In this heartfelt episode of Homes Built With Love, host Vicky Devocht, Executive Director of Home Suite Home Affordable Housing, sits down with Christy from To Bean or Not to Bean — Stratford’s family-owned artisan coffee roaster with a big heart for community.
What starts as a conversation about coffee quickly becomes something deeper — a story of how small businesses, when guided by compassion, can help transform lives. Christy shares how she and her husband Blair turned a simple love of freshly roasted beans into a local movement for good. From raising over $25,000 for community causes to partnering with Home Suite Home Affordable Housing, their shop is proof that kindness can be brewed right alongside your morning cup.
Through warmth and honesty, Christy talks about the moment she realized homelessness wasn’t just a distant problem — it was happening in her own backyard. A late-night break-in at their shop revealed a nearby encampment, and with it, a shift in perspective. Her neighbours came together to help cover a small loss, but Christy couldn’t shake the thought: if a community can rally that quickly to fix a door, what could we do for those who have no door at all?
The episode explores questions that matter to all of us:
Vicky and Christy reflect on the growing housing crisis in Stratford and across Canada — and how Home Suite Home Affordable Housing is responding through compassion in action. With every tiny home built, every volunteer who shows up, and every cup of “Homes Built With Love” coffee brewed, they are proving that communities don’t have to wait for change — they can be the change.
About To Bean or Not to Bean:
Located at 8-285 Lorne Avenue East in Stratford, Ontario, Christy and Blair’s roastery is built on ethical sourcing, sustainability, and community spirit. Their beans are roasted fresh, their packaging compostable, and their impact far-reaching. Each bag sold supports fair wages for farmers and funds local initiatives that make life better for people close to home.
About Home Suite Home Affordable Housing:
A registered Canadian charity, Home Suite Home builds pocket-sized, purpose-built rental homes for people facing hidden homelessness — those living in cars, couch surfing, or struggling to afford a safe place to live. Each home is built through community support and volunteer power, offering not just a roof, but dignity, belonging, and hope.
Support the Mission:
You can help build homes through every purchase. Visit the Hope Essentials Store on our website to buy our special coffee blends — roasted in partnership with To Bean or Not to Bean. Choose our medium-dark roast “Home Suite Home” blend, available by the bag or in donation bundles of five or ten to gift family, friends, or coworkers. You’ll also find t-shirts, mugs, and other essentials that support those experiencing homelessness.
Join the Movement:
As Vicky says in this episode:
“Every home we build is proof that when a community comes together, we can move mountains. We’re not just building homes — we’re building hope.”
Listen, share, and be inspired — because sometimes, all it takes to change a life is one small act of love… and one really good cup of coffee.
In this episode of the Home Suite Home Podcast, Jeff is joined by Kendra Fry, Housing Specialist with Invest Stratford. Together, they dive into the realities of housing needs in Stratford and the broader region, exploring the barriers, opportunities, and the vital role that collaboration plays in creating real solutions.
Kendra shares her unique journey from the world of theatre to housing advocacy, bringing a creative and community-minded perspective to her role. With experience reimagining spaces like churches for community benefit, Kendra brings both practical and innovative insights into how local assets can be leveraged to serve the public good — whether through arts hubs, food security initiatives, or housing projects.
This conversation highlights:
• The biggest housing challenges in Stratford today: including the mismatch between existing housing stock (many large, older homes) and current demand (primarily one- and two-person households), as well as the pressing affordability gap.
• The importance of affordable and deeply affordable housing: why building new units is only part of the answer, and why cost-accessible housing is crucial for workers, seniors, young people, and families alike.
• Community partnerships in action: how local volunteers, businesses, and organizations are stepping up with time, materials, and financial support to address housing needs — and why these partnerships are essential for long-term sustainability.
• Stories of hope and impact: from new projects starting to take shape, to grassroots efforts like the Connection Centre at St. Paul’s, serving the community’s most vulnerable with meals and support every day.
Kendra also emphasizes the need for broad community buy-in, reminding us that solving the housing crisis requires neighborhoods, businesses, local government, and ordinary citizens to work together. She paints a vision of what a holistic, inclusive community looks like: one where seniors, newcomers, workers, and artists all have a place to live, contribute, and thrive.
At Home Suite Home Affordable Housing, we believe housing is never just about bricks and mortar. It’s about people, dignity, and belonging. This episode underscores that truth and shows how community-driven solutions can help close the gap for those who might otherwise be left behind.
Whether you’re a policy-maker, business owner, volunteer, or concerned citizen, this conversation will give you a deeper understanding of the challenges and possibilities in the housing sector — and inspire you to see the role you can play in the solution.
Listen in as we learn from Kendra Fry about the heart, the hurdles, and the hope behind housing work in Stratford and beyond.
To support this podcast visit our Hope Essentials Store
Website: https://homesuitehome.org
In this episode of Homes Built with Love, we sit down with Justine Nigro, founder and principal designer of Hive Design Co., to talk about the power of design in creating homes that change lives.
