Previous Recipients

HomeStart Foundation (March 2023-June 2023).

“The mission of the HomeStart Foundation is to redistribute safe, clean, functional furniture in a professional, dignified manner, from those who want to share to those who are truly in need. We are a nonprofit Christian humanitarian organization. We pick up and receive donated usable furniture – furniture a person or family needs to set up a home. We distribute the donated items to families and individuals to help them turn their empty housing into a furnished home. HomeStart Foundation provides these basic items, free of charge, to people who have been homeless, with the goal of helping them achieve self-sufficiency, self-esteem, and long-term stability.” – HomeStart Foundation

The Refugee Team suggested HomeStart as an OOF recipient. A few months ago, George from the Refugee team,  visited the HomeStart warehouse and selected furniture for our recent Burundian refugee. This included dressers, shelving, kitchen table+chairs, end tables, lamps, sofa, and armchairs – a complete apartment excluding beds which we are required to supply new. Homestart delivered all of this to the apartment on the same day at no cost to us. This saved the refugee team hundreds of dollars and much time, eliminating a major worry!

Homestart could also benefit the UCV congregation by providing our members with an economical means for down-sizers to donate unwanted furniture. Homestart charges donors a reasonable $75 to have 2 people come to a location in their serving area and pickup donated items which are taken to their warehouse for re-distribution to those in need. They accept pre-arranged drop-offs at no charge to donors. Refugee team members are often approached by UCV members who offer donations of furniture which we can’t accept.

Here are some of the organisations we have supported in the past.

2023

Overdose Prevention Society $2000

2022

Pivot Legal Society $2000
Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia $2000

2021

The Treehouse $3000

Mood Disorders Association of BC $2500

Indian Residential School Survivors Society $5000

Quest Outreach Society $2500

2020

Aboriginal Mother Centre $2000

PHS Community Services Society $2000

Burns Bog Conservation Society $2000

2019

West Coast Environmental Law $4010

Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre $2367

Sole Food Street Farms $2000

2018

Kiwassa Neighbourhood House (to be allocated to Warriors Against Violence) $2693

OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society $1635

Rainbow Refugee Coalition $2000

2017

RAVEN Trust $2810

Qmunity $2800

Portland Hotel Society for activities related to Overdose Prevention Society $1681

Community Legal Assistance Society $2025

2016

Kinbrace – $1500.00

Vancity Community Foundation for activities related to Raise the Rates & Single Mother’s Alliance $3,000.00

2015

Mom2Mom – Child Poverty Initiative $2,000

Kinbrace $2000

2014

Pedal Foundation $400
ARA Mental Health (Action, Research and Advocacy) $1600
West Coast Mental Health Network $2000

2013

Covenant House (no record)

ACORN $2500

Kinbrace $3000

Aunt Leah’s Place $2500

2012

ACORN $2500
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities now the Disability Alliance  $2500
Elizabeth Fry Society $1000
Rhizome Movement Building Centre $1500
VAST $1500

2011

Kinbrace

Elizabeth Fry Society $2500