Welcome to MHI
Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) exists to build affordable housing that helps fix Ottawa's housing crisis and gets at-risk people into secure, safe homes. You don't need us to tell you about housing issues and homelessness in our communities, you can see it for yourself.
Traditional practices have not been working... so MHI has adopted a different approach. We are a coalition of faith groups who work with local businesses, civil society, the City of Ottawa and federal/provincial governments to build and house our communities for the future. This new way of working has created homes for more than 400 people, with more on the way. It has opened up new ways to gather the commitment, skills and resources that build homes and strengthen communities. To have a safe, secure, affordable home is life changing.
A roof over your head means more than shelter. It means better health, more stability. A chance to work, study and live to build a future for yourself, for others and for the greater community.
MHI is a not-for-profit charitable organization in Ottawa, Canada established in 2002.
Traditional practices have not been working... so MHI has adopted a different approach. We are a coalition of faith groups who work with local businesses, civil society, the City of Ottawa and federal/provincial governments to build and house our communities for the future. This new way of working has created homes for more than 400 people, with more on the way. It has opened up new ways to gather the commitment, skills and resources that build homes and strengthen communities. To have a safe, secure, affordable home is life changing.
A roof over your head means more than shelter. It means better health, more stability. A chance to work, study and live to build a future for yourself, for others and for the greater community.
MHI is a not-for-profit charitable organization in Ottawa, Canada established in 2002.
Our history
In 2001, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa and other Christian churches 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 over 70 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 134 units, housing between 300 and 400 people, at three different property sites: Blake House, The Haven, and Somerset Gardens.
The very first property we purchased, Kent House, was sold in 2023 to support two new developments. At the same time, our fifth property, Veterans House: the Andy Carswell Building, was transferred to Veterans’ House Canada and will serve as the model for future supportive housing for homeless or at-risk veterans, across Canada.
The Multifaith Housing Initiative of Ottawa was established as a Canadian nonprofit charitable organization in 2002, which has grown into a coalition of over 70 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 134 units, housing between 300 and 400 people, at three different property sites: Blake House, The Haven, and Somerset Gardens.
The very first property we purchased, Kent House, was sold in 2023 to support two new developments. At the same time, our fifth property, Veterans House: the Andy Carswell Building, was transferred to Veterans’ House Canada and will serve as the model for future supportive housing for homeless or at-risk veterans, across Canada.
vision
The vision of MHI is to lead in developing a greater understanding of, and commitment to, the expansion of innovative housing-related solutions within inclusive communities.
mission
Our mission is to provide and promote safe, affordable, and well-maintained housing in inclusive communities, and to mobilize resources for these purposes.
