Haven Family Connections

Haven Kids' House

By Katrina McDowell on Sep 5, 2023 in Giving

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees.

In 2022, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. We are pleased to bring you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities.

Today, we travel north to Saskatoon, Canada and introduce Haven Family Connections (Haven Kids’ House), founded in 1976. This non-profit focuses on helping at-risk families be successful through proactive breaks and interventions to prevent issues.

“We know that kids do best when their families are healthy, and we work towards that goal,” says Dionne Miazdyck-Shield, executive director for Haven Family Connections.

Haven Family Connections fundraises for Haven Kids’ House, an emergency home for kids aged 0-12, opened 24-7, 365 days a year, with a 24-hour crisis line for families to call when they need respite or support. Sometimes, parents are in a very dark place involved with violence, no food or homelessness, and they need time to make decisions and find resources.

“When families call us, we know they are out of options. Haven Kids’ House is a place of caring and safety for kids in Saskatoon so that kids can be kids, and parents can be successful,” said Miazdyck-Shield.

In their work with Haven Kids’ House, they help families access internal resources and other supports they need to do the best for their kids. Many families are overcoming a history of disadvantages, poverty, trauma and violence.

“We honour their experience and voice as we work and walk beside them. We see how hard they work for their kids, and we feel lucky to be compassionate allies with them,” Miazdyck-Shield shares.

Other programs include the Indigenous Family Wellness and Family Support. These help at-risk families work towards healing and successful parenting.

The Haven Family Connection believes in keeping families together and reducing the need for child protective services, which is critical to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. This has led them to build an Indigenous Family Wellness program with cultural offerings led by an Indigenous Director and Elders. Traditional teachings on parenting and opportunities for healing work are part of this program.

Funding from Yardi has helped Haven Family Connection keep Haven Kids’ House as a free program for struggling families. Funding goes directly to care for the children, food and play. Because of community efforts and financial donors, Haven Family Connections can embrace distressed families and kids.

“I am so grateful that Yardi sees the value of supporting kids and families. Out of the blue, we heard from Yardi, so I feel honoured that our work in the community was recognized. Supporting the success of families is the best thing we can do to support kids,” shares Miazdyck-Shield.

Haven Kids’ House Success

Haven Kids’ House is there for families in unimaginable circumstances. Recently, they helped a dad whose wife died tragically in a car accident. The kids were safe in Haven Kids’ House while the dad dealt with the coroner and details of his wife’s loss. Haven Family Connection gave them the support he needed and time to collect himself so he could support his kids.

Another story from this past Christmas was a mom who was homeless in a shelter with her kids. She was desperately looking for housing, and taking her children on the bus in the cold was not working out. Haven Family Connections provided childcare and Christmas gifts for her children while she worked hard to start a new life for them as a family.

“We are so grateful to Yardi for supporting this work. You are helping us provide this place for families to rely on when they are overwhelmed, where kids are safe, and families have support and space to navigate a crisis,” said Miazdyck-Shield.

Volunteer Opportunities

Haven Family Connections in Saskatoon has a few volunteer opportunities, including helping with yard work and playing with children at Haven Kids’ House. Those interested in volunteering can contact [email protected].

Find future non-profit profiles at https://www.yardi.com/blog/category/giving.