Following the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City of Kingston is humbled to honour the contributions of Tipi Moza (Iron Homes), our Indigenous Housing Service Provider, as our next Service Provider spotlight.

Tipi Moza (Iron Homes)

1. Who they are

Tipi Moza (Iron Homes) operates urban Indigenous transitional housing, supportive housing, affordable and rent-geared-to-income housing for our community. Their model involves cultural connection which supports the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of residents as they work towards permanent housing goals.

On September 30th, Tipi Moza welcomed community to a ceremony in honour of Indigenous children who attended residential schools, their families and communities who suffered the loss of their children, and those who are still affected by the traumas of the residential school system, Indian day schools, Indian hospitals, and the Sixties Scoop.

We thank Tipi Moza for celebrating their resilience, their legacy, and their stories.

2. Who they serve

For decades, Tipi Moza has supported Indigenous families and individuals in the Kingston area. Locally, Indigenous people make up just 3.4% of the population but represent 31% of those experiencing homelessness, demonstrating the need for Tipi Moza’s services.

As an Indigenous housing organization, they provide culturally appropriate programming and staff who are knowledgeable about Indigenous history and cultures, including the intergenerational traumas that may exist among our clientele. Cultural programming includes traditional crafts, teaching and talking circles, smudging that promotes healing using Sacred Medicines, drumming, celebrations and ceremonies on occasions that are important to Indigenous people, and weekly traditional feasts that are open to community.

Tipi Moza offers Indigenous housing along the housing continuum allowing for long-term support and opportunities for growth. Their portfolio consists of:

• 17 rent-geared-to-income units.
• 13 affordable units.
• 19 transitional units.
• 10 portable rent supplements.
• 8 additional units they support.

3. Accomplishments and impact

Tipi Moza has helped house over 300 individuals and families. Their housing services are consistently full, and empty units are quickly filled. Residents also engage in programming that builds skills and experience. Residents have connected or reconnected with their culture and benefited from meaningful healing.

Tipi Moza has also grown their portfolio since 2018, more than doubling the number of people they support and growing their team. Most recently, Tipi Moza started operating one of the three new supportive housing properties acquired by the City of Kingston. The new home has been open for six months and has already helped increase space in Tipi Moza’s programming.

Three testimonials from residents of Tipi Moza:

“Once I moved in I felt that I finally had a chance to start over, get a foot in the door for a better future, a job, secure and safe housing, and reconnection to culture and family. Being in the transitional house, felt like I had found home again, the residents and staff felt like family. I found community, I met the neighbours on either side of the house, I shoveled their driveways in the winter, and did community BBQ in the summers… I found cultural programming the most significant, the connection to culture, acknowledging the intergenerational trauma and history of Indigenous people, experiencing powwows, having medicine available. The support workers were accommodating and resourceful, they worked with my housing team and provided wrap around support for me. I never felt judgement or discrimination from the staff or other residents.”

“My favorite part of Tipi Moza (Iron Homes) is the people, specifically the staff. I enjoy getting to know new people, such as the staff but also the other residents, as well as community members and program facilitators. I think going forward, the Indigenous sector needs more fiscal support and services need to spread throughout the city in order to best serve the Indigenous population in Kingston. As an Indigenous person I feel as though the city has forgotten us, Tipi Moza (Iron Homes) reminds me that I am not alone.”

“Tipi Moza (Iron Homes) is my home, they have given me a safe space to rest, live and learn. Mostly learn how to start over. Lots of community members and program facilitators come to teach us about our community and provide information to learn from. I enjoy the community that has been built at Tipi Moza. I am hopeful that after my time in the transitional program I will be able to live in my own place again and go back to work. Thank you for making our home a possibility.”

How to help

You can support Tipi Moza by

• Donating at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/tipi-moza-iron-homes/ ,
• Bringing a cheque in-person to the main office at 113 Lower Union Street
• Sending donations via mail to 113 LOWER UNION ST KINGSTON, ON, K7L 2N3

Website: Tipi Moza (Iron Homes) | Indigenous Social Housing | 113 Lower Union Street, Kingston, ON, Canada