A Windsor-Essex agency that provides shelter and services to refugees has issued a call for assistance.
The Matthew House Refugee Welcome Centre in Windsor has reported a financial shortfall, and is asking the community for help as it hopes to avoid closing beds and cutting back on services.
In a media release, Executive Director Mike Morency stated that inflation-related costs, shifting views on immigration, and a nationwide decline in charitable giving are taking a toll.
"We are 100 per cent donor-funded, so we run a tight budget and would normally be able to weather the current conditions," said Morency. "However, over the last two years, we invested our reserves in opening a second site and supporting over 3,000 claimants who were sheltered in the IRCC hotels and elsewhere in the community."
Despite a recent decline in the number of refugee claimants, Morency said the two local facilities are at 95 per cent capacity with more families arriving all the time.
"The people we work with are quick to become contributing members of our communities. However, to do so, they need welcome and some basic supports," said Morency. "Worst case scenario for us would be for a family to arrive in the snow of January, and we are forced to turn them away because we had to reduce beds or services."
Matthew House has been operational since 2003, and has helped over 12,000 refugee claimants become self-sufficient members of the Windsor-Essex community.
Complete information on donating to Matthew House can be found by calling (519) 945-7627, extension 3010.
