Building a new life in a new country starts with making a new home. For families arriving in Canada with few resources, newcomer services can be a help in obtaining housing – but the items needed to fill the new homes are often overlooked. Some newcomers arrive with only their suitcases and urgently need bedding, kitchenware, seasonal clothing, and other essentials. ]Home Essentials Newcomer Support](https://henstoronto.com/) (HENS) began in 2018 with a single volunteer and her family who noticed this major gap in the settlement system and began collecting household goods for newcomer families. This effort grew into a neighbourhood non-profit organization that now operates across Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, and Scarborough – three Toronto neighbourhoods where many new arrivals to Canada first settle. A volunteer-led effort, HENS redistributes donated goods to newcomers in need, with the goal of helping families establish safe, functional homes to begin their new lives.  

The informal word-of-mouth network of the early years scaled up in 2023 after a partnership with Donway Covenant United Church provided 3,500 square feet of dedicated space to receive and sort donations. HENS offers a choice-based model: rather than distributing pre-packed boxes, it displays items in rooms organized by category so families can “shop” for what best meets their needs. Volunteers help navigate the items, pack, and, when possible, arrange delivery. Newcomer families are welcome to use HENS services for as long as they need, with no cap on the items they receive, so long as the logistics can be managed. HENS offers the same experience for every newcomer in need, regardless of their status in the country.     Families are referred to HENS through settlement agencies, and prioritized based on their date of arrival and their needs. HENS is able to carry out its work thanks to a small group of passionate volunteers that include the founders of the organization, retired community members, church staff, and even former recipients. All contribute their time, local and cultural knowledge, and language skills to help newcomers feel welcomed and understood.  

By partnering with other community groups, the organization has also been able to connect some families with the specialized services they require, and to improve food security for vulnerable newcomer families. (Its charity partner Third Pillar, for example, has distributed over 2,000 halal meat and grocery boxes.) Additionally, with the help of grants and local partners, HENS has delivered workshops on the Canadian education system, community police resources, parenting in a Canadian context, and mental health services – all translated into multiple languages.  

With over 200 families currently on the waitlist, HENS’ services are in demand, and its reach is spreading beyond the organization’s core catchment areas. A planned demolition and redevelopment of the church building that hosts its dedicated space poses an urgent challenge, as the organization will need to pause operations until it secures a new location (a LaunchGood campaign is under way to fund it). Looking ahead, HENS is also working to expand its transportation capacity and to obtain operating funding that it to reach more families. 

   To date, HENS has supported over 11,000 individuals, and its impact extends beyond that of a simple donation drive. With its volunteer-powered model built on dignity, choice, and community connection, it is filling a critical gap in helping many newcomer families move beyond survival and begin building stable lives in Canada. In 2025, HENS founder Amina Khote received the King Charles lll Coronation Medal in recognition of this impactful work in the community.