In October 2023, MHI sold Kent House: the first building MHI purchased - thanks in large part to the benevolence of Ottawa’s Topps family. It’s monumental and at the same time bittersweet news. Affordable housing providers don’t like to subtract homes. However, when you consider the cost of maintaining the building, which MHI purchased in 2005, and the new builds that the $880,000 sale will support, the choice is clear. The net benefit will be many more homes in a city desperate for them.
Suzanne Le, MHI’s Executive Director, explains: “Kent House sits at the core of MHI’s origin story as it was the very first property that MHI owned. Now the funds from this sale will be used to enable our next level of super growth. First, as a loan to support the Dream project, then after we have paid that back from the successful results of our Dream capital campaign, we will invest the money in the Anchor project. Thus, Kent -- one tiny little five-unit building -- leaves a lasting legacy that will result in the creation of over 200 homes.”
Kent House also leaves a legacy of historic help for its tenants. For 18 years, this apartment building, with its two bachelor and three one-bedroom units located on Kent Street by St. Barnabas Apostle & Martyr Church (which provided space for tenant events), provided meaningful housing and support to numerous people. One former tenant recalled:
"If Multifaith Housing didn’t exist, I can’t say for sure where I would be today, or if I would be on the path that I am... I was offered a job doing maintenance work, and that progressed into a superintendent position. This organization has given me so much more than a place to live. I have been given opportunities to work, get involved in the community, and this has all helped to set me on track towards further education"
Before the building went up for sale, Kent House’s residents were offered housing in other MHI housing sites.
With the sale of Kent House and transfer of the Andy Carswell Building to Veterans’ House Canada, MHI’s supply of housing sits, for the moment, at 134 homes. In the not-too-distant future, Dream LeBreton Flats will add 133 homes to our supply and The Anchor, another 84.
Suzanne Le, MHI’s Executive Director, explains: “Kent House sits at the core of MHI’s origin story as it was the very first property that MHI owned. Now the funds from this sale will be used to enable our next level of super growth. First, as a loan to support the Dream project, then after we have paid that back from the successful results of our Dream capital campaign, we will invest the money in the Anchor project. Thus, Kent -- one tiny little five-unit building -- leaves a lasting legacy that will result in the creation of over 200 homes.”
Kent House also leaves a legacy of historic help for its tenants. For 18 years, this apartment building, with its two bachelor and three one-bedroom units located on Kent Street by St. Barnabas Apostle & Martyr Church (which provided space for tenant events), provided meaningful housing and support to numerous people. One former tenant recalled:
"If Multifaith Housing didn’t exist, I can’t say for sure where I would be today, or if I would be on the path that I am... I was offered a job doing maintenance work, and that progressed into a superintendent position. This organization has given me so much more than a place to live. I have been given opportunities to work, get involved in the community, and this has all helped to set me on track towards further education"
Before the building went up for sale, Kent House’s residents were offered housing in other MHI housing sites.
With the sale of Kent House and transfer of the Andy Carswell Building to Veterans’ House Canada, MHI’s supply of housing sits, for the moment, at 134 homes. In the not-too-distant future, Dream LeBreton Flats will add 133 homes to our supply and The Anchor, another 84.