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Dear Home Suite Hope Supporters, Partners, and Friends,
As we reflect on 2024, we are deeply grateful for the progress we’ve made in advancing our mission to end single parent-led homelessness in Halton. This year has been marked by significant milestones, expanded services, and a renewed focus on forging new partnerships to help provide long-term housing solutions for the families we serve. We are thankful for the ongoing support of our community, and are hopeful that we will forge forward together for 2025.
Home Suite Hope proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary of serving families experiencing homelessness in Halton. This milestone was a testament to the commitment of our staff, volunteers, and supporters who have made it possible for us to provide not just housing, but a pathway to stability, independence, and hope. We commemorated this achievement with special events, including a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ and 20th Anniversary Celebration, which brought together our community of partners and supporters to reflect on our journey and look ahead to the future.
A significant focus of our work in 2024 was the development of housing partnerships aimed at addressing the growing need for affordable homes in Halton. We spent much of the year advocating for and exploring new opportunities to secure long-term housing solutions for the families in our programs. We took a step forward by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with One Urban, a development company committed to incorporating affordable housing. This MOU secured one long-term affordable unit in a new development on Old Bronte Road — a crucial step in our ongoing effort to increase housing access for single-parent families. This partnership is part of a broader strategy to address the housing crisis and expand affordable options for families in need.
Home Suite Hope’s staff continued to be advocates for affordable housing and the needs of the families we serve. In 2024, our organization was represented at several important forums, including speaking engagements with the Rotary Club of Oakville, 100 Women Who Care Burlington, and other community groups, where we highlighted the urgent need for affordable housing and the critical role of supportive services in breaking the cycle of homelessness.
We also met with local MPs and MPPs, including Oakville MP Anita Anand and Milton MP Adam Van Koeverden, and Burlington MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos and Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford to advocate for the expansion of housing solutions and increased support for families. I was honored to attend meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former federal Minister of Housing Sean Fraser where we discussed Canada’s housing plans and the importance of long-term, sustainable solutions for families.
2024 was a year of continued success for our Homeward Bound Halton program participants. We celebrated the graduation of six families from the program, each of whom is now on a path to self-sufficiency. We also offered improved financial literacy workshops, mental health support, and employment readiness programs, all of which help families build the skills they need to thrive long-term.
In addition, Home Suite Hope became a United Way Halton & Hamilton-supported agency receiving multi-year funding for our programs. Also, we secured a $58,800 capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to expand our outreach and services. These funds enabled us to invest in new equipment and resources, helping us better serve families in need.
We are incredibly grateful to the community for its ongoing support throughout the year. 2024 saw successful fundraising events, including the Luxury Bingo hosted by Wishlist Group and our annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, which raised crucial funds to support our programs. The generosity of local businesses, such as Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, and organizations like Bellwether Investment Management, helped ensure that we could continue to provide essential services to families.
Additionally, we worked closely with community partners like The Purse Project Network, which organized a Mother’s Day purse drive to provide single moms in our programs with beautiful purses filled with personal care items. We are constantly inspired by the generosity of the Oakville and Burlington communities.
Home Suite Hope’s volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. In 2024, we held several Volunteer Appreciation events to honor the incredible work and dedication of our volunteers, including Cindy Perras, who was recognized at Burlington MP Karina Gould’s Volunteer Appreciation Awards. Volunteers continue to be a vital part of our ability to serve families in crisis.
Our partnerships with local organizations and businesses also grew this year. Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar generously donated grocery gift cards for our participants, and CIBC Mellon packed hygiene and activity kits for families. These partnerships, along with the ongoing support of the Greater Toronto Apartment Association (GTAA) Charitable Foundation, have enabled us to offer critical support to our participants.
As we enter 2025, we remain focused on addressing the ongoing housing crisis and expanding our housing options for families. The partnership with One Urban is just the beginning, and we are actively pursuing additional housing opportunities and collaborations to ensure that more families have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes.
We also committed to mental wellness for the families we serve and expanded our mental health support services, hiring an inhouse psychotherapist and became one of the top four not-for-profit employers for employee mental health in Canada.
2024 has been a year of growth, partnership, and impact, and we are profoundly grateful for the continued support of our donors, volunteers, partners, and community members. Together, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of families experiencing homelessness.
As we look forward to 2025, we are aware that there is a tough road ahead of us. We will remain committed to permanently changing the lives of our participants.
With deepest gratitude,
Sara J. Cumming, PhD
Executive Director
Home Suite Hope