"Matthew House Ottawa residents are good tenants"
“Matthew House Ottawa residents are good tenants because they are motivated. They want to get a job, find a place to live and contribute to the community.” - Theresa
Each month we share interviews and stories of people impacted by our work. Enjoy!
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What is your name? Theresa Quann.
How did you get involved with Matthew House Ottawa?
My daughter was volunteering with the Furniture Bank when it merged with Matthew House Ottawa. She learned of the great need for affordable housing when the refugees living at Matthew House moved out. I had a couple of income properties and I thought one of the properties would be perfect to rent out rooms to Matthew House Ottawa residents. I’ve now been doing this for about ten years.
I believe that when there is a need and there is an opportunity for you to fill that need, you should try to do it. As a property owner and a Christian, I thought that housing was one area I could help.
Have Matthew House Ottawa alumni been good tenants?
In my experience, Matthew House Ottawa residents are good tenants. They are grateful and respectful and I have never felt they had a sense of entitlement. The residents pay their rent on time. There have been a few situations where a tenant would ask to delay their rent payment for a personal reason but it was always made up for and the payments were made. The residents take paying their rent on time very seriously. [Click here to watch a short clip of Theresa encouraging landlords to rent to Matthew House alumni.]
What type of accommodations do you offer Matthew House Ottawa alumni?
I’ve experimented over the years. I use Matthew House as a model for one property that has four bedrooms and I rent out furnished rooms to the residents. The tenants are responsible for buying their own food and it has a community environment. All the tenants are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and keeping the kitchen tidy. This arrangement has been very successful for me. I also have a triplex with self-contained units.
If someone was interested in renting to a Matthew House Ottawa alumni, what would you say to a potential landlord?
A potential landlord may wonder if a Matthew House resident would be a good candidate to rent out a room if the landlord can’t do a credit check to determine if the resident’s finances are in order, but I have never had a problem renting out to the residents.
The residents come to Canada as refugees and they are very grateful to be alive and out of their previous environment. They have gone through so much to come here. I can’t imagine what it would be like to leave my country and everything behind and come to a strange country. The residents are motivated and appreciative to be here. That is the kind of tenant you are dealing with. Obviously, they don't have any credit history because they have never lived here before. But is that a reason not to invite them in? The residents are good tenants because they are motivated. They want to get a job, find a place to live and contribute to the community.
What motivates you to continue renting out accommodations to Matthew House Ottawa alumni?
If I look at it in a spiritual context, I've been blessed. I believe the Lord wants us to open our hearts. If I have an opportunity, why wouldn't I do what the Lord has asked us to do? We all want to help others if we can. From a financial perspective, if I were to rent out these properties in a different way I could probably make some more money. But I'm not doing it for the money: I'm doing it because I know this is what I'm called to do. Also, I know that when I sell these properties, they will have increased in value and someone helped pay off the mortgage for me.
Do you have a story you could share that demonstrates a positive experience you have had in renting out to a Matthew House Ottawa resident?
One of my tenants was recently reunited with his family and they are renting a large townhouse from me. The family is getting established and adjusting to living in Ottawa. They have indicated to me that they would like to buy the townhouse from me. I feel a connection to this family. Not so much that I'm helping them but that I'm walking alongside them. I'm linking arms with this family and making a positive contribution to their situation. Each side is getting something out of this relationship. This gives me a huge amount of satisfaction.
By Barb Koppe. Interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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Wanna help? Here is how you can change lives through Matthew House Ottawa:
Donate: $30 provides a bed, food, and settlement support for a refugee claimant for one day. Or you can you can furnish an entire home for $250.
Volunteer: We are currently in need of cooks and direct support volunteers with our refugee services program. Please be in touch for more info: (613) 212-1499 and info@matthewhouseottawa.org.
Pray: for past, present and future residents and furniture bank clients
Since 2010, Matthew House Ottawa has housed hundreds of refugee claimants, and provided free, quality used furniture to more than 5000 families in need. We have done this as a large, dedicated team of volunteers and a small handful of employees, with a lot of passion and commitment. We invite you to join us!