Facebook · October 26, 2026
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Your MP at Work
Kelly DeRidder on Housing
Housing is one of the biggest concerns for families in Kitchener Centre, and Kelly DeRidder has made it a steady focus of her work as the riding's MP. This page gathers her posts, videos and House of Commons speeches on the subject.
Kelly has written to the Minister of Housing and the Minister's office in support of the Fire Station 8 project in Kitchener. Her posts say it would strengthen emergency services, create 281 affordable homes and save taxpayers money by building both together.
She has also spent time with people working on housing across the region. She toured Indwell, Gigi's House and the HART Hub run by Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo. She met with Jennifer Scott of House of Friendship, Reception House Waterloo Region, Ray of Hope Inc. and local realtor Faisal Susiwala. She also visited Cabinovo, which is bringing new methods to homebuilding in Kitchener.
Her posts also cover accessible homes, youth and senior homelessness, and recovery services. Kelly has spoken about her own past experience with homelessness and addiction, and about her private member's bill, C-240.
59 posts, videos and speeches.
Facebook · October 25, 2026
As the holidays approach, I'm proud to highlight the work of Reception House Waterloo Region and its Home Begins Here initiative. With 34 transitional housing units planned, this project will help vulnerable families in Waterloo Region move from crisis to stability while reducin… Read more
g pressure on community resources. Every family deserves a safe place to call home.
Facebook · October 15, 2026
Honoured to attend the Centre for Mutual Wellbeing’s Radiant Ladies Night Fundraising Dinner, supporting important work in housing and addressing gender-based violence. Grateful to everyone working to build safer, stronger communities.
Facebook · October 8, 2026
It was great to join United Way Waterloo Region at the launch and walk for the March of 1,000 Umbrellas. It was a powerful reminder that no one should have to face homelessness alone. Thank you to everyone walking, volunteering and working to build a stronger community.
Facebook · September 18, 2026
I’ve written to the Minister’s office in support of Fire Station 8’s affordable housing project in Kitchener. We need to support projects that strengthen our community, expand housing options and make better use of existing public infrastructure. I’ll continue advocating for thi… Read more
s project.
Facebook · August 24, 2026
Thank you to @PierrePoilievre for joining us in Kitchener to talk about real solutions to addiction and homelessness. We need to address the root causes, get people the help they need, and ensure our communities are safe. It’s time for action, not more encampments.
Facebook · August 20, 2026
A truly accessible home can mean the difference between independence and being forced to rely on others. We need more barrier-free homes designed with accessibility in mind from the start, so people with disabilities can live safely, independently, and with dignity.
Facebook · August 15, 2026
Youth homelessness is rarely the starting point. Mental health, addiction and family breakdown can push young people into crisis. That’s why upstream funding matters: investing in prevention and early supports helps keep young people from becoming homeless in the first place.
Facebook · August 6, 2026
A big part of addressing homelessness is recovery. Without access to addiction treatment and recovery services, too many people are left trapped in a cycle that keeps them off the path to stability. Real compassion means helping people recover, not just helping them survive.
Facebook · July 22, 2026
$6 million a year for Kitchener’s tent city?! Every dollar spent should be focused on getting people the support they need and helping them move toward safer, more stable housing. We need solutions that deliver results, not allow people to stay stuck.
Facebook · July 20, 2026
I've written to the Minister of Housing urging approval of federal funding for Kitchener's Fire Station 8 and affordable housing project. This investment would strengthen emergency services, create 281 affordable homes, and save taxpayers millions by building both together.
Facebook · June 23, 2026
We should never confuse tolerance with compassion. Leaving people homeless and trapped in addiction isn’t helping them. Compassion means offering a path to housing, recovery, and a chance to rebuild their lives.
House of Commons · June 18, 2026
House of Commons
Thank you. Mr. Gladstone, I want to ask you a quick question. You mentioned the need for a carve-out from Build Canada Homes for people with disabilities. I agree completely. I just learned about what true barrier-free is for those with disabilities. What portion of that do you… Read more
think is required to ensure that they're supported through the Build Canada Homes program?
House of Commons · June 18, 2026
House of Commons
Thank you, Chair. Before I ask a couple of questions, I'd like to put a motion on notice for the committee. It reads: That, given that: homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges continue to have significant impacts on individuals, families and communities across … Read more
Canada; communities across the country continue to experience rising homelessness, ongoing substance use harms and increasing pressure on frontline services; the current approaches have not delivered the outcomes Canadians deserve; Canadians are demanding a renewed focus on prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery, housing stability and community reintegration, with measurable outcomes that help individuals achieve long-term health, stability and independence; and it is important that federal investments support measurable outcomes, accountability and access to services that help Canadians achieve long-term recovery, stability and independence; the committee report to the House its recommendation that the Government of Canada: evaluate whether current approaches are achieving their intended outcomes and prioritize investments that demonstrate measurable results in treatment, recovery, housing stability, and long-term independence; and administer existing federal initiatives and funding commitments in a way that prioritizes: stronger access to treatment, recovery and mental health supports; expanded access to stable housing options, including transitional and supportive housing where appropriate; prevention and early interventions that reduce the risk of homelessness and substance use harms; measurable outcomes, accountability and long-term support for individuals seeking stability, recovery and independence; and collaboration among federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, indigenous and community partners to improve outcomes for Canadians affected by homelessness, addiction and related social challenges. Thank you, Chair.
