”We are pleased to see organizations such as Home For The Games creating such unique community partnerships to raise money in support of ending homelessness in Vancouver. It is through the hard work and support of community initiatives like this that our goal of ensuring that all Vancouver citizens have access to safe, decent and affordable housing by 2015 can be realized.”
–Jae Kim, President, Streetohome Foundation
Organization provides Olympic visitors a unique home stay experience and supports charity
November 26, 2009
VANCOUVER, BC – Calgarians bound for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver have found a way to save money on accommodations and support a good cause. Home for the Games, an Olympic accommodation website with a charitable twist, is providing visitors with a more affordable and socially conscious experience. Through homeforthegames.com, Olympic Games visitors can stay in the homes of Vancouver citizens, with proceeds going to charities tackling homelessness.
Andrea Clements is one of those Calgarians travelling to Vancouver with a group of friends and family to watch the Games. They have tickets to several events and wanted a safe and comfortable place to stay, close to the venues. Clements was thrilled when she heard about Home For The Games and its connection to charity.
“I love the idea of donating half the fee to a charity and feel comfort that there’s a third party involved collecting my deposit. We want to celebrate the Games and have a great time, and knowing we’re helping give back to the host city will make it that much more memorable,” said Clements.
Home For The Games is a non-profit web-based system that matches 2010 Winter Games visitors with Metro Vancouver hosts for short-term home stays, with half of the nightly fee directed to charitable organizations – Streetohome Foundation and Covenant House Vancouver – to projects alleviating homelessness.
“We’re striving to provide visitors with a positive and memorable Olympic experience by harnessing the energy of the Olympics to foster friendship, generosity and a cultural exchange while giving back to the community,“ said Charles Montgomery, founder of Home For The Games.
Clements’ group of six will be staying in the home of Vancouver resident Joan Sangster. She and her husband are renting out their three-bedroom home, complete with a hot tub. They’re taking a topical vacation during the Games. Home For The Games allows them to provide accommodation for visitors while helping those less fortunate in their community.
“Home for the Games is enabling us to afford time away from Vancouver during the Games and also provide a hand-up for those in our city in need. The organization is contributing to what will be some of the positive legacy of the 2010 Winter Games,” said Sangster.
“The program both fuels and rewards generosity,” said Montgomery. “There’s no fee to list or book a room on the Home For The Games website, and hosts will receive a tax receipt for the portion of the home stay fee that goes to charity. Hosts set their own rates, which will factor in such amenities as shared or private bath and whether breakfast is included, but we’re encouraging them to set more affordable rates.”
Home For The Games launched last August and has been received positively by Metro Vancouver citizens, the City of Vancouver and visitors from across Canada and around the world. Vancouver City Council endorsed the efforts of Home For The Games in October by passing a motion of support, which includes promotion on the City’s website.
“We’re creating a win-win-win situation for Games visitors, hosts and those less fortunate, and we invite visitors looking for a unique accommodation experience to book a room through Home For The Games,” said Montgomery.
To book a room or learn more about Home For The Games, visit the website www.homeforthegames.com
About Home For The Games
Home For The Games is a non-profit web-based system to match 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games visitors with Metro Vancouver hosts for short-term home stays with half of the nightly fee directed to charitable organizations tackling homelessness. Home For The Games is building a legacy of a different sort: creating opportunities for people to share an unforgettable Olympic experience with guests from around the world while earning modest rental income. At the same time, half of the home-stay “rent” will go directly to registered charities helping Metro Vancouver’s most vulnerable citizens. There’s no fee to list or book a room on the Home For The Games website. Hosts can set their own rates and will receive a tax receipt for the portion of the home stay fee that goes to charity. Funds raised through home stay fees will be directed to Streetohome Foundation and Covenant House Vancouver. Home For The Games was born at a kitchen table. Author Charles Montgomery and his housemates were debating how they might turn the housing demand during the Winter Games into an engine of shared experience and generosity. The idea arose to rent out a room and share the proceeds with a charity. It was such a compelling idea, they decided to invite the rest of the city to do the same. For more information, visit www.homeforthegames.com
About Streetohome Foundation
Streetohome is a community-based foundation dedicated to reducing homelessness through housing and support services in the City of Vancouver. Streetohome brings together partners from across the community to pool their energy and resources to provide supportive, safe, affordable, clean housing. Through Streetohome, corporate leaders, non-profits and government are working together to develop real, sustainable change. Current initiatives include funding and facilitating the creation of housing for people who are homeless, including supportive housing for homeless mothers and babies. Funds raised through Home For The Games will support an innovative project to help address homelessness among people with mental illness spearheaded by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The four-year pilot project will help them secure housing while ensuring they receive access to integrated treatment and services. For more information, please visit www.streetohome.org
About Covenant House
Covenant House Vancouver exists for young people who often have no on else – people between the ages of 16 and 24 who have fled physical, emotional or sexual abuse or have been forced from their homes. Primarily privately funded, Covenant House relies on the generosity of over 50,000 individuals and organizations to provide shelter, food, clothing and counselling to over 2,000 young people each year. Funds raised through Home For The Games will directly support the shelter housing these street-engaged youth. For more information visit www.covenanthousebc.org
