Heartwood House
Encyclopedia
Heartwood House' is a charitable organization
in Ottawa
, Canada
. It is an umbrella charity that provides a home to 18 non-profit groups providing a variety of programs and services.
Heartwood House is home to the following non-profit community organizations:
In addition, Heartwood House is home to the HeARTwood Gallery, the OC Transpo Lost & Found program, and the "Everybody Wins!" recycling program.
Heartwood House began in the autumn of 2000 with the shared vision of ten individuals from five non-profit community organizations in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who were looking for a building where a "collective" of organizations could share space, resources, costs, opportunities, ideas and energy - an environment where member organizations and their clients could interact and partner with each other and with the broader Ottawa community in a variety of ways.
The founders had a strong preference for organizations that served their clients directly - where the clients would be a vital part of the building. They wanted a place where member organizations would participate in decision-making and in all aspects of the daily life of the building. It was also very important that Heartwood House become self-sufficient and self-sustaining for the long-term.
Heartwood House was incorporated in the spring of 2001. The elderly, but still useable building in downtown Ottawa at 153 Chapel Street was empty and the founders began negotiations with it owners, Congregation Beth Shalom. By July 2001, organizations began moving in. A three-year start-up grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation gave time for the building to be filled. Eighteen non-profit community groups now call Heartwood House home.
The Heartwood House motto is "Better Together!" Member organizations, their staff, volunteers and clients are all part of the life of Heartwood House. Staff and volunteers from the member organizations serve on committees and on the board of directors. Partnerships include a contract with the City of Ottawa to run the OC Transpo Lost and Found and the "Everybody Wins!" electronic recycling project with RD Long Recycling. The Gallery provides space for community meetings as well as an art gallery for local artists to exhibit their work.
With so many non-profit organizations in one building, clients can be served by more than than one member organization. Services to clients include: English as a second language, adult literacy, child care, a cooperative laundry, resource and referral agencies and centres. Other organizations support people who have had strokes or suffer from an eating or anxiety disorder. Environmental and poverty awareness are the focus of some groups and weaving, spinning and art are the focus of others. There are opportunities for some clients to learn personal or employment skills while earning some income. Twice a year, everyone in Heartwood House comes together to run sales of lost and found items from the OC Transpo Lost and Found.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is an umbrella charity that provides a home to 18 non-profit groups providing a variety of programs and services.
Heartwood House is home to the following non-profit community organizations:
- ALSO - Alternative Learning Styles and Outlooks (Adult Literacy)
- ALSO Cares Family Literacy and ALSO Deaf Literacy Programs
- Anxiety Disorders Association of Ontario
- Aphasia Centre of Ottawa
- Capital City Mission (CCM)
- Community Laundry Co-operative
- Cooperation Integration Canada (CICAN)- French
- EcoEquitable Inc.
- English Language Tutoring for the Ottawa Community (ELTOC)
- Halifax Initiative d'Halifax
- Hopewell Eating Disorder Support Centre of Ottawa
- Multifaith Housing Intiative
- Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)
- OTESHA Project
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society
- Ottawa Valley Weavers' and Spinners' Guild
- People, Words & Change (One-on-one adult literacy)
- Results Canada
In addition, Heartwood House is home to the HeARTwood Gallery, the OC Transpo Lost & Found program, and the "Everybody Wins!" recycling program.
Heartwood House began in the autumn of 2000 with the shared vision of ten individuals from five non-profit community organizations in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who were looking for a building where a "collective" of organizations could share space, resources, costs, opportunities, ideas and energy - an environment where member organizations and their clients could interact and partner with each other and with the broader Ottawa community in a variety of ways.
The founders had a strong preference for organizations that served their clients directly - where the clients would be a vital part of the building. They wanted a place where member organizations would participate in decision-making and in all aspects of the daily life of the building. It was also very important that Heartwood House become self-sufficient and self-sustaining for the long-term.
Heartwood House was incorporated in the spring of 2001. The elderly, but still useable building in downtown Ottawa at 153 Chapel Street was empty and the founders began negotiations with it owners, Congregation Beth Shalom. By July 2001, organizations began moving in. A three-year start-up grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation gave time for the building to be filled. Eighteen non-profit community groups now call Heartwood House home.
The Heartwood House motto is "Better Together!" Member organizations, their staff, volunteers and clients are all part of the life of Heartwood House. Staff and volunteers from the member organizations serve on committees and on the board of directors. Partnerships include a contract with the City of Ottawa to run the OC Transpo Lost and Found and the "Everybody Wins!" electronic recycling project with RD Long Recycling. The Gallery provides space for community meetings as well as an art gallery for local artists to exhibit their work.
With so many non-profit organizations in one building, clients can be served by more than than one member organization. Services to clients include: English as a second language, adult literacy, child care, a cooperative laundry, resource and referral agencies and centres. Other organizations support people who have had strokes or suffer from an eating or anxiety disorder. Environmental and poverty awareness are the focus of some groups and weaving, spinning and art are the focus of others. There are opportunities for some clients to learn personal or employment skills while earning some income. Twice a year, everyone in Heartwood House comes together to run sales of lost and found items from the OC Transpo Lost and Found.