Justine brings both technical expertise and deep compassion to her work. With a background in architectural design and years of experience in residential projects, she has chosen to use her skills for something bigger: helping to address Canada’s affordable housing crisis. Her partnership with Home Suite Home Affordable Housingis more than a professional collaboration — it’s a personal mission rooted in empathy, creativity, and the belief that everyone deserves a safe, beautiful place to live.
Over the course of our 15-minute conversation, Justine opens up about:
• Her journey into design — how she discovered her passion for architecture and why she gravitated toward projects that have a meaningful social impact.
• A heart for housing solutions — why working with people experiencing poverty and homelessness matters to her personally, and how design can play a critical role in restoring dignity and hope.
• Innovative tiny home models — how Hive Design Co. is working with Home Suite Home to create smart, sustainable one-bedroom and two-bedroom pocket homes. She shares insights on designing compact spaces that are both functional and welcoming, where every square foot carries purpose.
• Design challenges and opportunities — from zoning hurdles to balancing affordability with quality, she explains how thoughtful design can overcome barriers and create scalable solutions for communities.
• The future of housing design — where she sees innovation heading, how young designers can get involved, and what excites her most about blending creativity with community care.
Listeners will hear Justine’s genuine passion come through as she speaks — not just about floor plans and blueprints, but about people, stories, and the human side of housing. She reminds us that homes aren’t just structures; they are vessels for security, stability, and belonging.
This conversation is a window into the collaborative spirit that fuels Home Suite Home’s work. By pairing innovative design with grassroots compassion, we’re building more than houses — we’re creating pathways out of poverty and giving people a fresh start.
Whether you’re in the housing sector, curious about design, or simply interested in stories of hope and community impact, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how professionals like Justine are using their talents to spark change.
Tune in, and be inspired by how design with heart can help reimagine what affordable housing looks like in Canada.
To support this Podcast, visit our store Hope Essentials at https://homesuitehome.org/product-category/hope-essentials/
Website: https://homesuitehome.org
Welcome to the very first episode of Homes Built With Love, the podcast of Home Suite Home Affordable Housing. I’m your host, Vicky DeVocht, Executive Director, and I want to share with you not only what we’re building, but why it matters — and how you can be part of it.
At Home Suite Home, every tiny home we build is high quality, thoughtfully designed, and built with innovation in mind. These aren’t shelters or temporary fixes — they are smart, sustainable, efficient homes that reflect the value of the people who live in them. Because we believe every life has measurable worth, and every home should mirror that worth.
In this episode, you’ll hear the story of a father and son in our community whose struggle has inspired us to act. The father, living with serious health conditions, and his son, a young man with a disability, are surviving in conditions most of us can hardly imagine. Last winter, the father suffered frostbite on his face while hooked up to oxygen because their only heat source was a kitchen oven. They face daily uncertainty about shelter, safety, and dignity. This fall, we are building them a new home — and we’re asking you to help.
You’ll also hear about how the Stratford–Perth community has already stepped up in extraordinary ways:
• The early fundraisers — from the Bethel Church garage sale to the pulled pork BBQ in Upper Queen’s Park.
• The downtown shop owners who donated before they even knew us, just because they believed in the cause.
• The contractors, suppliers, churches, and service clubs who showed up with generosity, skill, and heart.
• The unforgettable day the Christian Reformed Church SERVE team arrived with gloves and shovels — marking not just the start of construction, but the start of a movement.
From those small beginnings to our first builds in St. Marys, to the new Agri-Village model we’re pioneering, everything has been fueled by one thing: community love in action. The Agri-Village will not only provide homes, but also gardens, shared spaces, and opportunities for families, seniors, and individuals to thrive together in a setting that integrates permaculture, sustainability, and affordability.
And we’re just getting started.
More families are waiting. More stories of hidden homelessness need hope. And there are more ways than ever for you to get involved:
•Home Suite Home Coffee – our own branded blend. Buy it in bulk, share it with your workplace or church, or sell it in your network. Every cup supports housing.
Visit Hope Essentials Store to support and view the mugs, t-shirts and coffee available in bulk.
•“Crush the Can” Campaign – collect and crush pop cans! Bag them up and drop them at Bethel Church parking lot (first collection: October 1, 5–6 p.m.) or email us for pickup. Every can counts toward building homes.
•Volunteer Your Time & Skills – whether you swing a hammer, help at events, or spread the word, there’s a place for you.
•Adopt a Home / Monthly Giving – partner with us financially to ensure each project moves forward.
•Visit us online – go to Home Suite Home to donate, get updates, and find out how to join in.
Every home we build is proof that when a community comes together, we can move mountains. From the father and son who inspired us, to the volunteers with shovels, to the Agri-Village rising from the ground — this is your story too.
Together, we’re not just building homes.
We’re building hope.
