Meanwhile Spaces
Meanwhile Spaces are temporary Journey Home Community transitional homes.
Shared by developers who have empty spaces or homes they are preparing for demolition. In a posture of friendship and community support, Meanwhile Spaces, offers short term housing (3-4 months) followed by support to move into more permanent homes (subsidized or market rentals). We offer the same settlement support and and opportunities for connections as our Welcome Homes Program. In Meanwhile Spaces when a program participant moves out of transitional housing, they are referred to another settlement organization and exit the Meanwhile Spaces program.
Journey Home launched an initiative to start houseing refugees in the many vacant apartments and homes slated for redevelopment. This is being done in partnership with developers and other refugee serving agencies. These buildings, which are often empty for a few months or for years, are being offered at well below market to refugees.
Journey Home Community supports these refugees with referrals, settlement support, furniture, household goods and assistance in finding safe and affordable housing in Metro Vancouver's expensive rental market. Perhaps most importantly, Journey Home provides connections and community. They are no longer walking alone.
David’s Story
“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. It was a long and grueling journey to Canada. After finally arriving in Canada, ISSofBC and Journey Home Community helped me find this home. For the first time in so long, I finally feel safe. Secure. I haven’t seen my family in nine years, and I will be meeting them soon. I am so happy to be here, to start over with them in a safe place”
When David fled Ethiopia, he left behind his wife and young son. In April 2022, after nine long years, David finally reunited with his wife and his now 13-year-old son. Seeking company in what promised to be an emotional reunion, David invited his Journey Home caseworker, to accompany him to the airport.
David’s settlement journey was long, filled with hardship and uncertainty. Even when welcomed to Canada, he couldn’t immediately start to settle. Given our Metro Vancouver housing crisis, finding available housing proved incredibly difficult, especially housing suitable to welcome his family.
Just imagine the relief and hope David felt when he was offered a two-bedroom apartment through our Meanwhile Spaces Initiative.
In anticipation of being reunited with his family, David began to set up their first Canadian home, collecting furnishings and carefully laying things out. He lined up new shoes for his son, who was no longer the toddler he had once held in his arms. Every item brought into the apartment was filled with hope and anticipation. He slowly turned the apartment into a place of warmth, security and hope for his arriving family.
Having a place to call home meant David could begin his new life in Canada. As he waited for their arrival, David worked hard to prepare for his new career as a caregiver, while envisioning how he would spend his time with his family after work.
Late that summer, through the support of Journey Home Community, David and his family moved out of the Meanwhile Spaces apartment into a permanent two-bedroom apartment. David shares his gratitude to God, and to Journey Home Community and has since joined our advisory council to give back to the community.
His journey was made possible through the support of our donors and funders. This support allows Journey Home to journey with refugees providing referrals, settlement support, furniture, household goods and assistance in finding safe and affordable housing.
Perhaps most importantly, Journey Home provides connections and community so refugees like David no longer walk alone.
Do You Want to Support More Story’s Like David’s?
To fully fund our housing and settlement, we rely on the generosity of individuals and foundations so we can continue this critical work.
Get Involved With
Our Meanwhile Spaces
Settlement Provider Partnerships
Meanwhile Spaces also invites settlement providers (organizations, sponsorship groups) to enter into partnership agreements with Journey Home; here we offer excess Meanwhile Spaces units to other settlement providers for the benefit of housing more refugees.
To learn more, please contact Brad Kinnie
Volunteer
Journey Home has over 75 regular volunteers. As we grow, we invite you to give of your time and talent and consider entering into a mutually transformative friendship. Our many different roles range from assisting with moving refugees claimants out of transitional housing into more permanent safe and affordable housing, to working with the settlement team in supporting refugees in the settlement process, to helping create community through community activities.
To get involved, please contact our Volunteer Team
Donate
Providing refugee claimants’ housing, settlement support and community during their first critical months in Canada requires finances. We are grateful that many choose to support this vital work. We know that such involvement can help change the course of family and individual lives.
Consider becoming a monthly donor, for scheduled giving allows Journey Home to better plan and sustain our work with refugee claimants.
Hey There Housing Developers
If you are a developer and interested in finding out how your company can join with Concert and Wesgroup in extending this initiative, contact Brad Kinnie.
