People don’t choose to become refugees. They’re forced to flee. Persecution, violence and discrimination drive families from their homes, sometimes because of their religion, beliefs or gender identity. Others are escaping war or systemic threats to their safety. They arrive in Canada with hope, but often, no place to go.
That was the reality for a young couple and their two children who landed in Canada this June. New to the country, without family or friends to call on, they faced the very real prospect of being split apart—sent to separate shelters just days after landing.
But thanks to the support of Journey Home Community and Concert Properties, that didn’t happen. The family was welcomed into a fully furnished home where they could stay together.
“They didn’t treat us like strangers,” they said. “They treated us like family.”
Since 2021, Concert Properties has partnered with Journey Home Community to provide safe, temporary housing for refugees and refugee claimants through its transitional housing program, Meanwhile Spaces. What began as a pilot with just nine families has grown into a multi-developer initiative, supporting 69 households and 164 individuals. Concert Properties continues to lead by example and is currently providing eight of the 22 active homes in the program.
Meanwhile Spaces offers a practical, compassionate solution: temporary homes that would otherwise sit vacant between development phases. They are not permanent homes; refugee claimants can stay for a few months while they access legal support and health care before securing permanent housing.
The model provides urgent relief without displacing others and allows developers to put empty homes to meaningful use—giving families the safety and stability they need to begin again.
“It’s a win-win-win,” says Brad Kinnie, Executive Director of Journey Home Community. “It’s good for the community, it’s good for the developer, and most importantly, it’s life-changing for the people arriving in Canada.”
One of the most powerful benefits of the program is how it helps families begin to heal together. The couple described their new neighbourhood as safe, their building manager as attentive and their children—once unable to play freely outdoors—now running in the park behind their home.
“We can breathe again,” they said. “Our kids feel safe. We’ve made friends. We already feel like we belong.”
This year marks Journey Home Community’s milestone 20th anniversary of supporting refugee claimants in Metro Vancouver. “In 20 years, we’ve supported about 1,700 people, and 800 of them came in just the last three years,” Kinnie says. “That’s 45 per cent of our total impact thanks to Meanwhile Spaces.”
He’s quick to credit long-time partners for that success. “The longer the partnership lasts, the more impact it makes—not just in sheer numbers, but also just in keeping it sustainable,” he says. “Concert Properties has been with us from the beginning, and their sustained support has changed lives.”
“From our perspective, this partnership reflects the best of what community-building can be,” says Grant Knowles, Vice President of Property Management Operations at Concert Properties. “For our team members, witnessing the transformation of families as they rebuild their lives is inspiring. It’s a powerful reminder that our work goes beyond managing buildings. It’s about creating communities where people feel welcome and supported.”
By 2027, the organization hopes to scale to 40 homes, reducing the number of claimants forced to rely on shelters or makeshift arrangements.
And while these families may arrive with little, they come with a deep desire to contribute. Kinnie recalls one former participant now completing a master’s in counselling, determined to support future newcomers in her own language.
“They’re not looking for handouts,” Kinnie says. “They’re looking to heal, to move forward, to be part of a community—and to give back.
For the couple now building a life in Metro Vancouver, that spirit is already taking hold.
“Canada is a land of peace and possibility,” they said. “We’re so grateful to Concert Properties and Journey Home Community. And one day, we will give back to the people who gave so much to us.”
To learn more or get involved with Journey Home Community, visit www.journeyhomecommunity.ca.