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Community Conversation: Unhoused Downtown: Addressing Homelessness Together

Community Conversation: Unhoused Downtown: Addressing Homelessness Together

Time and Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025, 6:30pm-7pm

Location: Art Windsor-Essex, 3rd floor galleries

Cost: This event is part of AWE at Night. Admission to AWE at Night is $20. Admission is always free for members.

Accessibility: Accessibility and accommodation requests must be made at least two weeks in advance of the event. Please contact shinch@artwindsoressex.ca for questions.

Access Inquiries

Four guest speakers conversing with the audience.

As housing insecurity continues to rise, the challenges faced by Windsor’s most vulnerable residents are becoming increasingly urgent. Homelessness is a multifaceted issue that impacts individuals and families, as well as the broader community. Addressing it requires collaboration, compassion, and innovative thinking.

Join us for Unhoused Downtown: Addressing Homelessness Together, an open and engaging forum that invites residents, community leaders, and local organizations to come together in meaningful conversation. This community conversation is organized by the Downtown Mission.

With Speakers

Rukshini Ponniah Goulin, Executive Director, The Downtown Mission

Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin is the Executive Director of the Downtown Mission. She has been a proud Windsorite since 1985. She was a member of or a volunteer in the Non-Profit Sector from an early age but her passion for the community grew during her first year at the University of Windsor when she was a Member on a Board through a Leadership Program of the United Way. She graduated with a BComm Hons Degree in 1998 and continued to volunteer for various Non-Profits while working in the Automotive field for 9 years after which she made the decision to dedicate her time to the Non-Profit Sector. Rukshini realized her true passion then and has been working with and being an advocate for the vulnerable people in our Community for over 18 years. She believes in our Community’s strength, perseverance and compassion and does her best every day to help others feel the same joy and pride in the Community she feels so blessed to call home and be a part of.

Bob Cameron, Executive Director, Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative

Bob Cameron is the Executive Director of the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative. Bob and Margo moved home to Windsor in 2010 and settled in downtown Windsor to help launch DWCC. DWCC is trying creative alternative ways in loving our neighbours of no fixed address.

Kirk Whittal, City of Windsor

Kirk Whittal is the Executive Director of Housing & Children’s Services at the City of Windsor in the Human & Health Service department. Kirk began work with the City in 2022 and is responsible for the delivery of Social and Affordable Housing, Homelessness programs, Childcare and Early Year’s Centres for Windsor Essex. Prior to his tenure with the City of Windsor, Kirk worked at the Windsor-Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC). CHC is the largest social housing provider in Windsor-Essex. Commencing in 2009 as the Manager of Operational Administration, followed by a promotion to Chief Operating Officer in 2011. Kirk previously worked in the private sector in a variety of roles with the former Chrysler Corporation both in Windsor and Auburn Hills. Kirk holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Windsor Odette School of Business, complemented by a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science also from the University of Windsor. Kirk previously served on the Board of Directors for ONPHA (Ontario Non Profit Housing Association), and served on the Audit Committee for Family Services Windsor Essex.

Moderated by Dan MacDonald

Photography and videography will be present throughout the event. By entering this event site you agree to be filmed or photographed which may be used for marketing or promotional purposes.