IAFR CANADA
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What is Open Homes Hamilton?

 Open Homes is a multi-church network supporting refugee claimants by offering home-based hospitality.
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Open Homes Hamilton is designed with multiple layers of engagement. It takes a community to welcome a refugee claimant well! The Host, the Refugee Guest, the Companions and the Open Homes leadership team each have roles to play.
Host
​​A Host is someone who has chosen to provide temporary accommodation to newly arrived refugee claimants in Hamilton, and who has been carefully screened by our leadership team. 
➔ A Host can be an individual or a family.
➔ Ideally Hosts are connected to one of our partner local churches
Guest
A Guest is a newly arrived refugee claimant who has accepted the offer to stay in a private home and to participating in the Open Homes Hamilton program.

We welcome Guests of all kinds. We can't wait to meet you and accompany you on your settlement journey.
Companion
​Companions are people who are volunteering  to provide practical and relational support to the refugee claimants who are staying in an Open Homes host home.
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Open Homes Team
​The Open Homes Team is the team of people providing leadership and oversight to the network of Hosts, Companions, Guests, and churches that is known as Open Homes Hamilton. Each circle of volunteers (Kinship Circle) is led by a member of our team (Kinship Circle Leader).

Becoming family 

​We want to create communities of belonging with refugee claimants. We need each other! As anyone who has been to one of our gatherings knows...we love to be together. The Kingdom of God is a big diverse party, and we want to taste some of that now. 


The best way to get to know us is to hear from our friends....check out the video to get a sense for our community. 

Open Homes Team

​Our Kinship Circle Leaders have experience and expertise in the Canadian immigration system and will help ensure that refugee claimants have access to the information and community resources available to help them navigate the refugee claim and settlement process. They lead circles of volunteers (Kinship Circles) in welcoming new Guests. 

Currently this team consists of: Alison Witt (International Association for Refugees Canada/Eucharist Church); Katie Karsten (Immanuel Christian Reformed Church); Danielle Steenwyk-Rowaan (International Association for Refugees Canada/New Hope Church); Sharlene Craig (Eucharist Church); and Noha Shalabi (Middle East Baptist Church). Languages represented on our team include French, Arabic, Dutch, and Spanish. 
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CONTACT US
Phone number: 289-426-2612
Email address: info@openhomeshamilton.ca
Facebook page: facebook.com/openhomeshamilton

ABOUT IAFR.CA

OUR STORY
OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A Registered Canadian  Charity
CRA # 796831717 RR 0001

OPPORTUNITIES

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EVENTS
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FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP

AFFILIATES

IAFR USA
IAFR USA MINISTRY TOOLBOX

CONTACT

IAFR Canada
374 Sheppard Ave E
Toronto, ON M2N 3B6
info@iafr.ca

Please Note: IAFR Canada does not sponsor people to resettle in Canada. You may want to contact one of Canada's sponsorship agreement holders.

*IAFR Canada is a distinct organization from IAFR USA
All photos on this website are by  IAFR  unless otherwise noted
© 2020 International Association For Refugees Canada
  • Home
  • About Us
  • What We Do
    • Current Projects
    • Training
  • Opportunities
    • Events
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Donate >
      • Friends of Refugees
  • Affiliates
    • IAFR USA Ministry Toolbox
    • IAFR USA