The History
Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society was founded in 1984 by three women who wanted to make life better for themselves and for other single mothers and their children.
The founders believed that providing safe and affordable housing was the first step in creating positive futures for families. ENF is one of the first housing development organizations created and led by women in Canada and has a proud tradition of naming our buildings after the grandmothers of our founders.
We continue to honor our legacy of inclusiveness, hope, determination, and social justice as passed down from the grandmothers through the creation of affordable, diverse and healthy communities for families, single parents and seniors in the lower mainland.
26 years I’ve lived here. I raised two daughters and raise my granddaughter here. This is me, this is where I live, and here is where my memories and the history of my family lives. My soul is rooted here. How can you take that away from me? How do I tell my kids and my grandkids that I will be moving and I don’t know where I’m going and I have to move all the archives of my life from the walls, the pencil marks of their growth chart, the life I built here in and all its treasures secured in all the nooks and crannies of my home with precious family memoirs firmly attached to the spirit of my beautiful home. Even the tree growing outside my balcony is a part of me and the heritage of this building. In addition, the love for my neighbours, always there for me, I’m always there for them. We take care of each other, we help each other and we want to grow old with each other. This community within Alma Blackwell is one of a kind and it resonates such beautiful energy where we are all doing our very best to live and raise our children and better ourselves for a brighter future. Here is where I live. We live here!
It’s taken me two years to post this. I kept it in draft all this time ignoring it. I now feel it’s a safe space among us bloggers and readers to post. There is nothing to hide.
It took me longer than expected to find the words to reflect the value of my work. I wanted it to be as authentic as possible with images and phrases snipped out of magazine that resonates my desires and passion for you to reach a place of awakening.
This newspaper clipping saved from decades ago just about explains it all! It makes me think of just how Women are indeed one… yes, one of a kind! Mankind had us believing we are a separate entity from the whole, incomplete and lesser without the other half. But, we know that not only are we complete, all powerful, and perfect just as we are, we are also the new force and voice of our times!
Valentine Day is my favourite time of year, It’s an opportunity to share a piece of our heart in so many ways. May it be chocolates for the office or that one person we think about all the time. How about hugging our daughters and sons and lovely grandchildren which I cannot resist. Tell them they are perfect just the way they are, say I love you, say I care. It’s not too late. Our partners, friends, neighbours, sweethearts, and especially out Mama’s. Just show love, one way or another it will be received for it is all we need!
