The Mustard Seed

Why does homelessness occur? It's a complex problem with complex causes, making it impossible to pinpoint one specific reason. What we can say from experience is homelessness usually results from a combination of systemic issues and personal circumstances. What do these look like? Let's break it down: 🏠Systemic issues can include structural factors such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, lack of health supports, and discrimination. Economic changes from a declining economy make it harder to find and keep jobs, increasing the risk of homelessness. While poverty does not always result in homelessness, homelessness is always a result of poverty. 🏠System failures can also include inadequate discharge planning and support from institutions such as hospitals, correctional facilities, mental health facilities, and addictions facilities. Child welfare and lack of support for new Canadians are also at play, and discrimination often adds an extra barrier with these issues. 🏠 Personal circumstances can include relational factors like addictions, mental and physical illnesses, personal crises, and past trauma. Addictions may arise as a result of stress and insecurity experienced when someone doesn't have a home. 🏠 Domestic violence and discrimination can also factor into experiencing homelessness. Compounded traumatic events like experiencing homelessness while escaping domestic violence can cause severe trust issues, making it harder to escape the vicious cycle. At The Mustard Seed, we work to meet our clients where they are at and connect them to the supports they need to build a new beginning. We work in partnership with many different community organizations so we can help ensure our clients receive the support best suited for them, and attempt to address everyone's unique needs as best we can. Support our work at theseed.ca today, and help make a difference in the communities we serve. #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

A huge THANK YOU to Jack Carter Chevrolet for their incredible donation of toys! They also contributed to our programs at our Foothills Shelter for our clients!🤗 These incredible folks have made an annual donation to our programs and services since 2000! We're so grateful for their dedication to our neighbours in need! #YYC #JackCarterChev #ToyDonation #Christmas #ThankYou #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

Shoutout to the HR team from Ensign Drilling in Niksu! This lovely group of donors did a drive at their workplace for us, collecting all kinds of winter clothes, toques, socks, etc. and delivering to our Community Support Centre Donation Centre in Edmonton. One of the women literally gave the coat off her back when staff mentioned how badly in need of coats and boots we are currently. 😱 Thank you for thinking of our vulnerable neighbours during the winter season! If you're interested in donating, our hours of operation are Mon. - Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed Sundays) #YEG #Edmonton #Donation #ThankYou #WinterDonations #WinterItems #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

Our staff in Kamloops recently had the opportunity to get together for a Christmas party! We had so much fun bowling at Falcon Lanes and hanging out with our coworkers. Thank you to everyone who stopped by! Swipe for some festive pics 🎅🎄 #Kamloops #KamloopsNow #Christmas #ChristmasParty #StaffXmas #Xmas2024 #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

We would like to recognize the support of two of our incredible funders for our Foot Care Clinic in Medicine Hat! Thank you to the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta (CFSEA) and Medicine Hat REALTORS' Charitable Foundation (MHREB) for supporting this program! People experiencing homelessness face a variety of challenges in day-to-day life, meaning they often have severe problems with the health of their feet. They often walk as their primary means of transportation, and may have worn out, inadequate footwear and lack access to clean, dry socks. They also face harsh environmental conditions on the street (have you taken a walk outside recently?). All of these factors can lead to foot problems including infections, wounds, frostbite, gout and more. We've established a Foot Care Clinic at our Wellness Centre in Medicine Hat to address basic foot health issues faced by people experiencing homelessness and poverty. This program helps contribute to improved overall wellness for the clients that access it. Since May 2024, we have distributed 48 foot care supplies and provided 72 foot care services to 51 unique guests, with an average of 7 guests per clinic. These services have been provided by one (1!) nurse. We're hoping to increase the number of services provided in the upcoming months! Thank you CFSEA and MHREB for your support of this important program - you are toe-tally making a difference in your community! #MedHat #MHLocal #MHREB #CFSEA #FootCare #FootHealth #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

🎄Vote for us in the YYC Festival of Trees contest!🎄 If you're flying domestic this holiday season, be sure to stop by Departures Door 1 by the WestJet check in to see our tree! We're so excited to be a part of YYC's Festival of Trees alongside other phenomenal local organizations. Make sure to vote for us in the contest over on The Calgary Airport Authority page! 🌟Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!🌟 #YYC #Christmas #FestivalOfTrees #FestivalOfTrees2024 #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

🌟Volunteer with us this Christmas and be an Angel of Hope!🌟 During the winter months we're busier than ever working to meet our clients' needs and protect vulnerable neighbours from the cold. With the increased need, we need your support now more than ever. Check out theseed.ca/volunteer to see all the volunteer opportunities we have available. Donate your time, and be an Angel of Hope for someone in need this holiday season! #AngelsOfHope #Volunteer #VolunteerOpportunity #DonateTime #ChristmasVolunteer #Christmas2024 #Xmas #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

🌟We are so excited to share that this Christmas, your donation will be matched! 🌟 The generous folks over at Arnie J. Charbonneau Foundation want to help us close out the year by matching up to another $40,000 on top of the previous $100,000 they matched for Giving Tuesday. Their matching has been extended to December 31st! Double your impact! Donate today and let's help everyone in our communities have a magical Christmas! Visit theseed.ca/christmas to give today! #Christmas2024 #Christmas #GiveBack #Charity #DonationMatching #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere

Our Grande Prairie team recently hosted their first ever staff Christmas party! The team had a fabulously festive time at Bowling Stone, with an ugly Christmas sweater dress code! For food, we enjoyed pizza, sandwiches, soda, meat & cheese and cake. We also organized games outside of bowling, which allowed everyone to join in the fun even if they didn't feel like bowling! It was a great opportunity to catch up with everyone and strengthen connections.

We are incredibly grateful to CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation for their recent donation in support of our housing program! This generous gift from CREB will support critical upgrades at our 14th Avenue building, making the building safer and more welcoming for vulnerable people, replacing the flooring in five units. Because of CREB's support, our vulnerable neighbours will have a comfortable, dignified living environment that they can take pride in. Thank you CREB for your support of our vulnerable neighbours! #Calgary #YYC #SupportLocal #CERBREALTORCommunityFoundation #ThankYou #GiveBack #EndHomelessness #EndPoverty #HopeGrowsHere