Join The Journey
Celebrate 20 Years of transforming lives and creating community
The Challenge
Many refugee claimant families arrive in Metro Vancouver with limited options, often homeless, isolated, and in desperate need of community and support. The journey towards settling in a new country is fraught with challenges, from finding safe housing to navigating complex legal and social systems.
Our Mission
Journey Home Community is dedicated to offering short-term emergency housing, case management, and walk-alongside support to refugee claimants. We aim to create a welcoming community where refugees find hope and belonging, forge meaningful relationships, and access essential resources. Inspired by God’s love, we strive to see every refugee flourish in their new home country.
Who We Are
Journey Home Community was born out of a grassroots initiative by a small fellowship group at Willingdon Church, aware of the plight of homeless and isolated refugee claimant families arriving with nowhere to turn. Founded in late 2005, we started with a vital mission supported by a few dedicated volunteers and a modest budget. Initially providing housing, support, and friendship to just four families, our organization has experienced significant growth. Today, we meet the increasing needs of hundreds of refugees claiming asylum in Metro Vancouver each year.
Motivated by God's love and the biblical teaching to love our neighbours as ourselves, we aim to embody these principles through our actions. We foster a space of trust and safety, where every person is invited to join a community of care, emphasizing relationship building and mutual learning. We respect and affirm the inherent dignity and value of each individual, ensuring our approach is holistic—caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those we serve. Rooted in prayerful reflection, we strive to cultivate a culture of thoughtfulness and reliance on God, honouring our commitment to walk alongside each family, not only meeting immediate needs but also fostering long-term resilience and community integration.
Our Approach
Welcome Homes
The Welcome Homes program at Journey Home Community offers more than just short-term housing for 3-4 months; it provides a comprehensive support system to help refugee claimants transition from arrival to stability in Canada. Understanding that many arrive with limited resources, vulnerable and often homeless, our program provides two types of furnished housing: community living with house hosts or private units.
Throughout their stay, residents receive wrap-around case management from intake until the results of their refugee determination hearing, typically 9-12 months. This includes assistance with legal aid, welfare applications, bank setups, and integration into the community through shared meals, celebrations, and connections with Canadian volunteers. Our approach aims to create a supportive environment where refugee claimants can find the stability and community they need to start their new lives in Canada.
Communities of Welcome
The Communities of Welcome initiative at Journey Home Community mirrors Canada’s Private Sponsorship Program by training and supporting community and faith groups to host refugee claimant families.
This program involves a comprehensive year-long commitment where community groups provide essential support, including housing, food security, and access to healthcare, schools, and ESL programs. Each group, consisting of 4-8 volunteers, receives detailed orientation and resources from Journey Home to assist the families in navigating the refugee claim process, establishing a stable living environment, and integrating into the community. Moreover, these groups play a crucial role in furnishing homes with necessary items and providing ongoing social support to foster deep, mutual relationships.
This benefits the newcomers by offering them a structured support system and a welcoming community and enriches the lives of volunteers through meaningful connections and shared experiences.
Meanwhile Spaces
The Meanwhile Spaces initiative at Journey Home Community works with developers to leverage vacant properties, such as apartments and homes slated for redevelopment, to provide short-term housing solutions for refugee claimants.
These spaces offer accommodations for 3-4 months at rates well below the market, addressing the acute need for affordable housing in Metro Vancouver's costly rental market. Like our Welcome Homes, Meanwhile Spaces provides comprehensive settlement support, including legal aid, welfare application assistance, and banking setup.
Upon moving out, participants are referred to other organizations for continued support, ensuring a smooth transition to more permanent housing solutions. This program not only furnishes the necessary physical amenities but also fosters a sense of community and connection, ensuring that refugees are supported and not isolated as they navigate their new lives in Canada.
David spent years in temporary shelters, never feeling safe as he moved from country to country, trying to reunite with his family. He reflects, "I spent several years moving from one country to another, living in temporary shelters where I never felt safe or secure, while constantly trying to reunite with my family."
After a long and gruelling journey to Canada, Journey Home Community helped him secure a home, providing him and his family with stability and security for the first time in years. His successful settlement in Canada, culminating in a joyful family reunion, was supported by Journey Home, symbolizing hope and new beginnings.
Marleni’s early life in Peru was shattered by violence, leading to a dispersed family and later an abusive marriage. Seeking a safer future, she made a daring escape to the United States, only to face the threat of deportation back to dangerous conditions. Desperate for refuge, Marleni and her daughter ventured into Canada, where they were greeted by the Journey Home Community with open arms and the comforting words, "Welcome to your home."
Under the compassionate care of Journey Home Community, Marleni found more than just shelter; she discovered a supportive community that understood her struggles. Embraced by this community, she gained the strength to rebuild her life, eventually joining the organization’s board of directors to help others navigate their paths to safety and belonging.
Our Impact
Since its inception in 2005, Journey Home Community has evolved from a small group at Willingdon Church addressing the needs of a few homeless and isolated refugee families to a robust organization supporting hundreds annually. Beginning with minimal funding and a dedicated volunteer base, we initially aided four families, laying the groundwork for substantial growth. Under the leadership of our first Executive Director, James Grunau, we expanded our mission to support the growing number of asylum seekers in Metro Vancouver.
From 2019 to 2023, we assisted 818 refugee claimants, with 184 helped in 2022 alone and 360 in 2023. Our programs provide more than just shelter; they offer a pathway to successful community integration through comprehensive support services. Our experienced staff and volunteers are committed to enhancing our impact, ensuring each individual has the support needed to thrive.
Our Funding Partners
Our Three - Year Strategy
The Ask
Our Pledge
Journey Home Community pledges to uphold our commitment to welcoming and empowering refugee claimants. We are committed to fostering a welcoming community where refugees can experience hope, meaningful relationships, and a sense of belonging.
By expanding our housing and support services, we strive to meet the growing needs of refugees who arrive with few resources. We promise to continue creating caring communities inspired by God’s love, where every refugee can engage meaningfully in their new community and flourish in all aspects of life.
After 20 years of impact, we’re looking ahead to the next 20. For our 20th Anniversary Campaign, our goal is to raise $2,000,000 over the next 3 years and expand our services to help more individuals than ever before. Will you help us meet this challenge and provide safety, support, and a sense of belonging to refugee claimants who arrive with little hope and few resources? By donating, volunteering, or advocating, you can directly transform lives and create a community where every individual can thrive. Together, we can achieve remarkable changes and offer a new beginning to those in dire need.
Ways to Give
Join Journey Home Community by volunteering or donating to support refugee claimants. Our volunteers enjoy a dynamic environment where they build skills, forge friendships, and directly impact lives through our diverse programs. Your donations provide essential housing, food security, and settlement support, helping newcomers integrate and flourish in their new communities.
Consider becoming a monthly donor with 'The Landing,' our program that allows you to commit to ongoing support, ensuring that we can continue to offer a welcoming community to those in need. Together, we can make a significant difference.
Give By Mail: 7175 Royal Oak Avenue Burnaby, BC V5J 4J3