2013-06-19T22:10:35-04:00 Marilyn Lazar http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=marilyn-lazar Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Marilyn Lazar Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1930487 2012-10-02T17:12:37-04:00 2012-12-02T05:12:01-05:00

Marilyn Lazar http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marilyn-lazar/
They are sukkahs which are temporary shelters, built according to a very specific set of rules. We are right now in the middle of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which calls for these shelters to be built for eating and even for sleeping inside. You can spot them in backyards, front yards and on decks and balconies this week, as Jews commemorate the holiday. But what are they doing in a public place?

Five in all went up overnight last Saturday in time for a design competition, pop-up exhibit and event called Sukkahville 2012. A sixth was constructed as part of an interactive programme at the event, which took place on Sunday afternoon. Again, you might ask why.

According to Judeo-Christian and Islamic doctrine, God provided manna for the Israelites during their travels and travails in the desert during biblical times. Well, now it's 2012, and social service agencies are trying to augment whatever miracles may occur to help those in need. Kehilla Residential Programme is one such agency. The creative people who work at Kehilla decided to use the symbol of the sukkah, a temporary shelter, to draw attention to the need for permanent shelter, otherwise known as affordable housing.

How fitting to use this flimsy structure to draw attention to the need for real shelter and the security it provides.

Among the miracles associated with Sukkahville, despite gloomy forecasts to the contrary, clear skies prevailed for the four hours designated on Sunday afternoon to celebrate good design, to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot and to select the winner of a competition.

The design competition element had begun months earlier with a call to any and all interested parties to submit creative designs for a sukkah. Entries came from as far afield as Tunisia and India. Submissions were sent by individuals and teams, artists and architects. None of the finalists are Jewish but all were captivated by the concepts: shelter, harvest, gratitude, opening one's door -- and one's heart -- to a stranger. Funds raised through Sukkahville 2012 will go into a rent bank to assist families in need.

The sukkahs will remain on display until October 3. Following that, The Daniels Group, lead event sponsor, will transport two of them to display indefinitely. The others are available for purchase, but hurry -- only until October 3. For further information about purchasing a sukkah, supporting the cause or getting involved, please contact The Kehilla Residential Programme.

If you haven't yet done so and you possibly can, get yourself over to the free exhibit at Mel Lastman Square before end of day October 3. You will see prize-winning design. You will learn about history and the power of interpretation. You will catch a unique and amazing exhibit. And you just might catch the spirit.

For more information:
http://www.sukkahville.com/
http://www.kehilla.ca]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1878332 2012-09-14T17:00:21-04:00 2012-11-14T05:12:01-05:00

Marilyn Lazar http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marilyn-lazar/
Part design competition, part fundraiser, the multi-faceted celebration will culminate in a Pop-up exhibit to which everyone is invited on Sunday September 30, from 12-4 pm at Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street, Toronto.

Sukkahville is a celebration of design as well as an observation of a religious holiday and harvest festival. A sukkah is the name of a temporary shelter constructed by observant Jews at this time of year. It commemorates the temporary shelter used by Jews wandering the desert long ago. Though our weather here is far colder, people eat under this thatched roof. Sukkahville is using the symbol of temporary shelter to draw attention to the need for a permanent solution in the area of affordable housing.

The design component of Sukkahville invites participation from individuals and teams, artists and architects, to re-imagines this temporary dwelling, following "halachic" rules, or rabbinic guidelines. Submissions came in from all over the world and were judged by some very high profile professionals in the field. Five finalists were selected and given a stipend with which to erect their structure. The winner will be chosen at the free event on September 30.

The event is free thanks to corporate sponsorship such as that of lead sponsor, The Daniels Corporation. Proceeds will go into a "rent bank" to help families in need bridge the gap between what their rent costs, and what they can afford. We want to encourage a large turnout because Sukkahville is also about raising awareness. The event is being put on by Kehilla Residential Programme, an agency that identifies and champions affordable housing in the GTA.

The date of the event is nigh, so I thought I'd share some observations at this juncture.

I came on board the steering committee for Sukkahville 2011 with a vision of helping write some material. Writing was something I felt I could do, but I soon found out I knew nothing about my topic: the lamentable state of affordable housing in my own city. So what began as an opportunity to give back to the community in a small, comfortable way, transitioned into a journey of research, discovery and amazement at people's resourcefulness on so many levels.

What struck me are the contradictions. How we are using the symbol of something so flimsy to inculcate the importance of something permanent and secure. How one specific religious festival has appealed so easily to people of many faiths. How an event conceived to raise funds for and awareness of a specific organization has united several agencies, with individual egos falling by the wayside. How something so ancient and traditional could be so contemporary and relevant. How an event in one city attracted participants from around the world.

The broad and universal response from the design community has in turn made it easier to pitch to non-Jewish media. I'm proud that we're holding fast to our idea of actually feeding social service clients under the roof of a sukkah, as Sukkot is not only a celebration of bountiful harvest but a reminder from biblical times to "open our tent to a stranger."
The submissions blew me away with interpretations I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams -- truly not our Zayda's (grandfather's) sukkah.

