Press Release
For immediate release
Matthew House Ottawa Celebrates Grand Opening Another Home, Marking a Major Expansion
OTTAWA, ON – September 2, 2025 – Matthew House Ottawa, a frontline organization providing shelter and vital settlement support to newly-arrived refugee claimants, announced today the successful opening of its fifth transitional home. This significant milestone represents the organization’s second major expansion in just over two years, a direct response to the soaring number of refugees seeking safety in the nation’s capital.
The new home, located in the Hintonburg neighbourhood, continues Matthew House’s mission of offering a family-style environment to those who would otherwise face homelessness. Residents receive a safe bed, meals, and comprehensive wrap-around support for 3 to 6 months, empowering them to find employment and secure sustainable independent housing.
“The need for our services has never been greater. We are seeing a consistent boom in new arrivals, and our homes are always at capacity,” said Allan Reesor-McDowell, former Executive Director of Matthew House. “Often the alternative for our residents is to end up chronically homeless. We break that cycle by providing the stability and support needed to build a new life in Canada. This fifth home allows us to extend that lifeline to even more people.”
This expansion follows the opening of a fourth home in 2023 and a third in 2022, which tripled the organization’s capacity during the pandemic. With this latest addition, Matthew House now provides 40 beds across Ottawa, having served over 160 individuals, including numerous families and children, since 2022.
“The reality is, by the time someone is moving out, there is someone waiting to get in,” stated Doreen Katto, Program Coordinator for Refugees at Matthew House. “Having homes in Nepean, South Keys, Alta Vista, and now Hintonburg allows us to welcome refugees into communities across the city.”
This growth has been supported by a parallel expansion of The Furniture Bank, Matthew House’s sister organization. To keep pace with demand, the Furniture Bank added a second delivery truck, hired additional staff, and secured a larger warehouse. Last year, they furnished a record 1,100 homes for those in need, ensuring Matthew House graduates and other clients can start their independent lives with dignity.
The Hintonburg location was made possible through a continued partnership with Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, a model Matthew House hopes to replicate across the city.
“Each new home requires a new full-time employee to manage the location and a dedicated team of 5 to 10 active volunteers,” Reesor-McDowell explained. “Community partnerships are absolutely essential to our vision.”
That vision is ambitious: to continue opening a new home every year or two until refugees can be welcomed in neighbourhoods across Ottawa. The organization is actively seeking partnerships with other community groups and faith-based organizations to identify properties and recruit volunteers.
Volunteers are needed to help residents with paperwork, cook meals, and engage in English-language conversation. Matthew House is also always in need of seasonal clothing donations and, most importantly, community prayer and support.
“The most rewarding part is witnessing the incredible change in our residents,” Katto added. “They arrive anxious and just beginning their new life. After a few months, they have figured things out, they are employed, and they can navigate the city on their own. That transformation is why we do this work.”
About Matthew House Ottawa:
Matthew House Ottawa is a Christian charity that provides a home and holistic settlement support for newly-arrived, homeless refugee claimants. Through its network of transitional homes and its Furniture Bank, the organization empowers individuals and families to move from crisis to stability and independence. For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, visit www.matthewhouseottawa.org.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072241975022
For more information or for an interview, please contact:
François Lanthier
Director of Communications and Mission Promotion
The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall
613-738-5025 ext 239
francois.lanthier@ottawacornwall.ca
