I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Budgeting

for January

2

1000 Days

Club

2

Monthly

Cleaning

Challenge

2

Harm

Reduction

4

Upcoming

Dates

4

The Pathways Post N O V A N D D E C 2 0 1 5 V O L U M E I I , I S S U E V I

P2H Edmonton Christmas Party

Please Join Us to Celebrate the Festive Season

Friday, December 11th 12 noon to 3pm

Commonwealth Recreation Centre

11000 Stadium Road

Please call Jenn, Jamie or Agnes at the office to RSVP

and discuss transportation arrangement

Thanks to Dr.Kallal and Pharmacare, P2H Edmonton Clients were able to get full eye exams, many folks were able to get new glasses, and Clients and Staff alike were able to get vaccinated against the flu before this year’s flu season starts. We are very grateful for their support! If anyone missed out on flu shots this year, please let any member of the Team know and we’ll help make arrangements to get you a shot as soon as possible.

We can all take a few other simple precautions to prevent the spread of flu: Wash your hands Cover your mouth when you cough Try to stay home when you have

symptoms of the flu, like fever, cough, headache and extreme tired-ness

Wishing everyone a healthy holiday season!

Thank you

and Dr. Kallal (Optometrist)

for providing P2H Edmonton Clients with a Flu Shot and Optometry Clinic

on November 13th.

Please note P2H Edmonton will be closed :

Thurs, December 24th At 12noon Fri, December 25th All day Mon, December 28th All day Thurs, December 31st At 4pm Fri, January 1st All day

ON-CALL WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE 24/7 FOR ALL URGENT NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SESASON

P A G E 2 V O L U M E I I , I S S U E V I

Budgeting for January

Cheques from AISH and Alberta Works for January will come out on December 18th, and that money has to stretch until the next cheque day, January 26th. P2H Edmonton is happy to help people budget to help make funds available for January. Some ideas include: Big grocery shop for foods that will last through January Purchasing grocery gift cards to use in January HUB can adjust January budgets for folks who use HUB Financial Management Purchase a WeCan basket or two—baskets of meat, fruit and veggies are $25—you pay in December

and delivery is expected on January 21st Community Kitchens Give P2H Edmonton money from your cheque to hold for you until January You can talk to any member of the P2H Edmonton Team to figure out a budget plan that will work for you. There are lots of great community activities that are free or low cost to enjoy over the holidays. If you have a Leisure Access Pass, check out the holiday schedules for various City of Edmonton attractions that you may be able to attend for free! For example, you can visit the Muttart Conservatory to see their special ‘Snowflakes are Falling’ exhibit from November 21st to January 3rd, or attend their ‘Snowflake Sunday” on December 13th. Any member of the Team would be happy to help you look up holiday schedules.

1000 Days Club Celebrations When people first join Pathways to Housing the challenge is to find a place to call home. In March 2013, we had the honour of celebrating with 12 people who had successfully had their own home for over 1000 days – that’s almost 3 years! Over the next two years we added more and more names to what was to be called the “1000 Day’s Club”. With over 50 people now in the club, we thought it was time to review the tradition. We asked P2H Edmonton Clients how they thought we should celebrate the accomplishment of having a home for 1000 days after a history of homelessness. Many people who had been a part of celebrating the accomplishment of making a home in the past wanted to share the occasion with others. It was suggested that we have a larger celebration, with a chance to encourage one another and give hope to those who hadn’t found their home yet. What a great idea! We are in the midst of planning a larger celebration in March 2016, for everyone at P2H Edmonton to attend and to commemorate all the hard work that goes into finding and keeping a home. If you are interested in being a part of the planning or have some great ideas to share, please contact Lorelei at the office. Hope to see you there!

P A G E 3 V O L U M E I I , I S S U E V I

Time to Get Cleaning And Win Prizes!

Everyone who complete this month’s cleaning challenge will get a $10 Wal-mart gift card … and one lucky winner (to be drawn at random from everyone who participates) will receive a $50 gift card to their grocery store of choice!

THANK YOU TO BOARDWALK RENTAL COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION THAT PROVIDES FUNDING

FOR OUR CLEANING CHALLENGE PRIZES!!!

Great work to everyone who entered the October floor cleaning challenge and received a $10 gift card—and Congratulations to April, winner of the $50 gift card!!!

We still have floor mats and boot trays available for anyone who would like them—just ask any Member of

the Team!

This Month’s Challenge

7 Easy Steps to Organize and Clean your Bedroom

Ask a member of the Team if you need more hangers, a closet organizer and/or a bin.

1. Gather and wash your laundry (don't forget your bed sheets!)

2. Make your bed with fresh sheets

3. Fold your clean shirts, underclothes, sweats etc. and place in dresser drawers

4. Hang up any jackets, dresses and fancy clothes in your closet

(REMEMBER: let us know if you need more hangers or a closet organizer)

5. Place shoes, hats or purses on the top shelf in your closet

6. Box any miscellaneous items (P2H can provide a plastic bin if you need one)

7. Ensure nothing else is on the floor or under the bed and vacuum or sweep the floor

8. Check your bed bug traps

Show any member of the Team your Clean and Organized Bedroom by December 23rd to receive a $10 Wal-Mart

gift card and be entered to win the $50 grocery store gift card!

10742—95th Street

Edmonton, AB

Phone: 780-497-7146

Upcoming Events and Important Dates WHEN WHERE WHAT

Tuesdays P2H Edmonton office IDDT Group—talk to Keith or Dr. Wright for more information

Friday, Dec 11th 12noon to 3pm

P2H Edmonton Christmas Party

Thursday, Dec 24th Friday December 25th Monday December 28th Friday, January 1st

Afternoon All day All day All day

Holiday Office Closures

Pathways to Housing Edmonton is funded by the generous support of :

http://bmhc.net/

P A G E 4 V O L U M E I I , I S S U E V I

Harm Reduction Supplies

Don’t forget, Harm Reduction Supplies are always available— just ask a member of the Team.

Naloxone/Narcan kits are also available.

Help us Make the Pathways Post

a Great Newsletter!

Honorariums of $25 will be paid for content from our Clients included in the Pathways Post.

We accept: - Drawings - Short Articles - Poems

- Photographs - Recipes - Budget/Shopping Tips

Please pass along your submissions to a Team member

or call Wendy for more information.

IDDT Group Our IDDT Group continues to meet every Tuesday to talk about mental health and addictions, with a delicious hot lunch to follow. Anyone who is interested in attending when the next IDDT Group starts can talk to Keith or Dr, Wright for more information