Strengthening the community: Steve’s Story
“It’s important that people, no matter where they come from or what they have faced in their lives, can have a dignified entry to Canada.”
– Steve Kuhn
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We love sharing the stories of the amazing people connected to Matthew House Ottawa. Enjoy!
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“My wife and I are administrative nerds who can get stuff done,” laughs Steve Kuhn when asked about Matthew House Ottawa’s origin story.
Steve and wife Laura are two of MHO’s co-founders, alongside Marc and Kim Wyatt. The latter couple first opened a Matthew House location in Fort Erie, and moved to Ottawa with hopes of creating a similar organization in the city. Steven’s experience as a public servant combined with Laura’s prior volunteer work coordinating a network of Matthew House directors meant they had the skills to help Marc and Kim make their vision a reality.
“Laura and I had previously lived and worked in Mozambique for a year,” explains Steve. “We wanted to explore how we could help people in Canada just as we did there – helping them move beyond challenging situations and establish new lives.”
Despite having minimal previous experience in the non-profit sector, Steve was able to do a lot of learning as he went. The co-founders efficiently registered a corporation, applied for and received charitable status, leased a house, and began recruiting volunteers. Beginning their work in 2009, MHO’s progress was driven by high numbers of refugees arriving from Haiti.
“I would come home from work and immediately get on my laptop,” Steve recalls. “I’d spend hours working on Matthew House stuff every evening. We held Board meetings in our living room.” Steve and Laura’s children noted their parents’ example, even arranging their stuffed animals to play “Matthew House meeting”.
Though there were many hard days, Steve said it was rewarding to watch the organization quickly evolve – from those initial living room meetings to a charity with dozens of volunteers, and eventually even staff.
Today, Matthew House employs 21 people between its refugee houses and Furniture Bank, and served more than 2,000 people in 2021 alone.
“What has remained consistent over the years is a spirit of mission,” says Steve. “There are a lot of people, whether employees or volunteers, who dedicate time to Matthew House because they feel like it’s an important thing to do. They love the people involved and want to be able to support them. In a way, it’s a passion project for a lot of people.”
Though he was eventually able to step back from the day-to-day operations of MHO, Steve remains involved as Treasurer of the Board of Directors (a role also previously held by his wife Laura). He is committed to ensuring Matthew House remains responsive to community needs.
“It’s important that people, no matter where they come from or what they have faced in their lives, can have a dignified entry to Canada,” Steve says determinedly. “I want them to feel welcomed, to put down roots here, to become Canadians who also in turn contribute to the community… And I would encourage others to contribute to Matthew House Ottawa to foster a community that has that collective investment as its strength.”
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Matthew House Ottawa supporters help keep programs like our Furniture Bank running. Here’s how you can open more doors for our community:
• 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!