watch our national housing day online ceremony
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MHI's National Housing Day Ceremony Online took place on Sunday, November 22 at 3 pm!
Due to COVID-19, we were not be able to host NHD at Ottawa City Hall as we normally do. However, we were together in spirit, and online, on YouTube! If you didn't join us, you can still check out the video and share it with your family, friends, and communities. |
archive: 2019 national housing day
Thanks to everyone who joined us at Ottawa City Hall on Sunday, November 17, 2019 for National Housing Day! A special thank-you goes to the office of City of Ottawa Councillor Catherine McKenney for sponsoring the NHD event.
Archive: 2018 National Housing Day
Sun., Nov. 18, 2018 from 2:00 - 4:30 PM at Ottawa City Hall (Prayer Service (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM – Champlain Room; Reception (3:15 PM - 4:30 PM – Jean Pigott Hall): Please join us for NHD 2018!
MHI's annual interfaith prayer service and reception will took place on Nov. 18 (the Sunday before the official National Housing Day, Nov. 22). MHI's gathering is one of many events across Canada designed to raise awareness about housing and homelessness. The NHD event included a service at 2:00 p.m. in the Champlain Room, followed by a reception in Jean Pigott Place at 3:15 p.m.
NHD commemorates the day in 1998 when then-Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman – in partnership with the mayors of Canada’s biggest cities – adopted a Declaration from the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee to declare homelessness a national disaster.
The mayors, invoking their power to declare a state of emergency, called on the federal and provincial governments to take emergency actions to do the following: support homeless people who are victims of the nation-wide affordable housing crisis and take longer-term measures to create more affordable homes.
Since then, the day has been adopted by community organizations across the country, municipalities, and Canada’s national housing agency (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) as a day devoted to housing issues and solutions.
Download our printable 8.5" by 11" posters below.
MHI's annual interfaith prayer service and reception will took place on Nov. 18 (the Sunday before the official National Housing Day, Nov. 22). MHI's gathering is one of many events across Canada designed to raise awareness about housing and homelessness. The NHD event included a service at 2:00 p.m. in the Champlain Room, followed by a reception in Jean Pigott Place at 3:15 p.m.
NHD commemorates the day in 1998 when then-Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman – in partnership with the mayors of Canada’s biggest cities – adopted a Declaration from the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee to declare homelessness a national disaster.
The mayors, invoking their power to declare a state of emergency, called on the federal and provincial governments to take emergency actions to do the following: support homeless people who are victims of the nation-wide affordable housing crisis and take longer-term measures to create more affordable homes.
Since then, the day has been adopted by community organizations across the country, municipalities, and Canada’s national housing agency (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) as a day devoted to housing issues and solutions.
Download our printable 8.5" by 11" posters below.
Archive: 2017 National Housing Day
National Housing Day Celebration 2017: Breaking New Ground
Sun., Nov. 19, 2017 from 2:30 - 4:30 PM at Ottawa City Hall, the Jean Pigott Place: Ever since the City of Ottawa’s proclamation of National Housing Day as November 21st in 2010, Multifaith Housing Initiative has devoted a special time each year to reflect on our progress in finding solutions to our housing crisis in Ottawa. This year, we came together in celebration of MHI's 15th anniversary – and as Canada marks its 150th birthday.
This special year was marked by a significant milestone, the completion of the Haven, our 98-unit project in Barrhaven. Families began moving into their new homes in the spring of 2017. The Haven is a mixed-unit, environmentally sustainable, and fully visitable complex where over 350 people, many of whom are children, now call home. We also look forward to the development of our ground-breaking project, Veterans' House, for homeless veterans on the former air force base, CFB Rockcliffe. Veterans' House will provide not only a home but also support services to address the explicit needs of homeless veterans in Ottawa.
At this year’s event, Dr. Lindy Samson, Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer at CHEO, will speak about the importance of affordable housing for health and well-being and the role non-profits, such as MHI, play in helping meet this need. The celebration will start with presentations from Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Hindu and Christian traditions. We will end the afternoon with the lively performance of the Colors of Diversity Marimba Players and refreshments.
We would like to especially thank Mr. Michael Qaqish, City Councillor of Gloucester - South Nepean, for generously supporting this year's celebration.
