Media Release
First recipients of funding announced today
Ottawa, October 30, 2003 - Outgoing Ottawa City Councillor Alex Munter announced the creation of a charitable fund today that will focus on helping keep people in their homes. The Foundation's initial seed funding of $27,662 comes from Munter's election campaign surplus from the last municipal election. As he is not seeking a fifth term on Council, he has decided to put the funds to work in the community instead.
"I believe that everyone has the right to safe, decent, affordable shelter," said Munter. "Without secure housing, it is harder for a child to learn, an adult to find work or a family to stay together."
Munter has decided that his foundation will focus on a very specific part of the housing problem: preventing people from losing their homes.
"There is no question we need to build more affordable housing in this community," said Munter. "But if we want to stop the housing crisis from getting worse what we also need to do is help keep people in their homes - stop people from losing their accommodations. My foundation will support programs in our community that help prevent people from becoming homeless."
To that end, Munter announced the first two recipients of funding: Ottawa's Housing Help and Action Logement agencies, which will each receive $1,000 from the foundation.
"The Board and staff of Housing Help are very pleased to receive a grant from the Alex Munter CharitableFoundation. This will assist us in our work with people who are at risk of losing their homes. As there continues to be a shortage of affordable rental accommodation in Ottawa, it is critical that people keep their homes to avoid homelessness" said Trudy Sutton of Housing Help.
Rosine Kaley of Action Logement said "We very much appreciate this support from the Alex Munter Charitable Foundation. Action-Logement's philosophy has always been to prevent homelessness by, for example, helping tenants work with their landlords to be able to stay in their homes. As of today, we have 767 active files at Action-Logement of which 262 cases (representing 700 individuals) involve assisting people in keeping their present accommodations."
The Alex Munter Charitable Foundation will be one of the funds administered by the Community Foundation of Ottawa - an independent centre for community philanthropy, serving as a trusted resource for addressing issues and connecting donors with granting opportunities.
"I am very excited to be working with the Community Foundation of Ottawa," said Munter. "It is an important community institution that helps build a better Ottawa every single day."
Adds Barbara McInnes, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Ottawa, "We are delighted to be able to work with Alex on the financial management of the fund. We also look forward to working with him personally on those issues about which he is so knowledgeable and that we all care deeply about. Our hope is that the Alex Munter Charitable Foundation will make a significant contribution over time."
Contributions can be made to the Alex Munter Charitable Foundation at the Community Foundation of Ottawa, 75 Albert Street, Suite 301, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7. Tax receipts will be issued for all donations over $20.
For more information:
Alex Munter
City Councillor
580-2474 or 592-6993
Barbara McInnes
President & CEO
Community Foundation of Ottawa
236-1616 X227 (B)
290-5140 (C)
Among the most successful of Canada's 130 community foundations, the Community Foundation of Ottawa plays a major role in enhancing the nature and scope of philanthropy. It attracts and manages a growing endowment, the invested earnings of which provide grants that will be available forever to enhance the quality of life for all.
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