The Wasaga Beach Public Library is proud to spotlight an inspiring local initiative that blends art, advocacy, and empowerment: the Houses for Homes project, a collaboration between The Hope Project, the Opportunities Program, and Hello Pottery.

At the heart of this initiative are the participants of the Hope Project and Opportunities Program—pre-employment programs designed to support individuals with mental health disabilities as they work toward stability, build self-confidence, and prepare to re-enter the workforce. These programs focus not just on job readiness, but on fostering meaningful community engagement, which research shows is vital for long-term success and emotional well-being.

Houses for Homes brings this mission to life in the most creative way. Through hands-on pottery workshops with Hello Pottery, participants craft one-of-a-kind miniature clay houses that reflect their unique personalities, lived experiences, and connection to the theme of housing. Each piece is paired with a personal story—often touching on themes of housing insecurity, resilience, and community—that is shared on a dedicated website.

But the impact doesn’t stop there.

These handcrafted clay houses are being auctioned to raise funds for local shelters like The Busby Centre, directly supporting people facing housing insecurity in Collingwood and the surrounding region. By participating in this project, individuals not only gain creative and practical skills—they also experience the deep reward of contributing to a cause greater than themselves.

Houses for Homes is more than an art project. It’s a reminder that healing and growth often begin with connection—connection to creativity, to community, and to a shared purpose. Wasaga Beach Public Library is proud to support and promote initiatives like this one, which demonstrate how the power of storytelling, art, and compassion can spark real change.

A display of the clay houses created for this project is on view in the Adult Nook art display cases for the month of June. To learn more, view the houses, or for sales inquiries, visit the Wasaga Beach Public Library.