Out Of The Blue

This week hosts Michael Braithwaite from Blue Door and Mike Wixson look back and talk about their favourite podcasts of the over 90 Out of the Blue episodes recorded, as they make a very special announcement about what is next for the podcast- #Top5

Since 1978 Sister Mary Scullion has been working with Philadelphia’s most vulnerable as the Co-Founder of Project Home, an organization focused on supportive housing, employment, health and education. She joins us this week on the Out of The Blue podcast, along with Project Home resident and employee Yishya Byard. Did we mention one of her supporters is none other than Jon Bonjovi? Don’t miss this amazing podcast!

President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association(BILD), Dave Wilkes joins us on the Out of the Blue podcast by Blue Door where we discuss government’s role in getting more new housing built, how process effects the cost of housing, the keys to getting more rental housing built, and how the pandemic has effected the industry. You don’t want to miss this one!

Instead of retiring, Dr.Karl Stobbe decided to work with people experiencing homelessness. Join us on Out of The Blue as he shares the story of starting medical clinics across Niagara for those most in need

Her story of homelessness & addiction,  inspired many when it was published in Toronto Life a few years back. The incredible Emily Wright, Teacher, Advocate and Lived Expert, joins us to share her amazing and inspirational story Sponsored by Premiere Mortgage 

This week we are joined on the Out of The Blue podcast by Elisa Birnbaum, Journalist, Podcaster & author, talking about some of the most amazing changemakers in the social sector.

She created a lot of attention with her use of the “Mr Men” format for a book called “Little Miss Homelessness” to help bring the challenges and issues surrounding women facing homelessness to the forefront. Join us this week as academic and author, Harriet Earle-Brown joins us from the UK to talk about her book, her research and what she has planned for the future

Join us on Out of the Blue as we are joined by Leilani Farha and Kaitlin Schwan from The Shift to talk about the Global Homelessness Action on December 10th, where people experiencing homelessness around the world are collectively claiming their right to housing and demanding urgent action from governments.

On Vancouver’s East side, some of the province’s most vulnerable, are struggling to find affordable housing and meaningful, fair paying employment. Join us on Out of the Blue by Blue Door this week as we welcome Johanna Li, Program Manager at Embers in Vancouver, where she leads Embers Eastside works, a unique program that looks at leveraging the expertise of the community, developing partnerships and identifying key opportunities through one-on-one conversations, in developing a successful model for employment services that targets the most barriered individuals.

Join us on the Out of The Blue Podcast as we our guest Claire Elizabeth Williams, CEO of Foundations for Social Change, shares the incredible impact of the “New Leaf Project”, North America’s first direct giving project for people experiencing homelessness. The results will surprise & inspire you!

Forced out of the USA as a student, and not able to safely return home to the middle east, Hashim Al Hebshi, made the decision to walk across the boarder into Canada. While he felt safe in his new adopted home , he found himself facing homelessness for the first time, alone without his family at 21 years of age. Now an established Personal trainer, Hash shares his incredible journey this week on our Out of Blue Podcast. Today's episode has been sponsored by Shiftlink

Charlene April, the Founder and Leader of Creating Roots Canada, an organization that supports youth leaving foster care with financial and emotional support to move forward in life, joins us on Out of the Blue this week to courageously share her journey through foster care and what inspired her to start this amazing organization making a real impact in the lives of youthCharlene April, the Founder and Leader of Creating Roots Canada, an organization that supports youth leaving foster care with financial and emotional support to move forward in life, joins us on Out of the Blue this week to courageously share her journey through foster care and what inspired her to start this amazing organization making a real impact in the lives of youth

Tune in to hear this incredible and personal story of how Alina Turner, the CEO and Co-Founder of Help Seeker is working with her team to revolutionize Systems Planning across the globe as a way to help prevent and end homelessness. Today's episode is sponsored by Shiftlink.

One of the most innovative and affordable ways to create new affordable housing is through building modular housing.  Allison Dunnet, the Senior Planner for the City of Vancouver joins us on Out of the Blue to talk about the progress they’ve made using modular housing as well as other ways the City is working hard to prevent and end homelessness.

This week on OTB, the incredible John Fox, a partner at Robins Appleby with a long history in the development of social and affordable housing,  joins us to talk about the successes, opportunities and challenges in working with the public and private sectors in creating affordable housing. Visit www.bluedoor.ca

Joining is in OTB is the incredible Rosanne Hagerty, CEO of Community Solutions, who is leading her team in taking a unique and effective approach to ending homelessness in America

His motto is “Go to the People”, and that is exactly what Dr. Jim Withers has been doing for over 28 years with the Street Medicine Institute, bringing health care to the most vulnerable.  Join us on this very special episode of Out of the Blue to hear about Dr. Withers, who in 2015 was named by CNN as one of America’s top 10 heroes, incredible work and about the panel he’ll join on October 13th  at 1pm, for the Odette Family Lecture series through St. Michaels Hospital, talking about tackling homelessness in the GTA.  You can register to participate at https://zoom.us/j/92893125428?pwd=cGROT0dBWkFEa1lRaGRhZFl3SDhjQT09

