Refugee Services welcomes 500th resident
Matthew House Ottawa’s Refugee Services have officially welcomed the 500th resident to the program!
The Refugee Services program welcomes refugee claimants referred to us by 15+ community partners including the City of Ottawa, emergency shelters, hotels, etc. Residents are welcomed into our homes and are provided a bed, food, and settlement support to help them on their journey to independence in Canada.
Since Matthew House Ottawa began operations in 2010, the organization has seen great impact and growth. What started with one house and eight beds, has turned into 13+ houses with more than 100 beds.
This program and its effective housing model directly diverts refugee claimants from homelessness. As the need for these services continues to rise, the Refugee Services team is ready to continue growing and welcoming more people to the uplifting family-style atmosphere they have created.
Matthew House Ottawa is especially grateful for the incredible support of the Ottawa community – this accomplishment would not have been possible without our generous donors and the city’s commitment to our mission.
“Welcoming 500 residents is a huge milestone for our organization,” said Allan Reesor-McDowell, Executive Director at Matthew House Ottawa. “I am grateful for the hard work and commitment of our staff and volunteers, and for the continued generosity of donors who have made this possible.”
Interested in learning more? Read the stories of some of our incredible residents:
See some of the recent media coverage about Refugee Services:
Here’s how you can get involved in this important work:
Donate Furniture: If you have gently-used furniture to share, you can schedule a pick-up or give us a call at 613-591-6681. And please spread the word among your networks as well.
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.
For media inquiries, please contact communications@matthewhouseottawa.org