Like coming home: Frederick’s Story
“If not for Matthew House, it would be a totally different story for me and so many other people who have passed through this place.”
– Frederick
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“What we couldn’t achieve in two months on our own, we had done within a week of arriving at Matthew House Ottawa.”
Frederick’s gratitude shines through as he shares how Matthew House Ottawa (MHO) helped him start over in the wake of crisis.
Targeted in his country for refusing participate in financial fraud, Frederick knew his family was no longer safe in their home. The hard-working father fled with his wife and their three children after attacks at their doorstep. Making the difficult decision to split up for logistical reasons, Frederick and some members of his family arrived in Canada via Montreal last year.
“We stayed at a shelter but they couldn’t offer much help,” he remembers. “Nobody talked to anyone else. We were fed, but we couldn’t seem to get the refugee process started no matter how hard we tried.”
After calling another charity, Frederick was referred to Matthew House Ottawa: Refugee Services.
“It was a divine blessing they had a space for us,” Frederick says. “Matthew House is like a home, like a family – the community is palpable. One of the residents saw us at reception and said, ‘you must be tired and hungry from a long journey, please come with me to the dining table for a meal.’”
MHO provided Frederick with a bed, food, and clothing and supported him with all his settlement needs, like submitting his refugee claim, helping him obtain a work permit and social insurance number. He now awaits his refugee hearing.
Frederick was eager to become involved in the Canadian workforce, and was the first participant in MHO’s Newcomer Training and Employment Program (NTEP). Offered in partnership with Causeway Work Centre, the program provides a 3-month paid part-time job at MHO’s Furniture Bank. NTEP also offers workforce skills development training, resumé support, and job search help.
Frederick has since accepted a full-time job as Warehouse Assistant at Furniture Bank and plays a key role in helping to furnish up to 100 homes a month for families in need. In the months to come, the hard-working father hopes to leverage this Canadian work experience to establish his own business.
“I’m having a positive attitude that this is another opportunity to be happy,” Frederick reflects. “I like starting things and watching them grow. It’s a chance to take something from abstract to reality.”
Frederick plans to continue giving back to MHO beyond his own time at the refugee house, saying he knows what a difference the organization makes.
“If not for Matthew House, it would be a totally different story for me and so many other people who have passed through this place… And who will pass through this place in the future. What differentiates MHO from other services is they truly do the work and walk the talk throughout the entire refugee process.”
Frederick is passionate about supporting his fellow refugees.
“You are trying to help people to stand on their feet, to restore dignity they have lost through being in this process. Everyone has a reason for leaving. Look at them as being useful to society, figure out how you can help them do that and leverage their potential, as Matthew House did for me. I will always support MHO in what they do.
Your support of Matthew House Ottawa helps us do just that: leveraging the potential of new Canadians to strengthen our community and better our collective future. Thank you for opening doors for newcomers like Frederick.
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Here’s how you can help open more doors at Matthew House Ottawa:
Donate: you can make a donation online or cheques can be mailed to 380 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa ON K2G 6A1.
Volunteer: We currently need volunteers to support our furniture bank and refugee services programs. Click here for more info and to apply.
Donate Furniture: If you have gently-used furniture to share give us a call at 613-591-6681. And please spread the word among your networks as well.
Pray: for past, present and future residents and furniture bank clients
Since 2010, Matthew House Ottawa has welcomed hundreds of refugee claimants, and provided quality used furniture to 7000 families in need. Thank you for helping to make this important work possible!