When it comes to leading edge work in preventing and ending youth homelessness in Canada, Choices for Youth in St. John’s, Newfoundland is at the top of it’s game.  Join us as their amazing Executive Director, Sheldon Pollett comes on the podcast to talk about the innovative and effective work him and his team are doing in Eastern Canada

Patrick Duce, From World Habitat joins us this week to talk about homelessness in Europe, and how the Covid 19 pandemic is effecting people experiencing homelessness across EU countries

Doctors can choose to practice in all sorts of different areas, but Dr. Kate Hayman’s heart has always resided with our community’s most vulnerable . She joins us on the OTB podcast to talk about her incredible work delivering clinical services to people experiencing homelessness in Toronto as the Co-Medical Director of the Covid recovery sites.

While many people are familiar with CMHC’s mortgage work, they don’t know about the transformation it’s taken on over the last 3 years to support some amazing innovative affordable housing projects. Steff Jones, Vice President of Innovation for CMHC, joins us on the Out of the Blue podcast to talk about this work and his hopes for the future of innovation in affordable housing across Canada

Amongst the need and pressure for more affordable and innovative projects to build affordable housing in Canada, Ene Underwood and her team at Habitat for Humanity GTA are continually growing, changing and progressing at a rapid rate.  Ene joins us on the Out of the Blue Podcast to talk about the amazing work Habitat has underway and what projects they have planned for the future. Visit www.bluedoor.ca to find out more or to offer financial assistance.

There are so many people working so hard across the country to prevent human trafficking and support survivors. Casandra Diamond the Founding Director of BridgeNorth is a leader and well known advocate, working hard with her team to restore the inherent dignity and value of those who have experienced sexual exploitation through prevention and exit strategies, safety planning and advocacy. It’s an episode of Out of the Blue you won’t want to miss!

Join us this week on OTB as we welcome our guest Sam Dodge, the former Czar of homelessness in San Francisco who shares his experiences of preventing and ending homelessness in both New York City and San Francisco. It’s one episode you dare not miss! Visit www.bluedoor.ca

Join us on a very special episode of Out of the Blue as we discuss some hot of the press research around student homelessness in Canada with academics, Eric Weissman, Lisa Mader and Sarah Wogemuth

The Old Brewery Mission in Montreal has become a leader in innovative and successful practices to end homelessness in Canada.  CEO Matthew Pearce joins us on the Out of the Blue Podcast by Blue Door, to talk about the strategic and effective partnerships he’s built with healthcare and academic professionals to move his organization’s mission forward, and as well around his laser focus on rapid rehousing vs sheltering people experiencing homelessness

The solution to ending homelessness is housing.  Join us on the Out of the Blue Podcast by Blue Door, as David Nugent the Director of Canopy Housing in Leeds, England, talks about the amazing work Canopy Housing has done in repurposing existing vacant homes to create affordable, sustainable and long term housing for people experiencing homelessness.

Join us on this very special episode of Out of the Blue, as we speak with the brilliant and passionate, Meg Inwood, a lived expert who courageously shares her experience of homelessness, safe supply, and how all of us can better channel our efforts to help those experiencing homelessness

After a long battle with poor mental health and domestic violence, Sara found herself cross-addicted and homeless.  Join us on the Out of the Blue Podcast by Blue Door, as she courageously shares her story of how she overcame these trauma’s and more to successfully complete schooling and move forward with a new life

Marie Morrison, the Director of Built for Zero Canada joins us on the Out of the Blue Podcast to talk about Built for Zero, an ambitious national change effort helping a core group of leading communities end chronic homelessness and veteran homelessness.  Over 30 communities across 7 provinces have jumped on board in this amazing campaign that is leading the way in eliminating  homelessness across the country. Visit www.BlueDoor.ca

Ontario MPP and former Minister of Children and Youth Services, as well as Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism, Michael Coteau joins us for a great conversation on  our Out of the Blue podcast around Basic Income, poverty, affordable housing and homelessness, and as well his hopes for the future of his party, Ontario and the rest of the country coming out of Covid-19 Visit www.bluedoor.ca

There are so many smaller charities that are doing innovative work to end homelessness but who are cash limited in moving forward. Join us on a very special Out of the Blue Podcast, as President, Lou Odette of the P&L Odette Charitable Foundation, talks about his unique approach to ending homelessness through supporting longer term relationships with smaller charities doing this life changing work. Visit www.bluedoor.ca for more information

To prevent the potential risk of homelessness we’ll need systemic change. Join us as CEO of Toronto CAS, Paul Rosebush and Child Advocate and First Voice Advocate in child welfare, homelessness, and gender-based violence sectors, Cheyanne Ratnam, join us on the Out of the Blue podcast to talk about the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto’s new and innovative program “Journey to Zero” which looks to shift their child welfare model to build better outcomes for children and families.

