Omra Shelter Corporation

1. Provide monthly rent subsidies to recently-arrived refugees living in Ottawa who do not have enough income to rent an apartment. Rent subsidies are calculated based on family income and apartment rental costs and can last anywhere from 3 months to 4 years until the family is financially independent. This is the main activity of OMRA Shelter Corp. The goal is to give newcomers extended time to learn English or French or acquire other skills understand the Canadian culture and find either full or part-time jobs before they must assume the full market rent amount. There are no paid employees only volunteers. 2. Provide start-up kits for refugee families on their move-in date to their new apartment consisting of small gently-used donated essential items. 3. Arrange that the family can obtain donated used furniture from one of the furniture banks in Ottawa and pay for the delivery of that furniture. 4. Arrange volunteer tutors to help individuals learn English to supplement the schooling they receive at an ESL/LINC school to try to speed up the time that English is learned so they can get a job and become financially independent. Extend the existing portable rent subsidies and volunteer support to a broader audience of people vulnerable to homelessness (approved in a letter from CRA dated Dec 4 2024)/