Matthew House Toronto

Matthew House Toronto is looking for 2 House Mentors to join our community.

🏡 Live-in volunteer role (6–12 months)
🛏 Private room, no rent
🍲 Food & essentials included
⏰ Flexible schedule
🤝 No experience needed, just a heart to support newcomers

This is more than volunteering; it’s sharing life, building community, and walking alongside refugee claimants as they start fresh in Canada.

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Tag them or share this post!
Ready to apply?
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0AzS2dmz8qTJixndViYBPsiHee3-Ut2rtVOSBnRbDicKneg/viewform

Questions? Reach out: [email protected]

Your share could help us find the right people at just the right time.

HOUSE MENTOR APPLICATION: Matthew House Refugee Services.Live-in Volunteer Placement Hello, thank you for your interest on being part of our Matthew House volunteer family! House Mentors at Matthew House Toronto are people who choose to live communally with refugee residents in our homes for a placement term. The goal is to foster social connection, nurture a safe and healthy home a...

NO CUTS TO CARE!
From Vancouver to St. John's, healthcare workers, refugee advocates, and community members took part in a public action in 11 Canadian cities, coast to coast yesterday demanding the federal government reverse its cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) before they take effect on May 1st. Matthew House Toronto members joined the event in Toronto.
This is a huge step backward in our history. "In a time when global displacement is at an unprecedented level, Canada must show leadership and protect those who need it the most. Increasing the barriers for refugees to access healthcare takes Canada in the wrong direction."

See message below from Canadian Council for Refugees and call upon the government to reverse this decision.
https://ccrweb.ca/en/canadian-council-refugees-denounces-cuts-refugee-healthcare?fbclid=IwdGRjcARM0zVjbGNrBEzTLmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHt-qSDsJwTOEVz8NFki1_duo0Q7ECtLCGM53rmIf3EXtxzVSURlem7-5PkLz_aem_m3wK7gX6S4MLfSikA9XxXQ

Wishing you peace, renewal, and joy this Easter.
Matthew House Toronto Team

Today marks Refugee Rights Day 2026, a day that commemorates the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision in Singh v Canada, which enshrined critical protections for refugee claimants in our Charter.

The day is typically a celebration of the refugee protection system in Canada, but this year, there is little to celebrate.

The ink has yet to dry on Bill C-12, which became law last week and represents a severe assault on the constitutional protections that the Singh decision recognized, arbitrarily denying countless refugees a right to a fair hearing of their claim.

This Refugee Rights Day, we should be renewing our commitment to a fair and compassionate refugee system.

Credits: Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Read More about Bill C-12 on their website, www.ccla.org

Today is a sad day for refugees in Canada and all those who care about their rights... we're sadly taking frightening steps backwards. Read the full statement from the

Canadian Council for Refugees here:

🔗https://ccrweb.ca/en/denounce-passing-bill-c-12

Congratulations to our sister shelter Matthew House Ft. Erie, on the opening of their 4th new transition home for refugees! And thank you also for hosting the Ontario Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants this week. Your generous hospitality was inspiring!

Today, on International Women's Day, we pause to honour the incredible strength and unwavering spirit of the women we serve at Matthew House.

For women navigating the complexities of the refugee journey, strength isn't just about survival; it's about the deep-rooted resilience to seek safety, protect their families, and reclaim their future against immense odds.

Your courage illuminates our community. We stand with you, providing not just shelter, but a foundation of dignity and support, ensuring you have the resources to rebuild your life and step into your full potential here in Canada.

Happy International Women's Day. May your new beginnings be filled with peace, opportunity, and hope.

Access to care for women refugees in Canada is being limited - Donate to support our residents: https://buff.ly/mWMhab0

It is a rare and special week! The holy season of Lent has begun, and this week, many friends also celebrated the Lunar New Year: as well as some residents and former residents are also observing Ramadan now.

With most of the Matthew House community fasting, praying or honouring a special tradition this month, it feels like an especially powerful time to come together as neighbours!

Let us use our collective prayers and community connections to show love to refugee claimants who are here now and need our help.

To all our friends and faithful
Supporters: a Blessed Lent, a joyous New Year and Ramadan Kareem.
💙🙌🍁

If you have a passion for welcoming refugees, you can volunteer, donate or join our prayer team by emailing [email protected]

Matthew House celebrates the rich history of black refugees coming to Canada and the contributions of black newcomers in building our city.


Image courtesy of www.canada.ca

Matthew House was honoured to be invited to speak at a Standing Committee of the Senate of Canada this week regarding the implications of BILL C-12 and its potentially devastating effects on our refugee protection system.

For more info, see details in the CCR’s statement on the bill here:

https://ccrweb.ca/sites/ccrweb.ca/files/2026-01/CCR_C-12%20Brief_SECU.pdf

Matthew House is very disturbed by a newly announced policy by the federal government which would charge fees to refugees for certain elements of health care. Please read the press release below by a national coalition of Health care providers.
* The photo posted is of Matthew House community members protesting in 2012 when the Harper government proposed similar measures - later overturned by the Federal Court in 2014 which labelled them as "cruel and unusual". The Liberal government reinstated the support in 2016 when they returned to power. The current proposal is clearly a legal step backwards by this government and loses sight of our nation's historical commitment to equal rights and care for the vulnerable. This gap would have to be filled by non profits like Matthew House or the refugees themselves who already face huge cost of living challenges.

We urge readers to reach out to your local MP to challenge this unjust policy.

Press Release:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IhFyL8ubuvX2ne4rn_fERiS0anWKFSj10u6lMO81ok0/edit?usp=sharing