Whistleblower allegations highlight racism, misconduct in House of Friendship leadership

A whistleblower and former employee of House of Friendship has come forward with allegations of systemic racism and professional misconduct by the organization’s leadership, sparking community outrage and calls for accountability.

The claims, detailed in a report published by FightBack KW on Aug. 2, 2024, include allegations of mistreatment of racialized staff and clients, suppression of concerns about racism, and a lack of action to address equity issues.

An independent assessment conducted by the KOJO Institute in 2020 revealed significant disparities within House of Friendship’s leadership and EDI policies. The survey found that while 32 per cent of employees identify as racialized or Indigenous, they are underrepresented in full-time positions and overrepresented in non-full-time roles. Racialized staff reported feeling less comfortable discussing race at work and expressed concerns about unequal treatment and limited opportunities for advancement.

The whistleblower, who wishes to remain anonymous, alleges firsthand experiences of racism and discrimination, including instances where racialized colleagues were unfairly criticized, passed over for promotions, and denied necessary support. They also reported witnessing instances of client mistreatment and a lack of action taken on serious concerns, such as allegations of sexual predation.

"Racialized employees were required to handle dangerous chemicals without proper personal protective equipment," the whistleblower stated. "A racialized co-worker, who was beloved by front-line staff as well as clients, but could do nothing right in the eyes of HoF leadership... leadership would shoot down all of their ideas in meetings."

The whistleblower also raised concerns about the lack of support for racialized staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging that House of Friendship refused to provide proof of employment documentation to Black and racialized staff, despite issuing such documentation to some white staff.

"I reported someone working in the men’s shelter as a predator to my supervisor. Human Resources told me that my allegation was slander, that they’d be documenting this in my file, and took no steps to investigate," the whistleblower added.

FightBackKW, a local advocacy group, played a crucial role in bringing these allegations to light. "This report demonstrates how the Region of Waterloo’s insufficient regulation and oversight of emergency shelters has created a damaging environment where unchecked organizational power harms staff and clients, with impunity," said Ace Bonaparte, FightBack KW's media liaison. "We urge the Region of Waterloo to take immediate action to end reliance on agency self-policing and prioritize an investigation and in-depth review of the entire shelter system."

In a written statement, Gail Martin, marketing and communications manager for House of Friendship, acknowledged the need for continued improvement. "House of Friendship is deeply committed to Equity, Diversity, Justice, and Inclusion in the workplace," the statement read. "While we cannot comment on specific cases due to privacy policies, we are proud of the progress we have made over the past four years."