What we do

Advocacy:

• We tell our stories to politicians at all levels of government to demonstrate the benefits of supportive housing.
• We stand up for human rights. Our actions include having:
• Inspired David Miller to proclaim February 27 “Supporting Housing Day.”
• Organized and promoted two postcard campaigns to “increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing across Ontario so that people facing mental illness can rebuild their lives and contribute to society.” We collected 2000 signatures in the first campaign and 4,000 in the second campaign. Nine days after our second press conference at Queen's Park, the three levels of government announced the Affordable Housing Agreement.
  
• Filed a complaint of illegal discrimination against provincial MPP.
• We make submissions and deputations to different government bodies on behalf of people who live with mental illness:   
• Mental Health Discrimination and Police Records: The Dream Team’s Submission to the Human Rights Commission (March, 19, 2008
• Our Vision for Supportive Housing: The Dream Team’s Submission to the City of Toronto in Response to its Proposed Affordable Housing Strategy, Housing Opportunities Toronto (June 20, 2008).
• The Experiences of the Dream Team: A submission to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s consultation on Human Rights and Rental Housing (August 29, 2007).

Public Education: 

• We lead presentations and workshops for those who wish to learn more about mental illness, supportive housing, and discriminatory zoning practices.
• Since our inception in 2000, we have spoken to over 13,000 people and have reached even more through the media and our videos. Our audiences have included: University of Toronto, Canadian Mental Health Association, Sunnybrook Hospital, ODSP Action Coalition, St Joseph Health Care Centre, Trails for Youth Initiatives, Community Integration and Urban Health Seminar, St. Ann’s Place, OPSEU, and many other groups. We have also spoken to numerous high school classes.

 Research:

• With support received from the Wellesley Institute, we have published our own research study,  We Are Neighbours: The Impact of Supportive Housing on Community, Social Economic and Attitude Changes (Report prepared by Alice de Wolff; May, 2008).