A home away from home: Ssenyonga's Story
“At Matthew House, you feel like you are at home.”
– Ssenyonga
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We love sharing the stories of the amazing people connected to Matthew House Ottawa. Enjoy!
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As autumn’s chill crept across Canada, Ssenyonga, fleeing conflict from his home in Uganda, found himself at an airport.
In downtown Ottawa, he sought refuge in an emergency shelter. “It was fully occupied,” he said, “so someone gave me the number for Matthew House. I called, and, after a few days, was invited and given a bed there.”
Despite the season’s cold, when describing his arrival at Matthew House, Ssenyonga speaks only of the warmth. “At Matthew House, you feel like you are at home,” he says, “and when you’re at home, everything you do is as a family. The house manager and her co-workers, they would always guide us as their sons and daughters.”
With his Canadian family, Ssenyonga could, at last, start his resettlement. Describing this period, Ssenyonga extols the team’s steadfast dedication to their clients — treated, from the first, like family— to secure necessities like opening a bank account, connecting with Ontario Works, getting a Canadian SIM card and going to medical centers for treatment. “They even connected me to a lawyer,” he says, “I didn’t know that I could get one free of charge.”
For Ssenyonga, this support was transformative. Matthew House did more than help him adapt, it helped him start a new life.
The staff, he says, “always try their best to make sure that all members of the house settle well in Canada.” Gaining new skills, Ssenyonga learned how to take care of a home. “Back home, I knew nothing about house work,” he said, “but the house manager taught me everything, like cooking and cleaning.” Among these formative experiences, Ssenyonga would volunteer for the first time.
“I was taught by the house manager that, here in Canada, people volunteer,” he explains, “that you go somewhere, and you participate in any kind of work, but for free, out of your goodwill.” Volunteering at the Furniture Bank, Ssenyonga would get to help others, like him, find comfort as they started their new life. “They trained me how to volunteer,” he said, “that you do it in good peace.”
In Ssenyonga’s words, “Matthew House is like a school,” connecting clients not only with the basics, but with support at every step of their journey. “People come to Canada with nothing,” says Ssenyonga, “and they don’t know where to start. I didn’t come with a lot of clothes, but I got them from people who would bring them. Others would bring in food.”
“If it wasn't God's grace and Matthew House, I don't think I would have settled in Canada well,” tells Ssenyonga, “I pray to god that he blesses you people abundantly.”
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Matthew House Ottawa supporters open doors to opportunity for people like Ssenyonga. 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 8000 families in need. Thank you for helping to make this important work possible!