Veterans' House: the Andy Carswell Building

Toronto resident John Carswell made a lead gift on behalf of the Carswell family to Multifaith Housing Initiative to help build a community for homeless Veterans in honour of his father. Squadron Leader (ret'd) Andrew Carswell, AFC, CD, a Second World War Veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was stationed at CFB Rockliffe, Ottawa, after the war.

Canso Investment Counsel made the second lead gift to Veterans’ House in 2018. Canso Investment Counsel is named after an airplane Squadron Leader Carswell flew during his time with the military. In recognition of the company’s donation, Multifaith Housing Initiative named the site of Veterans’ House the Canso Campus.

Located at the former CFB Rockcliffe Airbase Lands, Veterans' House: the Andy Carswell Building is Multifaith Housing Initiative's first house built exclusively for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Veterans' House: the Andy Carswell Building began moving in tenants on February 1, 2021.

The total cost of building Veterans' House was $11.5 million. The federal government committed $6.5 million. The City of Ottawa provided $730,000 of contributions in development charges relief, property tax waivers, and other fees and permits. In addition, $1.5 million in funding was delivered through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and the remaining funds were raised through local faith groups, businesses, and individuals who believed in this project and donated the remaining funds.

Veterans have access to on-site recovery from health, mental health and addiction-related issues to improve the overall quality of life through recognition of the crucial and unbreakable experience of military bonds that exist in the military community.

VETERANS' HOUSE
THE ANDY CARSWELL BUILDING

Canso Campus