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.

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.

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.

Leadership Team

​The leadership team has 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.

Currently this team consists of: Alison Witt (International Association for Refugees Canada/Eucharist Church); Danielle Steenwyk-Rowaan (International Association for Refugees Canada/New Hope Church); Katie Karsten (Immanuel Christian Reformed Church); and Sharlene Craig (Eucharist Church).

CONTACT US
Phone number: 289-426-2612
Email address: info@openhomeshamilton.ca
Facebook page: facebook.com/openhomeshamilton