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We’re delighted to announce that Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) has been included in the 2025 edition of the Ottawa Business Journal’s Giving Guide, a showcase of local organizations that are building a stronger, more compassionate Ottawa. Being featured in the Giving Guide shines a spotlight on the need for safe, inclusive, and affordable housing and on the work we’re doing to meet that need. It’s a recognition of how collaboration between faith communities, donors, partners, and volunteers can create real impact. Now, more than ever, your support matters. Until December 31, every donation to MHI will be tripled, thanks to our generous matching donors. That means your gift goes three times as far to help provide housing for individuals, families, seniors and equity-deserving communities in Ottawa. We invite you to check out the Giving Guide and discover compelling stories of community support and hope and to join us in building homes and hope for more people across the city. You can check out the digital copy here and you can triple your online donation here.  Honouring Community, Leadership, and Shared Purpose Each year on National Housing Day, communities across Canada gather to recognize the ongoing work of creating safe and affordable homes. This year’s event highlighted the many voices, partnerships, and commitments that shape housing efforts in Ottawa. Honouring Indigenous Voices and Traditions The program opened with The Stone Singers, whose drumming and harmonies invited attendees into a moment of reflection and grounding. Their presence acknowledged the stewardship and teachings of Indigenous communities. Following their performance, Grandmother Irene offered an Indigenous blessing that encouraged attendees to pause and recognize the importance of home, land, and connection. Her words emphasized gratitude, respect, and the relationships that guide meaningful reconciliation. Our keynote speaker, Rev. Teresa Burnett-Cole, a Haudenosaunee woman, delivered insights on the meaning of home, belonging, and community responsibility grounded in her cultural and spiritual traditions. Her keynote addressed the responsibilities communities share when working toward equity and care for all. Messages from Leaders Across Government A letter from the Prime Minister were delivered by MP Bruce Fanjoy, who spoke to the federal government’s ongoing commitments to affordable housing and collaboration with community organizations. The City of Ottawa’s message, prepared by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and delivered by Councillor Laura Dudas, outlined the city’s priorities in housing and acknowledged the essential role of partners, donors, and volunteers in helping local efforts move forward. “Communities Building Communities”: Executive Director's Reflections MHI’s Executive Director, Ala’a Shadid, spoke on the theme “Communities Building Communities.” His remarks highlighted the relationships, partnerships, and community involvement that shape MHI’s work. He emphasized that MHI’s developments are more than physical structures—they are communities where individuals and families can build stability and connection with one another. Triple Match Donation Opportunity Until December 31 A key announcement was the launch of a Triple Match Donation opportunity, available from now until December 31. Thanks to committed supporters, every donation made during this period will be tripled, up to $15,000. This matching initiative offers donors a way to increase their impact at a time when the need for affordable housing continues to grow. Moving Forward Together National Housing Day 2025 brought together cultural voices, local leadership, and community partners. The event recognized both the progress underway and the work ahead to ensure everyone in Ottawa has access to safe and inclusive housing. As the year concludes, MHI invites community members to support this work in ways that are meaningful to them—through learning, advocacy, volunteering, or contributing to the triple match opportunity available until December 31. You can make your donation here. A few weeks ago, I was pacing around my living room, trying to find the right words for National Housing Day. As I walked, my 15-month-old son followed behind me, copying every step. It was a small, ordinary moment — but it crystallized something profound.
Even the smallest community, a family, has the power to shape and strengthen the larger community around it. That simple truth is at the heart of the work we do at Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI). And it’s why I am deeply grateful to stand among the people and institutions who help build stronger, more compassionate communities every single day. Twenty years ago, I wasn’t even in Canada, and I spoke little English. Today, after years of living, studying, and working here, and now stepping into my role as Executive Director of MHI, I can say with absolute conviction: I am profoundly thankful to call this place home. And I am committed to giving my very best to grow our organization, support our sector, and advance one of humanity’s most essential needs — a place to belong. The Power Behind Our Name Multifaith Housing Initiative. Even the name carries within it a powerful philosophy: there is no difference between a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, a Unitarian, a Bahai, or people of any faith. We are all equal, each deserving dignity, safety, and a home. More than two decades ago, volunteers from different faith traditions recognized a shared truth — that safe, affordable housing is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right. They didn’t just build housing. They built a movement. They embodied our vision: communities building communities. Today, we stand on the foundation they laid, and we carry their mission forward as we work to build stronger, larger, and more sustainable communities for generations to come. Looking Ahead: Creativity, Growth, and Determination As Executive Director, I challenge myself to be more creative and more determined, to honour the path of those who came before me, and to steer this organization toward its next horizon. Your partnership and support make this possible. Together, we can open doors that were once closed and turn waiting lists into welcoming homes. In the years ahead, MHI is committed to:
We also know this work cannot succeed without genuine partnership with Indigenous communities — honouring their leadership, resilience, and essential role in advancing both housing and reconciliation. Building Faster, Building Smarter, Building Together With all levels of government, faith groups, partners, builders, and donors aligned, we can accelerate approvals, lower costs, and turn plans on paper into homes on the ground faster than ever before. This is our mission. And with the help of the Almighty — and the support of all who walk alongside us — we will achieve it. A Community of Gratitude On National Housing Day, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to those who make our work possible:
Each of you is part of this story. And together, we are building something that will last for generations. Because when communities build communities, extraordinary things happen. ** Editors Note: This blog was adapted from a speech titled “Communities Building Communities” delivered by MHI’s Executive Director, Ala’a Shadid, at National Housing Day on November 23, 2025. |
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January 2026
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