By the early 1970s, Siny Prinzen and her late husband John saw a real need in area churches for support for vulnerable adults dealing with mental health issues. With their home already a hub for young people, John wanted to see if one-on-one support would make a difference in the life of a struggling young woman. Siny, home with their two young children, was – as she says with a grin – “a part of the experiment.” That woman lived with them for a year before moving on and getting married.
Our Vision
Hope and Homes for All
Our Mission
Indwell is a Christian charity that creates affordable housing communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging.
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which Indwell then leverages ten times
Our Values
We value the inherent dignity of all people as image bearers of God.
We live out our Christian calling to love our neighbours as ourselves.
Hope is the foundation of all our actions.
our story

By 1974, John had organized a group of professionals to devise solutions for families with adult children who had disabilities. That year, The Homestead, as it was affectionately known, was born in downtown Hamilton. House parents were hired and seven residents were accepted. After a couple of years, The Homestead moved from a rented location on Homewood Ave. and purchased a home on Locke Street. Through 2001 that home saw many, many people served, usually moving to independent living within a year or two.

Homestead, now known as Indwell, purchased its first apartment building in 2000 with financing provided by Bill Voortman. Bill’s support and encouragement at a critical time launched significant growth for Indwell by providing the option of independent living with supports.

Since our founding, Indwell has expanded both the range and number of housing options. We now provide supportive housing to more than 1111 households in southern Ontario through our programs in Hamilton, Waterloo Region, London, Mississauga, Simcoe, St. Thomas, and Woodstock.
Our housing options range from residential care facilities with 24-hour on-site services, high support housing and independent apartments with supports.
Leadership
Board of Directors

Fred Spoelstra
Vice President

Wayne Solomon
Treasurer

Alice Plug-Buist
Secretary

Jan Disselkoen

Karen Efron

Melanie Froese

Julia Marchesan

Lindsay Reynolds

Peter Van Geest
Management Team

Jeff Neven
MSW, RSW

Chris Finkbiner
CPA, CA, CBV

Graham Cubitt
BA

Judy Eising
BES, CFRE

Julie Ellery

Anisha Gunnar
MBA, CHRP, CHRL

Steven Rolfe
RN, BScN, MEd, CHE

Jessica Brand
BA, BEd

Scott Brush

Rachel Courey

Caitlin Chevreau
BA

Tracy Daichendt

Justin DeWaard
BA

Sylvia Harris (on leave)

Teresa Howe
BA

Ashlynn Hill

Lynette Lewis

Leah Logan
BA

Jessica Mostert-Thiessen

Mark Nery

Andrea Redlich
CPA, CGA, BBE

Kimberley Stumpo (on leave)

Natasha Thuemler
BA

Nick van der Velde

Shelby Vosburgh
A culture of Inclusion
Indwell Welcomes Everyone
Indwell exists to provide hope and homes for all. Our supports, services, and employment are open to people from every creed, race, ethnicity, sex, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Indwell’s leadership are motivated by the example of Jesus Christ as reflected in Indwell’s statement of faith. Indwell engages with diverse communities; we actively identify and remove barriers that prevent people from accessing and participating in our services and organization.
frequently asked questions
What is your legal status?
Indwell is a registered Canadian charity. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with expertise in a range...
How many employees do you have? What kind of roles do they have?
As of March 2023, we have 226 employees; nearly 72% are full-time. The majority of...
What does “Indwell” mean?
Indwell is an old English word meaning to “inhabit” or to “dwell in.” Christians use the word “indwell” to reference...
Why do you have so many projects on the go?
There is tremendous need—at any given time, there are over 2,000 people on the waitlist for quality affordable housing with...
How do you decide to move into a new community?
Many communities have deep needs around affordable housing and homelessness. As our tenants and programs find success, many new communities...
How are you different from other affordable housing organizations?
Indwell has a unique mix of core competencies. We are experienced landlords, providing high-quality and affordable rental apartments. We also provide...
What does it mean that Indwell is a Christian organization?
Indwell is a Christian organization. Our leadership is made up of Christians, and our organization is guided by Christian values. This...