The designs, like all good design, managed to remain within the constraints imposed and yet find solutions bursting with creativity. What a perfect echo of what Kehilla is striving to achieve: to within our constraints -- lack of government funding, competition for charitable dollars, rising cost of housing in the city and growing numbers on the waiting list -- forge ahead and find creative solutions for affordable housing.

For those who don't feel motivated to build their own sukkah, Sukkahville affords the chance to do so with a hands-on build opportunity by Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy, fun, interesting and cultural to observe one of the high holidays that can slip through the cracks after the height of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. There will also be the opportunity to complete another "mitzvah" or good deed as a lulav and etrog will be available.

Come celebrate Sukkahville.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1873803 2012-09-13T16:31:26-04:00 2012-11-13T05:12:01-05:00

Marilyn Lazar http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marilyn-lazar/
No. All present were volunteering their time to peruse submissions for Sukkahville 2012, a design competition conceived to draw attention to the issues of affordable housing in Toronto. Organizers have set a goal of $100,000 but are also interested in simply raising awareness. The designs in question are for sukkahs, a symbol of temporary shelter used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Kehilla Residential Programme is running the design competition, which culminates in a pop-up exhibit to which the public is invited. Submissions have come in from around the world. On the evening in question, the many were culled down to five. Finalists received a stipend with which to erect their structure in a 24-hour period. The process will culminate in the aforementioned family event on September 30.

Kehilla has created something called a rent bank which, simply put, bridges the gap. For every $25,000 raised through Sukkahville 2012, seven families can be helped for a year. They are given $300 per month to help cover their cost of living. The thinking is that once housing expenses are taken care of, people are free to focus on things like educating their kids and creating a better life. "It's the biblical concept of give a man a fish, feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime," says Kehilla's Executive Director, Nancy Singer.

The event is free and Kehilla has succeeded in increasing their corporate sponsorship. Martin Blake, Vice President of The Daniels Corporation had this to say: "The Daniels Corporation is proud to be the Lead Sponsor for Sukkahville 2012. As a cornerstone in Daniels' corporate philosophy, a stable and affordable place to live is the primary building block from which all Canadians have a chance to realize their potential, and make a positive contribution to their community. The Kehilla Residential Programme is a model of these values by providing families with access to support and services while providing a hand up in home ownership."

But what motivated some of the individuals meeting in the boardroom and donating their time?

Ed Applebaum, a partner with Montgomery Sisam Architects, the firm hosting the initial judging, has served on the board of Kehilla as well as the various properties they manage for over seven years. He is very enthusiastic about Sukkahville and is co-chairing its Design Committee for the second straight year.

"I joined the board of Kehilla as a way to give something back," he explains. "I wanted to donate my time and my expertise to make a difference. Kehilla does make a difference and I've seen it firsthand. Kehilla operates several ways. They don't just manage properties, they also help develop new special needs housing. They're creative. Sukkahville is a new initiative which is very exciting."

There were shades of a reality show as the people present are being referred to as "celebrity judges." Selecting the finalists: Ken Greenberg, architect, urban designer, teacher, writer, former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the city of Toronto and currently Principal of Greenberg Consultants; Marianne McKenna, founding partner of KPMB Architects, graduate of Swarthmore College with a Masters in Architecture from Yale University; Sarah Milroy, art critic for journals, magazines and newspapers including the National Post and the Globe and Mail and former editor of Canadian Art magazine; Christopher Hume, architectural critic and urban issues columnist with the Toronto Star and 2009 recipient of a National Newspaper Award for his columns about architecture and urban affairs; Anna Simone, founding partner of Cecconi Simone Inc., a multi-disciplinary design firm involved with numerous award-winning projects in retail, hospitality and multi-unit residential design; and Donald Schmitt, principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects, a leading Canadian full-service award winning architectural practice that works throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

The beauty of the evening, of Sukkahville and of Kehilla lay beyond the drawings set out before the star-studded jury. The innovation -- the creativity found within the constraints -- lies not only in the design submissions, but also in terms of individuals coming together to find solutions. Not just bridging the gap financially, but also organizationally. People from so many places interested in one cause. Less concerned about where the credit will go, than that something will be achieved.

Sukkahville will be held on September 30, from noon to four at Mel Lastman Square, 2100 Yonge Street Toronto.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1874765 2012-09-12T14:43:09-04:00 2012-11-12T05:12:01-05:00

Marilyn Lazar http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marilyn-lazar/
She is worried about the optics of the office space air conditioning working, whereas it's not operational in the residential section of the building. The unit needed to be replaced and complications ensued.

The office air conditioning had not been working on my prior visit during a sweltering August week. Tenants come and go right by Lisa's door. So the three Kehilla employees with offices in this building literally live and breathe their work. The organization has lofty goals for a skeleton staff in a small space. But the physical confines that Lisa works within pales compared to more serious limitations over which she has no control.

