Many families
involved with the Mennonite Church include members who have experienced
what it is to be caught up in the turmoil of war, revolution,
anarchy, famine and displacement. As such, there has developed
a strong awareness and personal recognition for the need for refugee
support among this group. Mennonite Central Committee, the principal
Mennonite relief and development agency, was established to provide
assistance to those in need due to violence around them. In 1979,
a particularly pressing need arose with the arrival of the Vietnamese
"boat people" in Canada. The federal government launched
a program to respond to the needs of these refugees, and Mennonite
Central Committee Canada signed an umbrella agreement with the
Ministry of Immigration and Employment as part of that program.
In June 1979, the Ottawa Mennonite Church (OMC) launched its Refugee
Assistance Program under the framework of that agreement. From
these beginnings, the program expanded and from it OMRA Shelter
Alternatives Corporation was born.
The last few years' lack of affordable rental accommodation created
a desperate situation for thousands of people in the Ottawa area.
In March 2001, this housing crisis touched the hearts of the members
of OMC through their Refugee Assistance Program when it became
impossible to find housing for a refugee family consisting of
a mother and five children. The vacancy rate in Ottawa was 0.2%
and the cost of a two-bedroom apartment began at about $850 with
landlords refusing to rent two-bedroom apartments to families
larger than four people. Three-bedroom unit rents began at over
$1000, and required the person to be employed and earning approximately
$40,000 a year. Because the federal budget allowance for housing
was based on the provincial social assistance rate of $673.00
per month for a family of six, it was not possible to find housing.
The existing provincial government subsidized housing - with a
waiting list of over 15,000 persons and an approximate wait time
of six years - was not able to provide housing for refugee families.
OMC explored various housing options while the refugee family
remained in temporary housing for four months, having little hope
of finding affordable housing.
This desperate housing situation called for a radical solution.
At a congregational meeting in June 2001, members of OMC voted
to purchase one unit to provide affordable rental housing for
this refugee family. In July 2001, OMC bought a condominium townhouse,
and by the end of the month, a very relieved and happy refugee
family was settled into their own accommodation.
The housing unit was paid for by donations of members of OMC and
Emmanuel United Church, private loans and mortgage financing.
This financing was not sustainable for the long-term, however,
as the revenue generated by an affordable rent did not meet ongoing
costs: a substantial ongoing subsidy from OMC was required. To
put this housing on a more sustainable basis, other funding sources
were sought.
In July 2001, an application was made to the federal government's
Supported Community Partnership Initiative program administered
by the City of Ottawa. This requested funding would permit a new
not-for-profit corporation to purchase several rental units for
refugees, with priority given to women-at-risk.
In August 2001, OMC learned that its application - on behalf of
a corporation named OMRA Shelter Alternatives Corporation
- for assistance in establishing three affordable housing units
had been approved. When an application to the Province of Ontario
for rental subsidies to cover the difference between operating
costs and rent revenue was refused, the City's capital grant was
increased to $50,000 per unit. Though this helped, significant
ongoing fundraising was still required in order to meet costs.
Some of these funds were raised in the OMC community and valuable
assistance was given by other participants. As of July 2003, these
participants, without whose assistance this housing could not
be provided, included Emmanuel United Church, Glebe-St. James
United Church, First Baptist Church, and The Society of Friends
Ottawa Monthly Meeting (Quakers).
OMRA acquired three 3-bedroom housing units, including the original
one, and now provides affordable transitional housing to three
refugee families. Other support services are being provided by
the groups sponsoring the refugees.
