OTF Grant Helps Matthew House Ottawa Further Vital Work

Jeremy Roberts, MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean and Allan Reesor-McDowell, Executive Director of Matthew House Ottawa

OTTAWA – Matthew House Ottawa (MHO) has been selected to receive $62,100 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Resilient Communities Fund this year in support of improving its capacity to increase and access new sources of revenue. MHO is thankful for the support of Jeremy Roberts, MPP for Ottawa West—Nepean and the OTF Grant Review Team.

 “While the pandemic upended how most of us do business, our charities faced many unique challenges.” said Jeremy Roberts, MPP for Ottawa West – Nepean. “Matthew House Ottawa plays a vital role in our community by working closely with some of our most vulnerable newcomers. I am grateful for the opportunity we have to support their important work through the Resilient Communities Fund.”

The Resilient Communities Fund grant will help Matthew House Ottawa rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. MHO will leverage the grant to invest in its fundraising programs, including the development of a fundraising plan and case for support. This support comes at a particularly important time.

“Matthew House Ottawa has recently opened a second refugee home and we have plans to open a third later this year,” says Allan Reesor-McDowell, Executive Director. “This grant will ensure we can better engage our community in the important work of supporting refugees and low-income residents in the wake of COVID-19.”

MHO first opened its doors in 2010. Today the organization operates two transitional homes offering settlement supports for refugee claimants, along with an in-demand furniture bank serving newcomers and other low-income Ottawa residents. Matthew House Ottawa fully furnished 535 homes in 2020, along with providing a bed, food and settlement support for 31 refugee claimants.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.   Visit otf.ca to learn more. 

Media Contact :

Allan Reesor-McDowell
Executive Director, Matthew House Ottawa
613-255-0168, www.matthewhouseottawa.org