This special year was marked by a significant milestone, the completion of the Haven, our 98-unit project in Barrhaven. Families began moving into their new homes in the spring of 2017. The Haven is a mixed-unit, environmentally sustainable, and fully visitable complex where over 350 people, many of whom are children, now call home. We also look forward to the development of our ground-breaking project, Veterans' House, for homeless veterans on the former air force base, CFB Rockcliffe. Veterans' House will provide not only a home but also support services to address the explicit needs of homeless veterans in Ottawa.
At this year’s event, Dr. Lindy Samson, Chief of Staff and Chief Medical Officer at CHEO, will speak about the importance of affordable housing for health and well-being and the role non-profits, such as MHI, play in helping meet this need. The celebration will start with presentations from Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Hindu and Christian traditions. We will end the afternoon with the lively performance of the Colors of Diversity Marimba Players and refreshments.
We would like to especially thank Mr. Michael Qaqish, City Councillor of Gloucester - South Nepean, for generously supporting this year's celebration.
Archive: National Housing Day 2016
National Housing Day Celebration 2016: Acting on Compassion
On November 13, 2016, Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) hosted its annual National Housing Day celebration at City Hall to foster dialogue and understanding on homelessness and affordable housing.
The participants were greeted by classical piano music performed by Brandon Le. The celebration began with sacred aboriginal drumming, followed by presentations on the meaning of compassion by representatives from Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Hindu and Christian traditions.
As Mayer Jim Watson and local faith leaders pointed out, at a time when religion is seen to divide so many around the world, MHI proves that different faith communities can join hands around a common vital goal: helping our vulnerable brothers and sisters and ending homelessness in our city.
Acting on compassion, MHI celebrated another important milestone this year.The Haven project, a 98-unit affordable housing community in the Longfields area of Barrhaven, will soon welcome its first new residents. Planning for a new MHI initiative, Veterans' House, is well under way to house homeless veterans on the former Rockcliffe Airbase.
MHI success is based on the passionate work of our volunteers. Faith communities who were recognized for theiroutstanding contribution to the 2016 Tulipathon: Temple Israel for fundraising; and St. Mark’s Anglican Church, St. Leonard’s Roman Catholic Church, and Ottawa Muslim Women Organization for their award-winning banners.
The National Housing Day celebration also recognized the United Church’s Ottawa Presbytery for their innovative approach in supporting the MHI mission. The celebration ended with a reception – lovely food and conversation to enjoy, with a lively performance from the Colors of Diversity Marimba Players.
Without that broad based partnership among local congregations of different denominations, faith groups and traditions, MHI would not be able to deliver on its commitments to expand the supply of safe, well-maintained and affordable housing in Ottawa – a city of compassion. Thank you to all of our friends and supporters in making Multifaith Housing Initiative’s National Housing Day celebration a great success!
See below for photos!
The participants were greeted by classical piano music performed by Brandon Le. The celebration began with sacred aboriginal drumming, followed by presentations on the meaning of compassion by representatives from Muslim, Jewish, Baha’i, Hindu and Christian traditions.
As Mayer Jim Watson and local faith leaders pointed out, at a time when religion is seen to divide so many around the world, MHI proves that different faith communities can join hands around a common vital goal: helping our vulnerable brothers and sisters and ending homelessness in our city.
Acting on compassion, MHI celebrated another important milestone this year.The Haven project, a 98-unit affordable housing community in the Longfields area of Barrhaven, will soon welcome its first new residents. Planning for a new MHI initiative, Veterans' House, is well under way to house homeless veterans on the former Rockcliffe Airbase.
MHI success is based on the passionate work of our volunteers. Faith communities who were recognized for theiroutstanding contribution to the 2016 Tulipathon: Temple Israel for fundraising; and St. Mark’s Anglican Church, St. Leonard’s Roman Catholic Church, and Ottawa Muslim Women Organization for their award-winning banners.
The National Housing Day celebration also recognized the United Church’s Ottawa Presbytery for their innovative approach in supporting the MHI mission. The celebration ended with a reception – lovely food and conversation to enjoy, with a lively performance from the Colors of Diversity Marimba Players.
Without that broad based partnership among local congregations of different denominations, faith groups and traditions, MHI would not be able to deliver on its commitments to expand the supply of safe, well-maintained and affordable housing in Ottawa – a city of compassion. Thank you to all of our friends and supporters in making Multifaith Housing Initiative’s National Housing Day celebration a great success!
See below for photos!
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With your generous support, hundreds of less fortunate people will gain access to safe, affordable housing and hope for a better future.
With your generous support, hundreds of less fortunate people will gain access to safe, affordable housing and hope for a better future.
©2015 Multifaith Housing Initiative.
