Local Perspective: The Heart Behind A Better Tent City, Nadine Green
In this Local Perspective feature, we highlight Nadine Green, Site Coordinator and Co-founder of A Better Tent City in Kitchener. Through her lived experience with homelessness, Nadine has built a community rooted in compassion, patience, and dignity. Her story sheds light on the realities of homelessness, the power of community, and the importance of meeting people where they are.
LOCAL PERSPECTIVES
Katherine Amal Al-Zanoun
9/2/20264 min read
Nadine Green at A Better Tent City in June 2025 during her free time. (Team HearTH)
For our second interview in the Local Perspective series, I had the privilege of speaking with Nadine Green, the Site Coordinator and Co-founder of A Better Tent City. Nadine has been living and working at the site for six years, dedicating her life to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and building a community rooted in compassion and understanding.
Nadine’s work is deeply personal. Before becoming an advocate, she experienced homelessness herself. She understands the stigma, the isolation, and the challenges that come with not having a stable place to call home. Despite facing these hardships, Nadine describes herself as someone who was always happy and involved in sports and school growing up. Being active and present in school helped her mask her struggles, as few people questioned why she stayed late or spent extra time there.
Her journey into advocacy began while running a convenience store in Downtown Kitchener. Many individuals experiencing homelessness spent time around the store, which some nearby business owners viewed as a problem. Nadine, however, saw people, not problems. She started by having casual conversations, getting to know them, and understanding their stories. In her own words, she “got inspired by being inspired” by the people and the community around her.
As relationships formed, Nadine began finding small ways to help. She made her store’s Wi-Fi available so people could stay connected and have a place to gather. On one particularly cold night, she allowed individuals to stay inside to keep warm, an act of compassion that ultimately led to her eviction. Nadine describes this moment as something she couldn’t fully explain, only that it felt like she was doing something that truly mattered and making a difference in people’s lives.
Nadine leaves people with a powerful message:
“Life is beautiful. Don’t judge anyone. Homelessness is not their fault. If you don’t like somebody that is homeless, walk away. You never know what someone is going through. Anyone can be homeless.”
Nadine Green embodies resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Her lived experience, combined with her deep empathy and optimism, makes her the heart of A Better Tent City. She has rebuilt her own life and now works every day to help others rebuild theirs, with kindness, patience, and zero judgment.
A Better Tent City in its inception in 2019. The brand new tiny homes available and the residents moving in.
This experience became a turning point. What initially felt like a setback opened the door to something much bigger. Nadine began finding creative ways to support people, even repurposing a broken freezer to store blankets for those in need. She worked to bridge the gap between her customers and the individuals spending time at the store, creating a sense of shared community and understanding. Many of the people she supported during that time are still with her today at A Better Tent City, showing the lasting impact of her care and commitment.
When asked what makes A Better Tent City different from other supported housing environments, Nadine emphasized community and growth. Residents are not just given shelter, they are given a place where they can heal, support one another, and move forward together. Over the years, she has witnessed significant progress among residents, particularly in their journeys with addiction and recovery. Nadine’s approach centers on love, patience, and meeting people where they are, even driving residents to and from methadone clinics to ensure they have the support they need.
Her optimism is a driving force behind the community. Nadine has invested her entire life into A Better Tent City, and her dedication is evident in the relationships she builds with residents every day.
She also spoke about a difficult period when visitors were temporarily banned from A Better Tent City due to overcrowding. Nadine described the environment during that time as quiet and empty, which deeply affected both residents and the broader community. Turning people away was painful, but she remains hopeful as visitors gradually return and the sense of community continues to rebuild.
One of the biggest challenges Nadine faces is not having enough tiny homes to accommodate everyone who needs support. Having to turn people away is incredibly difficult for her, especially when she sees the need firsthand. While homelessness is often tied to systemic issues like the lack of affordable housing, Nadine continues to do everything she can to create safe spaces for as many people as possible.
When asked what she wishes more people understood about homelessness, Nadine emphasized patience and compassion. She explained that you cannot force people to change, and every day at A Better Tent City is unpredictable. The focus is simple: making sure people have food, shelter, and support. Patience and forgiveness, she says, are essential in this work.
Looking toward the future, Nadine hopes that every resident at A Better Tent City will eventually find stable, permanent housing. She compares herself to the captain of a ship, committed to staying with her crew until everyone reaches safety. No matter how long it takes, she is determined to see every resident find a place to call home.
Nadine's convenience store in downtown Kitchener. Unhoused persons sleeping in her store for shelter during cold winters.