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Re-opening of Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold

Articles
November 1, 2024

Posted on November 1, 2024, Posted By:OnRichmondhill.com, Original Article

Blue Door’s seasonal emergency housing program, Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold, reopens to provide life-saving support for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Blue Door, the region’s largest emergency housing provider, is proud to offer essential seasonal housing through the Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold (MIOTC) program. A key resource in the fight against homelessness, MIOTC delivers life-saving and comprehensive support services for individuals experiencing homelessness during the colder months.

The MIOTC program operates from October to June each year, providing seasonal refuge every night of the week across five host community sites. Each evening, 30 adults, seniors, and youth are welcomed with a warm meal, clean clothes, and medical care. More than just a safe place to sleep, MIOTC also offers vital housing support through case management, assistance with housing searches, landlord advocacy, and legal, employment, and basic needs assistance.

Blue Door is proud to partner with five faith-based organizations in support of their seasonal housing program.

These dedicated partner are:

  • St. Mary’s Anglican Church
  • Ebenezer United Church
  • Wideman Mennonite Church
  • Holy Trinity Anglican Church
  • Victory Baptist Church

They play a vital role in providing essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness. Their collaboration ensures the success of the program and strengthens the overall impact within the community.

While homelessness is always devastating to those experiencing it, it’s even more life threatening as the seasons change. Our Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program brings our faith community along with volunteers from our community together to provide a warm, compassionate, and supportive home for those most in need. It’s a wonderful example of community stepping up to build inclusive communities for all”, says Michael Braithwaite, CEO of Blue Door.

With the rising demand for emergency housing during the coldest months of the year, Blue Door recognizes the urgent need for additional support to meet the growing challenges of homelessness in our community. As the need continues to grow, Blue Door is actively seeking more partners to expand its seasonal emergency housing program to better serve the community.

We’re seeing more and more people struggling with homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness” says Rehana Sumar, the Senior Manager of Seasonal Housing at Blue Door. She continues with “Our Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program is so critical, providing people with a security net as they try and get on their feet. We’re so grateful for the community partnerships we have with various faith-based communities.”