homelessness, mental health and addictions on our city’s cores, we studied and consulted with experts, agencies, institutions and governments - concluding that housing first with health supports is an essential path to remedy problems tarnishing our community.
This Right to Adequate Housing Report outlines the facts behind these issues and a practical and achievable roadmap to resolution. Finland and our own city of Lethbridge have demonstrated it is possible. We all deserve a community in which every citizen is able to flourish.
Supportive Housing
Citizens for Cambridge strongly endorses Indwell supportive housing solutions for our community. Indwell is a non-profit with a strong track record developing and managing supportive housing properties in Ontario.
Supportive Housing is generally operated by non-profit agencies and staff and are composed of individuals trained in social work or psychiatric rehabilitation.
In supportive housing, housing and support are linked, with staff members providing various levels of support within the residences.
With the goal of bringing more supportive housing to Cambridge, we are actively engaged with Indwell and the City of Cambridge, the Region of Waterloo as well as private organizations. With all of us pulling together, we can make this happen!
Addiction, Treatment, Mental Health
Citizens for Cambridge supports the City Council decision to launch a Consumption Treatment Site at 150 Main Street in Galt. Based on nearby results in Kitchener and Guelph, we believe this plan will help save lives and benefit both our citizens-in-need AND the Galt downtown.
Citizens for Cambridge also endorses Safer Supply. Safer supply approaches are evidence-informed interventions, consisting of the provision of safer doses of opioid medication by primary care providers as an alternative to contaminated sources of ‘street’ drugs, which are increasingly unpredictable and toxic.
Citizens for Cambridge supports the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council's endorsement of legalization of all drugs with strict regulation as the best way to reduce harm to individuals and communities.
Decriminalizing possession of small quantities of illicit drugs is a progressive step our country and our community need to take. Instead of criminal charges police would help connect individuals with community addiction resources.
New approaches are needed to tackle the ever growing issues around addiction, treatment and mental health.
Social Media, Communications
Citizens for Cambridge is committed to using various forms of communication for positive messaging about progressive community initiatives.
Subscribe below to our email list, for occasional updates or action bulletins.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and share any any messaging you like with your social media friends. We all need to promote positive messages.
Email us if you are interested in getting involved, have a question or comment, or just to provide some needed encouragement.
Cambridge needs more residents speaking up in support of progressive, positive action!
