At Barrhaven United Church, melodies are doing more than uplifting hearts—they're building homes.

In support of Multifaith Housing Initiative’s newest affordable housing development, Odenak, the church has been hosting a series of fundraising concerts. The first, a resounding success, brought together music lovers and advocates under one roof, raising both funds and awareness. Read more about that first concert here.

On May 9, the second concert continued that momentum. It featured not only talented musicians, but also the voice of someone who understands the importance of affordable housing on a personal level. 

Mara, a tenant from MHI’s The Haven community, took the stage not to sing, but to speak. Her story reminded everyone in attendance what MHI’s mission is truly about:

“I think I go back to when I was at my worst and how I could not get better without first having hope and safety. I think it’s one of the most important things for people to feel like they belong somewhere. The only way that people can move forward is by having this security.”

For Mara, The Haven wasn’t just an address—it was a springboard back to herself and the life she once had.

“I think that MHI built a community at The Haven – developers build buildings, and MHI builds communities. With MHI, you give people an opportunity to become themselves, to contribute to society, to grow, and eventually, to give back.”

Mara’s ability to give back today is a direct result of having a stable, affordable home when she needed it most. Her story shows what’s possible when people are given not just housing, but a real sense of safety and belonging. That’s exactly what Odenak aims to provide for its future tenants—a place where people can start over, find stability, and eventually grow into new chapters of their lives.

Odenak will be more than a development—it will be a community where individuals and families find their footing, rebuild their lives, and eventually, like Mara, be able to pay it forward.

“Because of where I am now, I am able to give back, and that is the most precious thing, I think. Having a home, and then growing and then giving back.”

These concerts are more than fundraising events—they’re moments of connection, reflection, and shared purpose. Thanks to the ongoing support from the Barrhaven United Church and all who attend, more people will one day be able to say what Mara did: that having a home made all the difference.

**A version of this content was delivered as a speech by Suzanne Le, Executive Director, at MHI's 2025 AGM** 

We all have an origin story — a moment where the path of our career began. Have you ever paused to consider yours? What would it sound like when you share it with your children or grandchildren?

My story begins on a cold and windy January day in Ottawa. It was 9 a.m., Monday, January 14, 2013, to be exact. Before I even stepped foot in the office or sat at a desk, I was deep in meetings about our charitable status, fiscal deficits, and legal land disputes. Not exactly the warmest of welcomes.

I didn’t come from a background in finance or law. My degree is in Conflict Studies, not Business Administration. My training is grounded in the humanities, not pre-law. But those early challenges didn’t scare me — they motivated me.

Anyone who knows me will tell you: when I decide I’m going to do something, I’m all in. And what I decided back then was that I was going to drive the Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) as far and fast as it could go.

But MHI isn’t a sleek sports car. It’s more like a big, reliable family van — the kind that runs on community, collaboration, and a whole lot of heart. Its engine? The board members, committees, volunteers, staff, and supporters who have powered it every mile of the way.

My own “co-pilots” have been essential too. My husband, an accountant, who spent countless hours helping me dig through deficit-ridden financial statements. And our incredible staff — at first just a small but mighty team of Micah Garten, Sahada Alolo, and myself, alongside our housing management partners, LSM. As time passed, new hands joined the wheel: Sheldon Leong, Amanda Miller-Smith, Kayla Mitchel, Jennifer van Oosteroom, Kaneesha Amytheste, and Ella Matheson.

With their help, we brought The Haven to life — 98 units of affordable and deeply affordable housing for our city. We built Veterans’ House – The Andy Carswell Building and later launched Veterans’ House Canada as its own charity.

Most recently, we completed our amalgamation with Gloucester Housing Corporation, bringing even more talent into the MHI fold: Mohamed Ibrahim, Sarah Lorenz, Olu Admeso, Shiho Wada, Alexia Ferron Walters, Eric Saucier, and Russ Thompson. And in just the past few months, we’ve welcomed Michou Rasolofomana, Tessah Keza, and Edward Poelstra.

These names — these people — are MHI’s greatest strength. They are the ones working every day to turn our shared vision of multifaith affordable housing into a reality. And thanks to them, MHI is now the third-largest provider of affordable housing in Ottawa — and the largest affordable housing charity in the city.

So why am I walking you through this journey today? Because when summer closes in 2025, so too will my time at MHI.

It’s time for me to turn the page, to begin a new chapter across the ocean in Scotland. But even as I leave my role, I’ll never stop being part of this organization. My new title? Cheerleader in Chief.

MHI has never been about one person. It’s always been a collective — a movement built by many hands, hearts, and minds. We are more than the sum of our parts, and I was honored to be one of those parts.

Leading MHI has been the greatest pleasure of my career. I’ve had the privilege of working with passionate staff, a wise and supportive Board, and volunteers and members who give so generously of their time, talents, and resources.

Yes, we think in terms of bricks and mortar — but we measure our success in people. I’ve had tenants tell me that, if not for the housing we built or the support we offered, they wouldn’t be alive today.

You can’t put a price on that kind of success. You can only be inspired by it. And I am.

So, as I close out my final Annual General Meeting and prepare for this next chapter, I want to end with the most important words I can offer:

Thank you.

Thank you for this opportunity.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you for your faith in me.
Thank you for letting me walk this journey with you over the last 12+ years.

Here’s to the road ahead — and to the incredible journey that still lies before MHI.