Facebook · June 16, 2026
Addiction and homelessness are not moral failures. The Kitchener encampment ruling highlighted a difficult reality: we don’t have enough housing or recovery services. It’s time to invest more in treatment and recovery, and less in managing addiction indefinitely.
YouTube · June 16, 2026
The Encampment Ruling Exposed a Hard Truth
Addiction and homelessness are not moral failures. The Kitchener encampment ruling highlighted a difficult reality: we don’t have enough housing or recovery services. It’s time to invest more in treatment and recovery, and less in managing addiction indefinitely.
House of Commons · June 11, 2026
House of Commons: Oral Questions — Seniors
Mr. Speaker, that was another non-answer. The Liberal government has said that it is going to make life affordable for everyday Canadians. If this is true, can the minister please stand up and explain why seniors make up the fastest-growing group in the Waterloo region facing ho… Read more
melessness? The wait-list for individuals over 55 needing affordable homes in the region has increased by 700%.
Facebook · June 10, 2026
A shocking new report shows that senior homelessness in Waterloo region is up 700% in the last 5 years. Seniors worked hard, paid taxes & helped build our country. Now they are being priced out of housing and forced into homelessness. This is the result of more than a decade of… Read more
failed housing policies. Conservatives will continue to work for seniors and all Canadians to have access to affordable housing across the country.
Facebook · June 10, 2026
Are you between 15 and 24 and looking to make a difference in your community? Applications for my Youth Council are now open! This is your chance to share ideas, build leadership skills, and help shape conversations on issues that matter to your generation.
Facebook · June 2, 2026
Great meeting with local realtor Faisal Susiwala to talk about housing, affordability, and the challenges many families are facing in Kitchener Centre. Always valuable hearing directly from people working on the front lines of our community.
House of Commons · June 1, 2026
House of Commons
I'm going to start with Mr. Donais. Thank you for coming and sharing your story. From one person to another who slept on the streets, the more we talk about it, the more we'll make change in this country. I'm grateful for your courage and for your desire for a solution to what … Read more
we're seeing here in this country. One thing I think we haven't focused on yet today is how addiction surrounds homelessness and how it's a piece of the puzzle of what we're seeing in this country today. There is an encampment in Kitchener, where it was just ruled that the encampment is going to stay because housing needs to be provided, which you said is stifling progress. I agree with you, sir. Our office went and talked to 22 of those residents in that encampment, and of those 22, only one wasn't using. I think a piece of that is recovery services for addiction and focusing on your big, beautiful life on the other side of addiction. Can you just speak to how that transitional piece will help with focusing on stabilization and recovery for people trapped in addiction?
House of Commons · June 1, 2026
House of Commons: Private Members' Business — Offender Rehabilitation Act
Mr. Speaker, I would like to start today with great big huge thanks to all of my colleagues who wanted to speak to and debate Bill C-240 today. I thank my colleagues who are part of the Conservative caucus and also colleagues across the floor, so much, for speaking to this bill t… Read more
oday. I thank the Bloc Québécois members as well, so very much, for speaking to this bill and showing their support for it. I think the most important thing that we need to do at this point in time is reverse course in Canada. We need to start focusing on recovery and rehabilitation because people can and do recover. There is an encampment in Kitchener where we are quite literally killing people with kindness right now. In this encampment, five people have died from overdose, and it is time now that all levels of government came together and jointly worked together to fix this crisis in Canada. It is time to reverse course. Bill C-240 is the first step, introducing rehabilitation into incarceration. At least when someone has to be accountable for their actions, they would have a path forward when they are serving their time, to change their life, break cycles and turn their life around. We need to do this in Canada before incarceration, as well, so I am standing here today to thank members for their support in the House for Bill C-240 but also to declare that this is a pivotal moment in Canada. It is time now to concentrate on recovery and rehabilitation because on the other side of recovery is a happy, beautiful, healed and healthy life. Every single person who is struggling with addiction deserves that life, and it is time we helped them get there.
Facebook · June 1, 2026
There was a time I was homeless in Victoria Park and trapped in addiction, wondering if my life would ever look different. I know what it feels like to believe there’s no way out, and my PMB, C-240 is about helping others find one.
Facebook · May 31, 2026
Great to tour Gigi’s House and hear more about the important work being done to support individuals and families in our community. Thank you for the warm welcome and for everything you do to make a difference every day.
Help Kelly keep working for Kitchener Centre
Kelly's work in Ottawa is backed by volunteers and supporters here at home. A monthly donation of any size keeps the local team going, and political contributions earn a generous federal tax credit.