While homelessness across Canada is always a challenge, even more so in Canada’s biggest city, the City of Toronto.  This week we are joined by Mary-Anne Bedard the city’s General Manager of Shelter, Support and Housing Administration on the OTB podcast where we discuss the challenges, both pre and post Covid19, and the some of the amazing innovations she and her team at the City are driving forward in the battle to prevent end homelessness in the next 10 years

In housing 331 people since March, the Region of Peel embraced the mindset of progress over perfection. Join us on a special OTB as Leslie Moreau, Manager of Client Services walks us through how they managed this extraordinary feat

In order for real change to occur, we need strong systemic solutions. Join us on Out of the Blue this week as our very special guest, Elizabeth McIsaac, President of Maytree, talks about the Right to Housing in Canada, and the incredible work Maytree is doing to reduce poverty and strengthen civic communities. Visit www.bluedoor.ca

While the Covid19 pandemic was felt by all, for the thousands of youth experiencing homelessness across Canada, their struggle became even tougher. Join us on a special Out of the Blue podcast, as David French, the Director of Policy and Director of Policy and Planning at Away Home Canada, talks about the devastating effect the pandemic had, how the sector has responded and what we’ll need to do moving forward. Visit www.bluedoor.ca

For over 30 years, Sam Tsemberis has been leading the charge to end homelessness and is widely seen as one of the leading experts in the field globally. The father of Housing First joins us on this very special episode of Out of the Blue, one you don’t want to miss! Visit www.bluedoor.ca to find out more about how you can help.

Some of the most impactful and innovative work that has been done to prevent and end youth homelessness has been done by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary. Join us as inspirational CEO, Jeff Dyer talks to us about the work of the BGCC, his journey and some of the exciting work that is on it’s way in the near future

For years, Executive Director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Steve Cordes and his team have been quietly leading the way in preventing & ending homelessness in London, Ontario. Check it out as he drops some knowledge on this episode of OTB

Dr. Sandy Buchman, President of the Canadian Medical Association joins us on Out of the Blue to discuss the social determinants of health and how they relate to people experiencing homelessness and what he hopes we can learn from these challenging times of Covid19 Visit www.bluedoor.ca    

Australia has leading the way on homelessness prevention for years with the introduction of the Upstream project. Dr. David Mackenzie joins on the Out of Blue podcast to talk about his ground breaking work that is being duplicated across the world

While the pandemic has hit everyone hard, it has hit our nation’s most vulnerable the hardest.  The talented, hard working and respected CEO of the Fred Victor Centre, Keith Hambly joins us on Out of the Blue to talk about how his team and the sector in the City of Toronto have rallied hard to make sure people experiencing homelessness are not left behind.

If we are to truly to prevent and end homelessness in Canada, we need to tell the stories of the people living through it.  Journalist and former Toronto Star reporter, Emily Mathieu joins us on Out of the Blue to talk about her years writing about homelessness and housing policy, and the stories that have stuck with her to this day”  

While there are many people doing wonderful things to help our country’s most vulnerable during this pandemic, 20 year old Leah Denbok is using her gifts as a very talented photographer to make sure people experiencing homelessness are not forgotten.  Join us on this very special episode of Out of the Blue to hear her inspirational story Visit BlueDoor.ca  

Finland might be the first country in the world to actually end homelessness.  Join us on Out of the Blue by Blue Door as our special guest Juha Kaakinen the Chief Executive of Y-Foundation in Finland joins us to talk about how they have made this incredible feat possible, and how in doing so has protected Finland’s most vulnerable during the Covid-19 crisis

Join us for this very special podcast with Dr. Peter Mackie from Wales as he talks us through how they are using the “Duty to Assist” to rapidly house individuals in need to help prevent homelessness Visit www.bluedoor.ca

Everyday in Canada, 1 in 4 women will experience violence in their household. Join us for this very special episode of Out of the Blue, as Lorris Herenda, Executive Director of Yellow Brick House helps us understand the magnitude of VAW, the services available to women, some of the work that is being done across Canada, and on the challenges Covid-19 has had on the sector

The Calgary Drop In Centre is the largest emergency housing program in Canada. In the past year, they’ve made remarkable new strides in rapidly rehousing their clients. Join us on Out of the Blue with our guest, CEO Sandra Clarkson as she talks about this amazing transformation, the challenges, the process and ultimately, the great success

What started as a few people wanting to help during this pandemic, had turned into a massive wave of good. Join us for this special episode of OTB as Yusuf Amhed from ConquerCovid19 talks about how over 100 volunteers are delivering much needed PPE, tablets, baby monitors and much more, to our country’s most vulnerable.

Join us on OTB as Tom Walker, a Clinical Traumatologist talks about trauma, it's relationship to homelessness & how the Covid19 crisis is greatly effecting those with addiction & mental health challenges