Show cover of Out Of The Blue

Out Of The Blue

Out of the Blue is a weekly podcast that invites guests and experts in the field of housing and homelessness to educate and create awareness around some of gaps and challenges across Canada, as well an some of the amazing innovations and programs that are moving forward. Your host Michael presents a new perspective and interesting guest each week.

Tracks

This week hosts Michael Braithwaite from Blue Door and Mike Wixson look back and talk about their favourite podcasts of the over 90 Out of the Blue episodes recorded, as they make a very special announcement about what is next for the podcast- #Top5

1/28/21 • 41:01

Since 1978 Sister Mary Scullion has been working with Philadelphia’s most vulnerable as the Co-Founder of Project Hope, an organization focused on supportive housing, employment, health and education. She joins us this week on the Out of The Blue podcast, along with Project Home resident and employee Yishya Byard. Did we mention one of her supporters is none other than Jon Bonjovi? Don’t miss this amazing podcast!

1/21/21 • 43:47

President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association(BILD), Dave Wilkes joins us on the Out of the Blue podcast by Blue Door where we discuss government’s role in getting more new housing built, how process effects the cost of housing, the keys to getting more rental housing built, and how the pandemic has effected the industry. You don’t want to miss this one!

1/14/21 • 41:15

Instead of retiring, Dr.Karl Stobbe decided to work with people experiencing homelessness. Join us on Out of The Blue as he shares the story of starting medical clinics across Niagara for those most in need

1/7/21 • 24:29

Her story of homelessness & addiction,  inspired many when it was published in Toronto Life a few years back. The incredible Emily Wright, Teacher, Advocate and Lived Expert, joins us to share her amazing and inspirational story Sponsored by Premiere Mortgage 

1/3/21 • 33:26

This week we are joined on the Out of The Blue podcast by Elisa Birnbaum, Journalist, Podcaster & author, talking about some of the most amazing changemakers in the social sector.

12/24/20 • 30:44

She created a lot of attention with her use of the “Mr Men” format for a book called “Little Miss Homelessness” to help bring the challenges and issues surrounding women facing homelessness to the forefront. Join us this week as academic and author, Harriet Earle-Brown joins us from the UK to talk about her book, her research and what she has planned for the future

12/17/20 • 28:47

Join us on Out of the Blue as we are joined by Leilani Farha and Kaitlin Schwan from The Shift to talk about the Global Homelessness Action on December 10th, where people experiencing homelessness around the world are collectively claiming their right to housing and demanding urgent action from governments.

12/10/20 • 41:45

On Vancouver’s East side, some of the province’s most vulnerable, are struggling to find affordable housing and meaningful, fair paying employment. Join us on Out of the Blue by Blue Door this week as we welcome Johanna Li, Program Manager at Embers in Vancouver, where she leads Embers Eastside works, a unique program that looks at leveraging the expertise of the community, developing partnerships and identifying key opportunities through one-on-one conversations, in developing a successful model for employment services that targets the most barriered individuals.

12/3/20 • 28:28

Join us on the Out of The Blue Podcast as we our guest Claire Elizabeth Williams, CEO of Foundations for Social Change, shares the incredible impact of the “New Leaf Project”, North America’s first direct giving project for people experiencing homelessness. The results will surprise & inspire you!

11/26/20 • 27:59

Forced out of the USA as a student, and not able to safely return home to the middle east, Hashim Al Hebshi, made the decision to walk across the boarder into Canada. While he felt safe in his new adopted home , he found himself facing homelessness for the first time, alone without his family at 21 years of age. Now an established Personal trainer, Hash shares his incredible journey this week on our Out of Blue Podcast. Today's episode has been sponsored by Shiftlink

11/18/20 • 43:12

Charlene April, the Founder and Leader of Creating Roots Canada, an organization that supports youth leaving foster care with financial and emotional support to move forward in life, joins us on Out of the Blue this week to courageously share her journey through foster care and what inspired her to start this amazing organization making a real impact in the lives of youthCharlene April, the Founder and Leader of Creating Roots Canada, an organization that supports youth leaving foster care with financial and emotional support to move forward in life, joins us on Out of the Blue this week to courageously share her journey through foster care and what inspired her to start this amazing organization making a real impact in the lives of youth

11/12/20 • 27:58

Tune in to hear this incredible and personal story of how Alina Turner, the CEO and Co-Founder of Help Seeker is working with her team to revolutionize Systems Planning across the globe as a way to help prevent and end homelessness. Today's episode is sponsored by Shiftlink.

11/5/20 • 44:48

One of the most innovative and affordable ways to create new affordable housing is through building modular housing.  Allison Dunnet, the Senior Planner for the City of Vancouver joins us on Out of the Blue to talk about the progress they’ve made using modular housing as well as other ways the City is working hard to prevent and end homelessness.

