Our Stories
Read personal stories and community highlights from residents of buildings operated by Collingwood Non Profit Housing.
Mary and Stewart's Story
Mary and Stewart met in 2005. They were Collingwood residents who attended the local high school, fell in love and made plans to marry when they both had their careers moving forward. They dreamt about a future where they had two children and a house where they could raise them.
Mary took a Georgian Community College course in business and excelled. Stewart joined his uncle’s renovation business as a junior employee and spent a year learning trades. They got married at the local church with a reception at the Legion in 2013. Soon, they moved into a $900/month rental – the lower part of a house – and happily began to feather their nest.
In 2015, Mary’s mother fell ill. Mary left her job to be her mother’s caregiver and to support her father and two younger siblings. A year later, her mother passed away. By then, rents had increased and with only Stewart’s income, the young couple became worried. All their savings were gone and they were behind on their bills. They were losing hope and became debt-ridden. To add to the stress, Mary was pregnant and they would soon be a family of three.
Georgian Gables affordable housing gave them the opportunity to start their family with stability.
On the waiting list for housing, they received a call that a 2-bedroom unit was available for rent. They moved into the unit at Georgian Gables – a local affordable housing building in Collingwood. It was a wonderful light-filled apartment, with a playground for children and a community space for celebrations and meet-ups. They were excited to pay off bills, start saving money again, and work towards housing for their family.
Georgian Gables was a friendly place and they met so many people who had similar stories. The support they received from Simcoe County ensured they could all have a chance to begin a new life and move forward. When Stewart was laid off during the pandemic, off and on for months, they had a roof over their heads and a place where they felt safe. They were able to afford rent, while others lost housing to job loss and rental owners selling off in an elevated market.
Today, Mary and Stewart are both working full-time. Prices had decreased just enough to put a bid in on a 2-bedroom house in town and they were approved for a mortgage. It was time to move out of Georgian Gables.
Mary and Stewart are grateful for the hand up they received when they needed it most. Georgian Gables affordable housing gave them the opportunity to start their family with stability. “We leave with the hope that new families can find the wonderful home and support we found here.”
Nancy's Story
Nancy had a wonderful life living up north. She grew up on a farm in Meaford with a large family. She loved her family and spent her childhood helping her parents and older brothers harvest. She also loved school and worked hard to pursue her dream: to become a nurse.
Eventually, Nancy’s parents found the funds for her to live in Barrie and go to school and train. By her mid-20s, Nancy became a junior nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital. She met a good man at the church she attended. They married and started a family together. Nancy kept up part-time shifts for many years, but had to leave when her husband’s work took him out of the city.
Just after her children moved away to begin pursuing their own dreams, Nancy’s husband passed away.
With arthritis in her knees, nursing was no longer an option for Nancy – and she soon found herself behind on her home payments. Running out of funds, and struggling with the stairs, she wanted to find a home that she would be able to afford on her pension. She applied to the County of Simcoe’s housing program. Within a year, she moved into a new building called Georgian Gables in the neighbouring town of Collingwood.
“The happy part is someone else will move into my unit who needs help, meet all of you and have a brand new start.”
Nancy moved in, and with rental help from the County, her life was stable again. She was able to find a day-time position at a local store as a cashier – she’d be on her feet but not walking around. She worked there for many years, making friends at the store and at Georgian Gables.
But she needed to slow down as her knees were causing her too much pain. The church group she attended weekly had a bulletin board and she saw the hospital needed a greeter. She once again pursued her passion – helping patients who needed a smile, information and to get care. Nancy applied and was offered three weekly shifts.
After many years, Nancy was struggling again and in a wheelchair. Nancy resigned once again to attend to her health issues. Sadly, she realized after 25 years at Georgian Gables she needed to make a change.
After a visit by one of her daughters, Nancy agreed to sign up for assisted living. Luckily, her daughter found a place for her in a nursing home close to her home in Toronto
Nancy told the superintendent at Georgian Gables she was vacating her apartment. Last summer, there was an emotional gathering before Nancy’s departure. She said, “I am sad to leave my home and my friends in Collingwood. The happy part is someone else will move into my unit who needs help, meet all of you and have a brand new start. A chance to live a happy life and begin again.”
TED's Story
Ted was very young when he realized his parents were not doing well in their rented apartment. While his parents were busy working all hours, Ted took care of his little brother John – helping him to get ready and walking him to school every day. Taking on both parental duties and working part-time, Ted fell behind on his school work. The counsellors at his school became concerned.
Ted knew he wouldn’t finish high school so he left – opting to help with managing the household. Only 17 years old, Ted took a job bussing at a local restaurant and took as many shifts as he could. His other job was ensuring his brother John kept up in school.
By the time his brother John graduated from high school, Ted’s parents had split up and moved away. John moved with mom to Owen Sound but Ted stayed in Collingwood. He lived with friends but found that sharing a small space made it hard to sleep and work. Ted felt anxious about his living situation, but didn’t know where else he could live on his salary.
“I can move forward with confidence and build my new life.”
Never giving up, Ted continued to work at the restaurant – now as a waiter – and saved up enough money to move out. He put his name on a list to move into housing and finally got his opportunity. He received a call that a market rental unit had opened up at Georgian Gables (managed as an affordable housing building, the rent was still much less than other rentals which had doubled during the pandemic).
Ted had saved up enough to buy a couch and a bed. He visited a few second-hand shops to find a few other household items and soon furnished his first real home at Georgian Gables. Despite being happy to finally have a place of his own, Ted says that the best part about moving in was getting a new roommate – a cat named George (named after his new home).
Today, Ted is focused on his career. With a steady job, safe housing, and peace and quiet, Ted is excited for the future. “I can move forward with confidence and build my new life.”