The Coalition of Muslim Women of KW (CMW) has a long history of serving racialized Muslim women. Founded in 2010, CMW empowers women and girls to be leaders and changemakers. They were 2025 Kindred Charitable Fund Recipients for their Safe Havens program – a transitional housing initiative that addressed the specific needs of racialized Muslim women experiencing homelessness due to gender-based violence, poverty, or precarious immigration status. This project aligned well with Kindred’s commitment to serving groups traditionally at risk of being underbanked, including racialized newcomers and single mothers.
As the program was being developed, CMW decided to name the project “Dar-al-Aman”, which means House of Safety. “These words mean a great deal to the women in our community,” states Fauzia Mazhar, Executive Director of CMW. Originally provided with two townhomes by Waterloo Region, CMW knew that they wouldn’t be able to use these homes forever since they were slated for redevelopment. However, their supporters came together to furnish the townhomes, and three women and one child were provided safe housing.
The question remained – was there a more stable, long-term solution out there? The answer was yes! CMW partnered with Waterloo Region on their Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. The expanded transitional housing program is an equity-driven, culturally grounded initiative that will offer racialized women and their children a safe place to land and begin again. The new home includes:
- 20 private bedrooms for single women in shared units;
- 2 family units for women with young children;
- A multilingual, trauma-informed, women-led staff team; and
- Wraparound supports focused on housing, empowerment, and belonging.
According to Fauzia, the reasons that women would be coming to the transitional housing program are varied – and similar to other communities in Waterloo Region. Their clients struggle with lack of employment, mental health challenges, and gender-based violence. On top of that, there are added complexities such as language barriers, precarious immigration situations, and cultural overwhelm. CMW staff will be able to meet these needs.
CMW will continue to use the name Dar-al-Aman for these supportive homes. They want the name to welcome all women in need and signal to future residents that this is a space where they belong. Kindred is pleased to support CMW’s Dar-al-Aman transitional housing project and the work that they do to allow women and children to live peacefully in our community.