"There has been no meaningful housing program since 1995," she laments. "In the absence of government funding, Kehilla is trying to make a difference." Glamorous work this is not. And yet, Lisa has been at it for over 25 years, primarily with Kehilla. She's seen tenants come and go, buildings rise and fall, legislation change and governments dissolve.

Are there any constants? Well, some of the tenants in the building are original residents who have resided there for over 20 years. There are people who have become seniors and seniors who have gotten really old.

"Families do move on," Lisa says, "and if I don't hear from them again, that's probably a good thing. Like everbody else, our tenants lead complicated lives. But once you can afford your housing, it frees you up to tackle other challenges." Kehilla clients' lives can be complicated by financial woes and sometimes physical disabilities. Each building has a distinctive personality whether it's the popularity of pets or some element of assisted living through another social service agency that Kehilla partners with.

Lisa has a dual role at Kehilla. As Director of Community Initiatives, she is responsible for all of Kehilla's agency and community-based partnerships. Her work includes community development, inter-agency communication, and government relations. As supervisor of property management, she is responsible for the overall operations of all Kehilla's self-managed and third-party projects. Lisa has been actively involved with the development of Kehilla's initiatives and has extensive experience with all of its projects.

She rattles off statistics easily. As of December 2011, there were 156,558 households on waiting lists for affordable housing in Toronto. This figure is comprised of 56,130 families with children. 39,463 seniors and 58,995 singles or couples under the age of 65.

This is "not a hopeful situation" Lisa admits. And yet, she is busier than ever before as Kehilla engages in third party property management as well as initiating projects and acting as development consultant. In addition to these other ongoing projects, Kehilla conceived of a way to raise funds and awareness around the issue of affordable housing in Toronto. Kehilla is running a design competition and Pop-up exhibit called Sukkahville 2012. What better way to draw attention to the need for affordable housing than with the sukkah, a symbol for temporary shelter?

"I am not the hero you make me out to be!" insists Lisa. Maybe so, but everyone in the community has an easy opportunity to be a bit of a hero by attending Sukkahville 2012. Sukkahville 2012 will simply allow Kehilla to help more families. The event will take place at Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street, on September 30, from 12 - 4 pm. There will be live music by Klezconnection, snacks and a hands-on build opportunity by Habitat for Humanity, Toronto. The event is free as funds are coming from donors and corporate sponsors such as lead sponsor, The Daniels Corporation.

Sukkahville has sparked interest from schools and groups who use the exhibit as an educational opportunity. For this reason, the sukkahs will remain on display until October 3.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1822642 2012-08-22T16:37:00-04:00 2012-10-22T05:12:07-04:00

Marilyn Lazar http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marilyn-lazar/
Kehilla Residential Programme identifies and champions affordable housing in the Greater Toronto area. The Agency's mandate is fulfilled through community capacity building, research and education, project sponsorship, and development consultation.

In Toronto, many thousands live in substandard housing, including 20,000 members of the Jewish community. Of these 20,000 people, 4,080 are working poor. These numbers are comprised of individuals, couples, and families. Families where two working parents pool their combined income toward having a roof over their heads and still can't make ends meet.

As a local non-profit housing provider, Kehilla Residential Programme is acutely aware of the
situation and has been striving to chip away at it since the organization's founding in 1982. Working closely with other agencies who provide counseling, vocational training, employment, resettlement, housing and financial assistance, Kehilla strives to help families break the poverty cycle. Kehilla manages buildings where renters pay no more than 30 per cent of their income on rent.

"Our great working relationships with these agencies enable us -- through them -- to provide assistance to renters in buildings to live independently. We're just a small, creative, resourceful group trying to solve a huge problem," says Nancy Singer, Executive Director of Kehilla.

Sukkahville 2012 is an innovative event organized by Kehilla, aimed at highlighting and combatting the housing issues faced by so many members of the Toronto community.

A Sukkah is the name of the symbolic temporary dwelling celebrated during the Jewish festival of Sukkoth and mentioned in the bible as shelter in the wilderness. Sukkahville uses the concept of temporary shelter to work toward a permanent solution for affordable housing. Funds raised from corporate sponsorship and donations will be used in Kehilla's newly launched rental assistance program to help working poor households with monthly rent stipends.

The second annual event celebrates not only the holiday of Sukkoth, but also creative design. Sukkahville encompasses a competition of Sukkah designs. Submissions have come from as far afield as Europe and Asia. Architects and artists, design professionals and students, individuals and teams vie to have their designs selected for actual construction. Five will be chosen by a celebrity panel of judges and given a stipend with which to erect their structures. This will culminate in a fun and fabulous Pop-up Design Exhibit.

Inspired by New York's Sukkah City 2010 and building on the success of last year's Sukkahville 2011, the Kehilla Residential Programme has taken the competition idea and run with it, never losing sight of the cause: creating affordable housing for those in need.

The structures created by finalists will be displayed and a winner chosen at a ceremony and family event on September 30, 12 - 4 p.m. at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto. The interactive experience will feature a hands-on sukkah building opportunity sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, an outreach program by Ve'ahavta, music by Klezconnection, free treats and more.]]>