What we do
Imagine how you feel when you walk through the door to your home. Your relief and immediate comfort of belonging. That’s Matthew House Ottawa. And we have two metaphorical doors: one for refugees who are making a fresh start in Ottawa and one for people and families who need furnishings to settle into long-term, secure housing. Our residential refugee homes offer a family atmosphere where refugees have a place to sleep, eat, receive support services, and begin their journey to independence. The Furniture Bank is available to our low-income neighbours who are newcomers, leaving homelessness, or fleeing domestic violence and need furniture to make their new residence a home.
How you can help
Give
The impact of donor support on Matthew House Ottawa services is very concrete: you help feed and house refugees, furnish the apartments of newcomers and low-income families, and provide settlement support for those who arrived in Canada in search of safety and a better life. With partnerships allowing us to rent both housing and furniture bank space at a minimal cost, donor dollars go directly to supporting the basic needs of our residents and clients: purchasing groceries to feed Matthew House residents, offering support in navigating the refugee claimant process, and gassing up the trucks that help us furnish more than 1,200+ homes each year in Ottawa. Your generosity makes a significant difference in the lives of newcomers and others in need.
https://www.matthewhouseottawa.org/give
Volunteer
Matthew House relies heavily on the commitment of volunteers. We have a variety of roles available to serve both the Furniture Bank and Refugee Services.
“Giving new Canadians a restart on their whole lives is a unique opportunity. It sends a message about our values, way of life and the belief that everybody matters in our society. The value is priceless really!”
Interested? Check out:
www.matthewhouseottawa.org/volunteer
Funding priorities
Matthew House Ottawa is dedicated to meeting the urgent need for safe housing and supports for newcomers and other families in need in our community. Our programming has two areas of focus: our physical houses, which have provided a safe home and essential settlement support for 150+ refugee claimants per year, and our furniture bank, which provides everything needed – from mattresses to tables and even kitchenware – to furnish 1,200+ homes of low-income families per year.
With donor support, we are expanding our services by opening more homes to grow our total capacity and divert more people from homelessness. The new homes will make a vital difference for those who have overcome adversity in search of a new beginning.
In order to meet this increased demand for our Refugee Services, we are looking for houses, apartments, and rooms to rent.
Events + fundraising
Looking for ways to support the people we serve? Every donation is appreciated and goes a long way:
$35 provides a bed, food, and settlement to a refugee claimant for one day
$500 covers our cost to fully furnish a home for a family in need
$2000 covers our cost to rent a home, used to shelter up to 6 homeless refugee claimants for a month
You can donate online at:
https://www.matthewhouseottawa.org/give
Get in touch:
380 Centrepointe Dr.
Ottawa, Ont.
K2G 6A1
matthewhouseottawa.org
info@matthewhouseottawa.org
Year founded: 2010
Total revenue for last fiscal year: $1,303,457
Twitter: @MHOttawa
Facebook: @MHOttawa
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/matthew-house-ottawa/
Allan Reesor-McDowell, Executive director
Ian McLaren, Chair
BOARD MEMBERS
- Steve Kuhn, Treasurer
- Dan Monafu, Director
- Aaron Webber, Secretary
- Carolyn Elliott-Magwood, Director
- Angela Success, Director
- Deirdre Freiheit, Director
TOP FUNDING SOURCES
Government funding: 2%
Other charities: 15%
Individual donations: 38%
Other sources: 45%
GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS
Ottawa