10/29/20 • 22:19

This week on OTB, the incredible John Fox, a partner at Robins Appleby with a long history in the development of social and affordable housing,  joins us to talk about the successes, opportunities and challenges in working with the public and private sectors in creating affordable housing. Visit www.bluedoor.ca

10/22/20 • 46:17

Joining is in OTB is the incredible Rosanne Hagerty, CEO of Community Solutions, who is leading her team in taking a unique and effective approach to ending homelessness in America

10/15/20 • 27:52

His motto is “Go to the People”, and that is exactly what Dr. Jim Withers has been doing for over 28 years with the Street Medicine Institute, bringing health care to the most vulnerable.  Join us on this very special episode of Out of the Blue to hear about Dr. Withers, who in 2015 was named by CNN as one of America’s top 10 heroes, incredible work and about the panel he’ll join on October 13th  at 1pm, for the Odette Family Lecture series through St. Michaels Hospital, talking about tackling homelessness in the GTA.  You can register to participate at https://zoom.us/j/92893125428?pwd=cGROT0dBWkFEa1lRaGRhZFl3SDhjQT09

10/9/20 • 35:49

When it comes to leading edge work in preventing and ending youth homelessness in Canada, Choices for Youth in St. John’s, Newfoundland is at the top of it’s game.  Join us as their amazing Executive Director, Sheldon Pollett comes on the podcast to talk about the innovative and effective work him and his team are doing in Eastern Canada

10/8/20 • 27:40

Patrick Duce, From World Habitat joins us this week to talk about homelessness in Europe, and how the Covid 19 pandemic is effecting people experiencing homelessness across EU countries

10/2/20 • 26:30

Doctors can choose to practice in all sorts of different areas, but Dr. Kate Hayman’s heart has always resided with our community’s most vulnerable . She joins us on the OTB podcast to talk about her incredible work delivering clinical services to people experiencing homelessness in Toronto as the Co-Medical Director of the Covid recovery sites.

9/24/20 • 26:35

While many people are familiar with CMHC’s mortgage work, they don’t know about the transformation it’s taken on over the last 3 years to support some amazing innovative affordable housing projects. Steff Jones, Vice President of Innovation for CMHC, joins us on the Out of the Blue podcast to talk about this work and his hopes for the future of innovation in affordable housing across Canada

9/17/20 • 37:24

Amongst the need and pressure for more affordable and innovative projects to build affordable housing in Canada, Ene Underwood and her team at Habitat for Humanity GTA are continually growing, changing and progressing at a rapid rate.  Ene joins us on the Out of the Blue Podcast to talk about the amazing work Habitat has underway and what projects they have planned for the future. Visit www.bluedoor.ca to find out more or to offer financial assistance.

9/10/20 • 26:06

There are so many people working so hard across the country to prevent human trafficking and support survivors. Casandra Diamond the Founding Director of BridgeNorth is a leader and well known advocate, working hard with her team to restore the inherent dignity and value of those who have experienced sexual exploitation through prevention and exit strategies, safety planning and advocacy. It’s an episode of Out of the Blue you won’t want to miss!

9/3/20 • 31:05

Join us this week on OTB as we welcome our guest Sam Dodge, the former Czar of homelessness in San Francisco who shares his experiences of preventing and ending homelessness in both New York City and San Francisco. It’s one episode you dare not miss! Visit www.bluedoor.ca

8/27/20 • 32:46

Join us on a very special episode of Out of the Blue as we discuss some hot of the press research around student homelessness in Canada with academics, Eric Weissman, Lisa Mader and Sarah Wogemuth

8/20/20 • 28:30

The Old Brewery Mission in Montreal has become a leader in innovative and successful practices to end homelessness in Canada.  CEO Matthew Pearce joins us on the Out of the Blue Podcast by Blue Door, to talk about the strategic and effective partnerships he’s built with healthcare and academic professionals to move his organization’s mission forward, and as well around his laser focus on rapid rehousing vs sheltering people experiencing homelessness

8/13/20 • 28:38

The solution to ending homelessness is housing.  Join us on the Out of the Blue Podcast by Blue Door, as David Nugent the Director of Canopy Housing in Leeds, England, talks about the amazing work Canopy Housing has done in repurposing existing vacant homes to create affordable, sustainable and long term housing for people experiencing homelessness.

8/8/20 • 17:43

Join us on this very special episode of Out of the Blue, as we speak with the brilliant and passionate, Meg Inwood, a lived expert who courageously shares her experience of homelessness, safe supply, and how all of us can better channel our efforts to help those experiencing homelessness

8/7/20 • 37:13

After a long battle with poor mental health and domestic violence, Sara found herself cross-addicted and homeless.  Join us on the Out of the Blue Podcast by Blue Door, as she courageously shares her story of how she overcame these trauma’s and more to successfully complete schooling and move forward with a new life

8/6/20 • 23:04

Marie Morrison, the Director of Built for Zero Canada joins us on the Out of the Blue Podcast to talk about Built for Zero, an ambitious national change effort helping a core group of leading communities end chronic homelessness and veteran homelessness.  Over 30 communities across 7 provinces have jumped on board in this amazing campaign that is leading the way in eliminating  homelessness across the country. Visit www.BlueDoor.ca

7/30/20 • 24:08