It’s an understatement to say that Margaret Bilson is passionate about finding housing for people in need. For the last twelve years, Margaret worked at Fife House, providing housing help for people living with HIV who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. At the beginning of 2023, she started here with us at Nellie’s as our new housing supervisor.

“As much as [working in] housing has become so much harder in the last 10-plus years, I love helping people find housing,” says Margaret. “Most of the time when you’re helping people who are homeless or are facing homelessness, you’re helping them at a time in their lives where they’re experiencing a major life event. It’s hard work, but it’s so important to have someone to help them navigate through this difficult time. I think it’s such an amazing thing to be able to do for work.”

As part of the Community Housing Support team, Margaret helps women and gender-diverse people who are experiencing gender-based violence find alternative housing. Although she has many years of experience providing housing help and working with people dealing with mental health issues and using substances, since coming to Nellie’s she’s appreciated the opportunity to learn much more about the VAW (violence against women) sector.

“I’ve learned a lot more about all the support that goes into serving people experiencing gender-based violence — things like safety planning, and how to help them deal with the police and the court system,” explains Margaret. “When I was growing up, my father was abusive to my mother. Like most women, I’ve experienced gender-based violence in my lifetime. It’s really meaningful to me to be doing this work.”

Since starting in her new role, one of Margaret’s goals has been to increase our outreach efforts to connect with more marginalized communities, to help us reach more women when they’re most in need. She’s also been working to create more partnerships with agencies who serve women with mental health and substance use challenges. “This is certainly something that Nellie’s has always supported, but there are a lot of women we’re not getting to who are extremely vulnerable,” says Margaret. “It’s very important to me that we’re doing more outreach to connect with these women.”

Working in an environment that empowers and centers women has been truly inspiring for Margaret. When talking about our empowerment self-defense programs and our healthy relationships workshops, she mentions that she wishes she had access to programs like this when she was younger. “I think it’s so exciting to think about empowering women at such a young age,” says Margaret.

“Hopefully through these programs we’re not just changing the narrative with women, but with young boys, too. And what a difference that’s going to make. When we’re working with women — all day, every day — who are experiencing so much violence from men, it’s really important to have hope that things will be different for women in the future. I’m a single mother to a beautiful seven-year-old girl, and I have to hope that the future will be better for her.”

The day-to-day operations of Nellie’s shelter building runs smoothly in a large part because of the efforts of Jamuna Gurung. As a House Coordinator, Jamuna’s job is to ensure our shelter always meets (or even exceeds) the City of Toronto’s Shelter standards for health and safety, while also overseeing the food service department and making sure we have nutritious meals to serve to the women and their children living here.   As well, since the start of the pandemic, it’s been her job to make sure there is always enough PPE on hand for staff and residents.

She’s quick, however, to share any praise for her work.

“It’s a team effort,” says Jamuna. “Everyone here works very hard and I’m very grateful to those people who have been on the front-lines with me to work with the residents of Nellie’s. When you work alone, you do so little, but when you work as a team you can do so much.”

Jamuna came to Nellie’s six years ago after studying Food and Nutrition Management at George Brown College. She uses her expertise to ensure food safety protocols meet Public Health Standards and to prepare weekly menus for shelter residents that not only adhere to Canada’s Food Guide but also meet the dietary restrictions of those living in the house at any given time.

“If someone says they have diabetes, we make sure we’re accommodating meals with non-starchy foods and vegetables,” says Jamuna, adding she is a certified member of the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management. “If someone says they don’t eat meat, we make sure that that person still gets enough protein in their diet through plant-based protein and meat alternative such a tofu and legumes.” Before the pandemic, Jamuna also ran series of healthy eating workshops for the women living at the shelter. She hopes to be able to do so again one day in the future.

Previously, Nellie’s only prepared and served dinner to shelter residents, with women using the kitchen to prepare their own breakfast and lunch. However, with social distancing protocols, residents can no longer use the kitchen and we now prepare and serve three meals a day. Women and their children pick up their meals and are encouraged to eat them in their rooms.

Throughout the pandemic, Jamuna’s role has also included additional cleaning and disinfecting (which means purchasing more supplies and coordinating with our cleaning service) and ordering and issuing appropriate PPE for staff and residents. Every effort in this regard has been worth it. While we unfortunately did have two COVID-19 outbreaks (one during the pandemic’s first wave and another during the third wave), everyone recovered and no staff tested positive.

As the move to our new shelter approaches, Jamuna is on the moving committee, making sure everything is in place.

“I need to be familiar with a whole building system and its operations by learning about the health and safety procedures that are being put in there.  Moving is never an easy task but it’s going to be really positive that we’ll have more space and we’ll all be under one roof now,” says Jamuna.

“Serving people in need is a very fulfilling experience,” says Jamuna. “I know that Nellie’s is a good place and it gives me positive vibes to know that I’m helping people. That’s the best reward and you can’t get that anywhere else.”

Thank you, Jamuna, for all you do for the women and their children living at Nellie’s.

