A recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario survey revealed more than 80,000 people in Ontario experience homelessness each year.
It warned that without significant investments in deeply affordable housing and increased services for the most vulnerable, this number could rise to more than 300,000 within the next decade.
While organizations like Blue Door, Inn from the Cold, 360°kids and LOFT Community Services are working hard to create new deeply affordable housing and supportive programs, the faith community across York Region continues to step up to support Blue Door’s Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program.
In 2005, two faith-based communities in York Region approached the Regional Municipality of York for funding to address the growing homelessness crisis by creating a program to provide food and shelter for the region’s most vulnerable.
To bring this vision to life, the communities recruited Rehana Sumar as executive director. Under her leadership, they established a charitable organization called Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold. The program started with four faith-based communities, providing shelter two nights a week, and grew to more than 13 faith community partners offering shelter seven nights a week from November to March each year.
In addition, more than 50 faith-based communities joined the program, offering various forms of support. By 2021, the program had more than 1,200 dedicated volunteers and more than 500 people receiving winter refuge, food and support each year.
In 2020, the program merged with Blue Door to provide a “one-door” approach to our most vulnerable, and it has since expanded to provide shelter eight months of the year, at three sites per night, with a total of 90 beds. The merger with Blue Door enabled the program to provide intensive housing and wraparound support, which has resulted in more than 70 people being housed since the organizations came together.
The individuals who use the program come from diverse backgrounds. Mosaic Interfaith serves adults exclusively, with most clients falling between the ages of 40 and 60. The majority (78 per cent) identify as men, 21 per cent identify as women, and one per cent identify as a gender other than male or female.
The Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program supports a wide range of individuals, including veterans, Indigenous peoples, refugees, immigrants, and Canadian citizens. People seek shelter at Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold for various reasons, such as the lack of affordable housing, unemployment, mental health or addiction challenges, family breakdowns, or fleeing domestic violence.
The program provides overnight beds, meals, clothing, medical assistance, and housing support. As a low-barrier shelter, Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold welcomes everyone, including youth and seniors. Faith partners contribute space for the shelter and recruit volunteers, while Blue Door handles staffing, logistics, funding, and on-site services such as housing support, medical care, and training.
Each year, more than 75 volunteers dedicate their time to supporting the program, which combines community with emergency housing, so it has a real family atmosphere.
Individuals experiencing homelessness are offered a place to stay and meals, but also a community to belong to. Partnering with faith communities that bring volunteers to the program gives it a special, unique feel where people connect and learn about each other, while providing concrete support to individuals in need.
In chatting with the participants about their life journeys that led them to the Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program, one client shared, “I separated from my partner and, after we split up, I had no idea what I was going to do. I was struggling and had no place to go. Someone told me about the program, and I have been here ever since.”
Another client added, “I have been homeless for two-and-a-half years and was sleeping on the subway and buses. It was hard. My feet were always swollen because I was sleeping sitting up. Now, I get to sleep flat on a bed and my feet have stopped swelling.”
Going further, we asked them how they felt about the program.
“The program has been great. I have a place to rest and eat and somewhere to go. I have a lot of respect for the program. The program has been a great support, and I am so grateful.”
One participant added, “The food is good, and the staff are friendly. Everyone here is struggling, but this program is perfect.”
Sumar has been at the heart of the program since its inception. When asked about her passion and commitment to the program, she shared, “I’ve always felt so grateful for what I have and believe it’s important to help others when we have the opportunity.”
She added, “I love that the program has such a community feel, where clients are seen as people. I’m constantly inspired by the faith communities and volunteers, who are such kind and like-minded individuals.”
When asked what the biggest challenges are to people using the program, Sumar said, “One of the biggest challenges is assisting people in finding housing because the cost of housing is so high.”
She continued, “The excessive cost of rent is a major barrier to housing people, even individuals who are employed. Because of this, housing options are limited, and the conditions of many housing options are inadequate with poor environments, shared living, and little privacy.”
What truly sets this program apart is its “for the community, by the community” approach.
When speaking with faith-based partners and volunteers about their involvement, one shared, “I have volunteered for many groups, but serving meals at (Mosaic Interfaith) Out of the Cold is so much more meaningful. When clients say, ‘It’s like being with family, and the food is like my mother’s cooking,’ it means the world to me.”
Another volunteer added, “I love volunteering at (Mosaic Interfaith) Out of the Cold. It has such a strong sense of community, and the volunteers are so committed and like-minded. It’s amazing.”
With such limited space for housing and shelter across the region and throughout our province and country, our faith communities have continued to step up to support. When I asked them why, one responded, “This program gives our congregation hope and love. It is a good-news story in a world that has so many problems.”
Another said, “Our congregation had a vision to use our space, which was gifted to us by our ancestors … as a gift to individuals that need it.”
Volunteering with the Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program is a meaningful way to give back and support the most vulnerable members of our community. There are many ways to contribute.
Financial donations are always appreciated, but in-kind donations such as socks, underwear, boots, and gift cards are equally valuable. If you’re interested in volunteering or making a donation, please email [email protected].
To learn more about the Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold, please visit bluedoor.ca/programs/seasonal.
Michael Braithwaite is the CEO of Blue Door, host of the housing and homelessness podcast On the Way Home, board chair of the youth homelessness-focused organization A Way Home Canada, and a tireless advocate for people experiencing homelessness.
