Home Suite Hope is a Halton based organization that helps mothers with children overcome homelessness. When a family is selected, they are taken through a 4-year program that provides housing and college tuition for the mother so they can come out strong and independent.
The cost per family is roughly $47,000 per year.
One of the struggles with the current housing market is finding accommodation for these families.
The funds raised through Flight for Hope will go towards purchasing or building their own multi-unit dwelling, allowing Home Suite Hope to help more families succeed at one time!
Home Suite Hope has been changing lives since 2004. They address poverty by wrapping multiple services around our families to ensure that compounding barriers are addressed simultaneously.
In 2011, they chose to focus on homeless single-mother-led families in Halton, moving them from high-vulnerability and dependence to self-sufficiency.
In 2014, they replicated WoodGreen’s award-winning Homeward Bound Program (HBH), in collaboration with Sheridan College, Halton Region, Oakville Community Foundation, YMCA Oakville, and local corporations.
In 2018, they partnered with York University to complete an evaluation of all programs, demonstrating that since 2015: 359 individuals participated in our programs; 100% transitioned off Ontario Works; 80% have full-time employment; 5 participants have completed HBH. Of those employed: 100% earn over the median wage; 75% earn $40,000+; 50% are earning $60,000+; 100% can afford market rate rent.
In 2020 they added a Stabilizing First phase to HBH, and a special sub-branch for mothers 16-24.
HBH is a four-year program that provides homeless mothers with rental subsidies, access to childcare, transportation, two years college education, life skills, professional development, mentorship, employment supports, and intensive case management. The outcomes are financial independence and long-term stability. The impact is intergenerational.
As one participant describes, it has “given me hope to believe for a better future for my children and myself.”
In year one, they secure housing for participants, assess academic aptitudes and teach key life skills. For the next two years, participants attend Sheridan College. In year four, participants are supported in securing employment by a volunteer Industry Council, while HBH transitions them to independence.
HBH has served 30 single parents and 52 children. Seventeen of their participants have already completed the full four-year program and of that 100% are no longer receiving social assistance or rental subsidies, 86% are employed full-time and of those, 100% are earning over the Canadian median income. We have become Halton Region’s preferred social service organization for single-parent families.