Notice of

44^th Annual General Meeting 

 6-8:00pm, Wednesday September 13, 2017

Ralph Thornton Community Centre

765 Queen Street East, 2nd Floor

 Food, Childcare & Sign Language Interpretation Available

* Melissa Gamal is an award winning Bellydance artist based in Toronto, Canada. She has performed and taught Middle Eastern Dance across Canada, as well as in the USA, Europe and Egypt. Her authentic movement style and elegant musical interpretation have made her a beloved performer within Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. She is also an experienced instructor whose workshops are sought out by dance students for her attention to technique and her extensive knowledge of this dance style. In 2015 she co-founded Ya Amar, an entertainment company focused on offering exquisite performances of Middle Eastern dance and live music for special events. www.ya-amar.ca

 Please RSVP to Janna at 416-461-8903 by Friday September 1 to register for childcare

Summary of Duties:

Currently we are seeking an experienced, strong, visionary Manager of Fund Development to participate in setting the operational vision and goals for the organization, to develop corresponding short and long range plans for Resource Development.  Advance and manage resource development programs and projects, and serves as a central resource and support to Nellie’s across all programs and services as related to fund development. Lead our fund development team in the area of strategic planning, social media, fundraising strategies, proposal writings, database maintenance and donor relationships.

This position reports to the Executive Director and serves as a member of the management team and Fund-Development Board Advisory Committee.   We are in the process of implementing an organization transitional plan 2016-2017, in preparation to our next Strategic Plan.  Increasing fundraising revenues is essential in order to maintain relevant services for women and children fleeing violence.

Responsibilities:

1.            Fundraising

Leads the development of the overall fundraising strategy and annual revenue targets

• Works closely with Board & management team to achieve fundraising goals
• Ensures implementation and evaluation of the Annual giving Program including grant and foundation proposals, annual appeals, special appeals, monthly donor program, membership, planned giving, in-kind donations and donor recognition and appreciation events.
• Develops Annual Events work plan including but not limited to Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Online Auctions, United Way Campaign, 3^rd Party Events, agency’s Every Member Campaign and In-Kind donations.
• Reviews the organization’s marketing and communications materials to ensure the organization’s mission, vision and values are reflected without compromise
• Researches and recommends new fundraising opportunities.
• Builds and maintains member and donor communications and recognition through a variety of means including telephone thank-you and mail campaigns, ensuring recognition through events, the newsletters and annual report.
• Represents the agency at internal and external fundraising events
• Responsible for the publication of newsletters & annual report
• Educates current and potential donors about the goals and services of Nellie’s and about opportunities for giving.
• Maintains awareness of fundraising trends and requirement and contact with the community
• Acts a lead organizer for Capital campaigns
• Assists in the recruitment and training of volunteers for assigned fundraising programs.
• Acts as staff representative on the Fund Development Committee of Nellie’s Board of Directors.
• Responsible to ensure organizational compliance with Revenue Canada Policies, Donor Bill of Rights, Ethical Principles & Standards and other relevant fundraising related policies

2.            Finance and Administration

• Prepares the fundraising budget in consultation with the Management team including setting the fundraising targets, monitoring the donations and achieving revenue projections.
• Prepares quarterly and annual reports for effective monitoring and evaluation of fundraising goals and plans.
• Develops and maintains membership and donor databases
• Oversees the development and maintenance of the website, online fundraising software and social media program

3.            Human Resources

• Hires, trains and supervises team members including Fundraising Coordinator, Development Admin. Support Worker, any contract staff, students and volunteers in the fundraising area.

4.            General

 Responds to telephone requests for information and assistance

• Maintains a current awareness of women’s issues
• Public Speaking
• Evening and weekend work
• Assists with other duties as required, from time to time, aiding with the efficient operation of the organization

Qualifications and Experience:

Minimum 3 years progressive experience in fundraising, communications and/or marketing in the non-for-profit sector.

• Membership with A.F.P. and C.F.R.E. certification are preferred
• Demonstrated experience in planning, budgeting and implementing an annual fundraising plan and special events
• 3 years staff supervising experience
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills; comfortable with making presentations
• Previous experience with capital campaign and annual giving plan is an asset
• Well-developed interpersonal relationship building skills; ability to establish excellent communication with prospects, donors, board members, members, staff and volunteers
• Experience and sensitivity in dealing with members of different cultural and racial backgrounds, including visible and non-visible dimensions of diversity
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; proactive, creative, self-starter, patient, diplomatic
• Able to work under pressure and with deadlines
• High level of energy and initiative and a proven ability to work independently
• Ability to gather and analyze information for problem solving and decision making
• Strong computer skills including Excel and Income Manager
• Strong leadership skills
• Working from an anti-racist/anti-oppression framework
• Excellent knowledge of violence against women issues
• Proven reliable professionalism in working in, out and across the organization.

To Apply:

Nellie’s is committed to the development of an agency that reflects the women it serves.  Applications from Aboriginal Women, World Majority Women/Women of Colour, Lesbians, Bisexual Women, Transgendered Women and Women with DisAbilities, Women who have experienced Violence and Consumer Survivors are strongly encouraged.

If your skills and experience match the requirements of this position, please mail your cover letter, resume and expected salary by Thursday March 31, 2016 to:

Nellie’s Hiring Committee

Attention: Margarita Mendez, Executive Director

970 Queen Street East

PO Box 98118

Toronto, Ontario

M4M 1J8

Faxes, emails or phone calls will not be accepted.

This position requires a criminal reference check as per Ministry requirements.

Date of Posting: Thursday March 2, 2016

Deadline: Thursday March 31, 2016

Only those being considered for interview will be contacted.