Hello! We are Friends Who Help (FWH), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing swift, crucial support to children and families in our community facing unexpected crises. Life can change in an instant – a sudden job loss, a health emergency, or an unforeseen disaster can leave children without a safe place to call home. Even an expected renewal of a homeowner’s mortgage at an unexpectedly high interest rate can push entire families, including kids, into homelessness. When these moments strike, FWH is committed to being a reliable source of immediate assistance, offering vulnerable children and their families a helping hand and a path toward stability.

Every week, we see firsthand how quickly circumstances can overwhelm families, leaving children especially vulnerable.. Imagine:

• A hardworking family with young kids suddenly facing eviction after the primary earner suffers an injury and cannot work, leaving them unable to pay next month’s rent.
• A single parent struggling to keep their children safe and warm during a cold snap, forced to choose between essential medication and heating their home due to an unexpected repair bill.
• A caregiver unable to afford a critical car repair, risking their job – the only source of income to provide for their children.
• A family’s mortgage coming up for renewal with a jump from 1.5% to 4.5% interest, making it impossible to keep their home. The loss of stability and security threatens to force their children into homelessness.

These aren’t just stories; they are the real-life emergencies that children and families in our community face. Friends Who Help steps into these gaps, providing targeted aid to protect children and prevent a temporary crisis from becoming a long-term catastrophe. The demand for this vital support is constant and continues to grow.

To continue being there for children and families when they need it most, we need your support. We have developed a 3-phase program designed to protect children from the devastating impacts of homelessness and provide their families with the resources they need to regain stability during times of crisis. Together, we can ensure that no child has to face the uncertainty of life without a safe, stable home.

PHASE #1: Emergency Response & Immediate Housing Solutions

In our community, countless children and their families face the harsh reality of homelessness, seeking shelter in tents on church lawns, public parks, or even vehicles. Many endure precarious and unsafe conditions, with children especially vulnerable to the dangers of exposure, health complications from inadequate housing, and the trauma of instability. The urgency of this crisis is clear, as Canada’s homeless population faces growing risks, including exposure, encampment fires, and worsening health conditions. These aren’t just statistics – they reflect the lives of children and families who desperately need immediate support and stability.

Friends Who Help is taking action with a comprehensive emergency response focused on protecting homeless children and their families. We are transforming empty buildings and warehouses into safe, welcoming spaces through short-term leases. These facilities are equipped with essential amenities like bathrooms, heating, electricity, and soup kitchens, ensuring that children and their families have access to warmth, nourishment, and safety. Professional security personnel maintain a secure environment, while the spaces also serve as community hubs offering critical support. Educational programs, counseling, and resources help children and parents regain stability and work toward permanent housing solutions. By addressing both immediate shelter needs and long-term support, we are creating safe havens where children and their families can begin to rebuild their lives.

BUDGET:  Short Term Lease Expenses $35,000, Security Services $50,000, support services $85,000 = Total Phase #1: $170,000

PHASE #2: Prevention & Stability Initiative

Our community-focused prevention program is dedicated to keeping children and their families in their homes, ensuring they don’t face the trauma of homelessness. Friends Who Help operates a comprehensive loan and subsidy program, funded by the generosity of our donors and corporate sponsors. This essential initiative provides targeted financial assistance to help families overcome immediate housing cost challenges, such as rent increases or unexpected expenses. By empowering families to maintain their current homes, we protect children from the instability and hardships of displacement, giving them the security and dignity they deserve.

BUDGET: Rental Subsidy Fund: $95,000, Mortgage Subsidy Fund $120,000, Low interest Loan Fund $200,000 = Total Phase #2: $416,000

PHASE #3: Sustainable Community Development Initiative

The Friends Who Help Association is pioneering a transformative approach to affordable housing, focused on creating safe, stable communities for homeless children and their families. We are strategically acquiring plots of land ranging from 5 to 100+ acres and transforming these spaces into vibrant neighborhoods of factory-built homes. These thoughtfully designed residences, ranging from 400 to 800 square feet, provide comfortable and secure living spaces at an affordable price, with target sale prices under $200,000—helping families find a permanent place to call home.

What makes our communities truly unique is their innovative off-grid design, which eliminates traditional utility costs through self-sustaining systems. Each community operates as its own eco-system, managing garbage and recycling services to keep operational costs low. Beyond housing, we’re building complete neighborhoods with essential amenities tailored to support families and children, including community centers, grocery stores, playgrounds, and medical facilities. This holistic approach provides not only housing but also access to vital resources, ensuring that children grow up in safe, nurturing environments while fostering strong, supportive communities for long-term stability and growth.

BUDGET: Homestead Land: $150,000,  Pre-Fab Homes $320,000, Eco-System Costs $200,000 = Total Phase #2: $670,000

CONCLUSION

This funding allows us to act quickly and decisively to support homeless children and their families when they need it most. Your contribution will directly enable FWH to provide life-changing assistance such as:

• Emergency Housing Support: Helping families with children cover a critical rent or mortgage payment to prevent them from losing their home.
• Urgent Utility Assistance: Ensuring children have access to heat, electricity, and running water, even when their families are struggling with bills.
• Access to Essentials: Providing funds for vital medications, emergency grocery needs, or other basic necessities to keep children safe and healthy.
• Critical Stability Aid: Assisting with essential transportation costs, such as a car repair needed for a parent’s job, or other unforeseen expenses that could destabilize a family.

Your support will directly empower FWH to provide a crucial lifeline to countless children and families facing immediate hardship in the coming months. Every dollar strengthens our ability to say "yes" when help is urgently needed, giving children the stability and security they deserve.

Meeting the urgent needs of homeless children and their families requires consistent resources. To ensure we can continue providing immediate support without delay, we’ve set a goal to raise these funds by July 31, 2025.

Your donation today, no matter the amount, makes a direct impact in the lives of vulnerable children. It allows Friends Who Help to provide not just financial relief, but also hope, stability, and the reassurance that someone cares about their future. Every contribution helps us protect children from the trauma of homelessness and gives them the chance to thrive.

• Please donate today to help us reach our goal and give children the safe, secure homes they deserve.
• If you’re unable to contribute financially, sharing this campaign with your friends, family, and social networks is incredibly valuable and helps us reach more people who can make a difference.

Friends Who Help believes in the power of community solidarity to change lives. Thank you for taking the time to learn about our mission and for considering a gift. Your generosity ensures that when children and families face a crisis, there are Friends Who Help ready to step in and provide support.

Help Us Make a Difference, Join Us!

Your participation in this project has the potential to be life-changing—not just for homeless children and their families, but for communities across Canada. We recognize the struggles families face: rising costs, lack of proper government intervention, out-of-control inflation, and unsteady work. These challenges have left countless children without the safety and stability of a home—a reality no child should ever endure. But together, we can provide hope, security, and a brighter future. Together, we can help end the cycle of homelessness for children once and for all.

For as little as $2 CAD, you can help change the lives of homeless children and their families. Your support brings hope and stability to vulnerable children who desperately need a safe place to call home. 

Spread the word to friends and family, and together we can create programs that ensure children in our community get the help they need, exactly when they need it.  Every contribution matters, and we also welcome businesses to join our mission through our impactful corporate sponsorship program. Friends Who Help is fully committed to transparency. You’ll see how every dollar is used to provide shelter, care, and support for homeless children and their families. Attend our events and experience firsthand how we’re building a brighter future for the most vulnerable members of our community. Donations are accepted online using this website. Donations may also be sent through PayPal or Interac e-transfer to donate@friendswho.help With heartfelt thanks, The Team at Friends Who Help

To find out more about our events, programs and sponsorship opportunities
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