5 minute read
MATTHEW HOUSE OTTAWA
When Jimmy arrived in Ottawa in February 2012, the then 21-yearold refugee from Burundi experienced the shock of a new culture.
“I had no family members in Canada, ” says Jimmy. “Matthew House was my first point of contact in Ottawa. ” Relieved by the warm and welcoming environment, volunteers helped him with the overwhelming language barrier and complex immigration process.
Jimmy stayed at Matthew House for two and a half months. After being welcomed into our doors he found a sense of community, which allowed him to gain confidence in his new city.
“They took us in and showed us love. They made sense of a really complex process, ” he says of Matthew House’s dedicated volunteers and staff.
“It felt like living in a family home. You had someone to look after you, you felt included as you learned about a new culture and met new people. It really cushions the transition between two lives.
Starting over is never easy. And for the hundreds of refugees who arrive in Ottawa each year, starting over can feel impossible. For the refugees we serve, Matthew House Ottawa is more than just a place to live: it is the promise of a new beginning.
To help with these new beginnings, we’re excited to have officially opened the doors of two new transition homes on August 1st. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Google Canada and James Barron to help support this program expansion.
“At Matthew House everything we do is about home, community, and dignity, ” says Executive Director Allan Reesor-McDowell.
Sylvie Legary, Abdul Al-Kaf, Doreen Katto, Allan Reesor-McDowell and Lindsay Doyle (Google Canada).
380 Centrepointe Dr. Ottawa, Ont. K2G 6A1
matthewhouseottawa.org info@matthewhouseottawa.org
Year founded: 2010 Total revenue for last fiscal year: $967,305 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
Hannah Marazzi
Secretary
Dan Monafu
Director
Helen Reimer
Director
Aaron Webber
Director
Carolyn Elliott-Magwood
Director
GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS
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.
TOP FUNDING SOURCES
INDIVIDUALS: 38% GOVERNMENT: 2% OTHER CHARITIES: 15% OTHER SOURCES: 45%
How you can help Funding priorities
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 1,000 homes each year in Ottawa. Your generosity makes a significant difference in the lives of newcomers and others in need. https://www.matthewhouseottawa.org/giving
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 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 75+ refugee claimants per year, and our furniture bank, which provides everything needed – from mattresses to tables and even kitchenware – to furnish 1,000 homes of low-income families per year.
With donor support, we are expanding our services by opening four transition homes to give refugees a stable place to stay while they seek longer-term housing. These transition homes will make a vital difference for those who have overcome adversity in search of a new beginning.
In order to meet the increased demand of our Furniture Bank, we are also in need of funds to lease or purchase 10,000 square feet of warehouse and showroom space.
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 • $67 covers our cost to run the furniture bank truck for a day, used to furnish up to six homes for families in need • $120 covers our cost to furnish two rooms in our transition homes • $500 covers our cost to fully furnish a home for a family in need You can donate online at: https://www. matthewhouseottawa.org/giving
