Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI)

Multifaith Housing Initiative exists for one purpose, and it’s as simple as our name: we want all people to have safe, continuous affordable housing, and when they do, our job will be done. We want housing to be affordable in Ottawa — ​for everyone. The current story in Ottawa is that thousands of individuals and families are without permanent homes or adequate temporary living facilities.

How do we #MakeADifference? We’re looking beyond city shelters, and into the future. We’re talking to people to find out how they live and what they need to feel healthy, safe, empowered, and successful. We’re designing solutions based on long-term needs — and long lives. We don’t want to be around forever, but we want affordable housing to be.

In 2001, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa came together with Jewish and Muslim communities to take action against the rising problem of homelessness and lack of affordable housing in the city of Ottawa.

The Multifaith Housing Initiative of Ottawa was established as a Canadian nonprofit charitable organization in 2002, which has grown into a coalition of 80 faith communities including Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Unitarians, Baha’i and other faiths from across the city of Ottawa. These members are dedicated to achieving MHI’s goal to create more affordable housing in Ottawa while promoting tolerance and respect among residents of all faiths.

Currently, MHI owns a total of 139 units at three different property sites, housing over 300 people.