Update: Our Building Purchase Is Now Complete — And We Still Need Your Support
We are proud to share that Wesley has officially completed the purchase of our building at 467 Main St E. This is a major milestone — securing a permanent home for programs and services that support thousands of people in our community each year.
But while the purchase is complete, the work is not over.
We now carry a significant mortgage, and we need your help to ensure that more of our resources go directly toward supporting people — not toward interest and long-term costs. Your donation today will help us reduce that burden and protect the programs our community relies on.
A Stable Home for Community Services
Since 1955, Wesley has grown from a small outreach program in a church basement into a multi-service organization supporting individuals and families across Hamilton, Halton, and Brantford. Today, Wesley delivers more than 25 programs across 17 locations, providing housing support, services for children and families, and assistance for newcomers to Canada.
Despite this growth, all of Wesley’s programs have historically operated from rented spaces, resulting in several relocations over the past decade. Each move created challenges for staff and disrupted clients’ access to services who depend on consistent support.
Purchasing our building will change that.
Owning the property will allow Wesley to create a stable, long-term home for programs and services, ensuring that the people we serve can continue to access support in a familiar, accessible location.
A Hub of Life-Changing Programs
Since leasing the building in 2023, the site has already become an important hub for community services. In the past year alone, programs operating from this location have supported thousands of people, including:
- 130 clients served by Wesley’s Hamilton Housing Team
- 774 newcomers resettled through the Resettlement Assistance Program
- 1,214 individuals supported through Client Support Services
- 161 asylum seekers from 32 countries supported through the ASAP program
- 37 individuals provided stability and temporary housing in the Special Care Unit
- Children from 30+ countries participating in the Newcomers EarlyON program
- Over 105,000 meals prepared through the First Start Kitchen & Catering program
These programs address critical needs in our community — from housing and settlement to food security and family support.
A Once in a Generation Opportunity
The building at 467 Main Street East is ideally located, close to public transit and essential services. Wesley has worked closely with the City of Hamilton to ensure the site can support current programming and future growth.
After leasing the property and investing in improvements over the past two years, we now have a rare opportunity to purchase the building and secure it as a permanent home for our work.
Gifts from very generous local families have been secured, bringing us significantly closer to making this vision a reality. However, philanthropic support from our community is essential to complete the purchase and minimize long-term debt, so we can focus all our resources on helping people rather than paying interest on a mortgage or rent.
Help Us Reach the Finish Line
Owning this building means more than acquiring real estate. It means:
- Stability for programs that support vulnerable community members
- Reliable access to services for thousands of clients each year
- More resources directed toward people, rather than rent or interest on a mortgage
- A permanent home for Wesley’s mission for decades to come
While this milestone is worth celebrating, we still need your support. Every dollar raised now goes directly toward reducing our mortgage and ensuring that more funding can be directed to life-changing programs and services.
Your gift today is an investment in stability, dignity, and opportunity for the people we serve.
Join Us in Building the Future
For more than 70 years, Wesley has worked alongside our community to restore hope with dignity, compassion, and care. With your support, this building will become a lasting foundation for that work.
If you would like to make a special gift this year to support this important milestone, please consider donating online or connecting with our team to learn more about giving opportunities. In addition to accepting gifts online, we gratefully receive financial support in many forms, including by cheque, by transfer of gifts of securities, by life insurance, and by other assets. Please contact giving@wesley.ca or (905) 528-5629 x285.
This building is more than just a space — it’s a place where people find support, connection, and hope. With your help, we can ensure it remains a strong and welcoming hub for our community for years to come.
Please consider making a donation today.
