Indwell is a registered Canadian charity. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with expertise in a range of skills. Indwell is accredited with the Canadian Council of Christian Charities and has a four-star rating from Charity Intelligence.

We have more than 150 employees; about 2/3 are full-time. The majority of our team members are program staff, in roles such as Housing Support, Addiction Support, Nurses, Food Security, and Program Manager. The Resource Centre in Hamilton includes functions such as finance, planning and building development, building maintenance, community engagement, fundraising, human resources, and others.

We also have more than 20 part-time tenant employees, most of whom provide a variety of janitorial and property maintenance functions.

Staff are selected based on their competencies, experience, education and alignment with Indwell’s values, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, ability, sexual orientation and gender identity. The majority of our direct service staff have training, education, and/or prior experience in the social service field. We provide in-depth orientation and ongoing training. Our leadership team have extensive education and experience in their fields and include social work, nursing, recreation, planning, accounting, community engagement, rehabilitation, community development, policy, and education.

There is tremendous need—over 2,000 people have reached out to us seeking quality affordable housing with supports, and more contact us every day. We feel called to support those who are marginalized.

Over the years we’ve developed a model that works: a range of supportive housing to meet the various needs of our tenants, a dynamic giving community that enables us to leverage more resources, extensive formal and informal partnerships, and a team of innovative staff ready to meet challenges head-on.

Many communities have deep needs around affordable housing and homelessness. As our tenants and programs find success, many new communities are inviting us to help them create local solutions. We know new programs are possible when three things align: community support, municipal staff support, and political support.

Community support is grassroots: individuals and families knowing housing needs, leaders in businesses, faith communities, and social services, and health care agencies working together to help us better understand the local needs and build support for new solutions. Municipal staff support is critical throughout the planning process, aligning with local social services and housing plans, and putting funding applications before decision-makers. Political support is key from our civic leaders: local and Regional Councils along with area MPPs and MPs each play a role in supporting Indwell projects when decisions are before them, whether for planning permissions, funding, etc. When we each bring our best to the table, we can always create solutions – which leads to Indwell’s growth into new communities.

Indwell has a unique mix of core competencies. We are experienced landlords, providing high-quality and affordable rental apartments. We also provide professional supports to all tenants tailored to their needs, empowering their health, wellness, and sense of belonging. And we are developers – of real estate, new program models, and community housing solutions so desperately needed. Whether through retrofit or new construction, we know how to take an idea from conversation to construction, from rent-up to sustainability.

Our approach is rooted in our values that all people have inherent dignity and deserve to be respected, that we demonstrate love for our neighbours, and that hope is the foundation of our actions.

Indwell is also a charity that is generously supported by people who volunteer and contribute financially.