current Situations
Every person has a story!
God is the Great Author, constantly working in the quiet corners of our lives and sovereignly intertwining our paths with others. When our individual stories overlap, it is a reminder to us of God's presence and that we are not meant to walk alone. While these intersections can be complex and messy, they are sacred opportunities for His grace to work through the challenges of life as we seek a path forward together.
To protect the privacy and dignity of those we serve, all names and identifying locations have been changed.
The Story of Broken Family
Fatima, her husband Jamal, and their son Omar immigrated to Brooks, AB in hopes of a better life. Sadly, the move took a real toll on their marriage, and unfortunately resulted in mental abuse and infidelity. Fatima decided to take her son and move to Calgary as she thought she could find work faster in a bigger city and get away from the situation she was in. They stayed in a hotel for the first few days, but with money being tight, she could not afford to stay there for long. Fatima started looking around for a more permanent place for her and Omar to live and was relieved to find suitable accommodations with a host family through Unity Community Housing. About a month later, Jamal ended up moving to Calgary as well in hopes of reconciling with his family. However, Fatima wouldn't hear of it! Each time Jamal visited Omar over the next few months, Fatima and Jamal would constantly argue. Omar eventually told his mom that he preferred to be with his dad rather than her which was the last straw for Fatima. In a fit of rage, she booked a flight back to her homeland and abandoned Omar! The host family happened to be home that day and saw Fatima loading luggage into a cab and leaving without her son. Seeing the boy outside crying, the couple went outside to talk to Omar to find out what was going on. Concerned for his welfare, they asked Omar to contact his father. Jamal rushed over to the house and was very grateful to the couple for watching out for his son. Who knows what may have happened to Omar if not for the homeowner stepping in to help.
“Who is my mother, and who are my brothers... whoever does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
~ Matthew 12:48-50 (ESV)
Rose and the Village People
Rose is a homeowner who has shared her place with many people over the years... from working professionals to students... newcomers to Canada to families in transition. As much as she enjoyed being a host, she reached a point in her life where she wanted to take a break from it for a while. Then life took a dramatic twist with regards to her health, and subsequently, she found herself out of work. Concerned about how long it might take her to recover and find work again, she started weighing her options for how she could sustain herself without having to refinance her home or sell it just to have money to live. A friend of hers told her about Unity Community, who works with homeowners that could convert her basement into a separate dwelling, which Rose could then rent out as affordable housing. In addition, Unity Community could pair her with a tenant needing affordable living that could assist her as needed and the extra income could help to sustain her. Rose has not made any decisions yet but now volunteers for the non-profit.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
~ Galatians 6:2 (NIV)