In 2001, Sr. Carol Peloquin (Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary), a former Chaplain at Stony Mountain Institution, and four newly released parolees recognized an unmet need:

transitional support to help inmates return successfully to society.

 

 With the permission of Correctional Service Canada, Sr. Carol launched a pilot program called “Next Step”, which aimed to support the physical and emotional needs of newly released offenders. Under Sr. Carol’s leadership, and with financial and volunteer support from various groups and individuals, Next Step continued to help recently released prisoners in the community. Weekly group meetings and personal contact with each released offender were integral parts of the program. Although Next Step continued to be successful in these areas, it became evident to Sr. Carol that newly released prisoners who struggled with finding housing, employment, addiction support, medical resources, proper IDs, feelings of rejection or loneliness, easily succumbed to old strategies to meet
their needs and risked re-offending. 

 

In light of this challenge, Sr. Carol began discussions with others involved in the prison system. They too had contact with offenders who were discouraged because they were unable to find clean, safe, affordable housing.
In partnership with Father David Creamer of the Jesuits Society of Winnipeg, in January 2008, Quixote House was born. 

 

In a drug and alcohol-free residence, parolees could, for a fixed period of time, experience safety and companionship, while becoming financially stable and emotionally grounded.

 

Quixote House residents could benefit from this transitional housing program for up to two years. Securing longer term, stable and affordable housing was a challenge. To address this particular need, Future Hope was incorporated in 2011. 

 

Conveniently situated next door to Quixote House, a one-time “crack-house” was rebuilt and transformed into four, one-bedroom,
self-contained apartments. In 2014, with an expanded mandate of purchasing and renovating existing homes in suitable areas to continue to offer housing solutions to their clients.

 

Massie House was named in recognition of Jesuit Father Brian “Buzz” Massie for his ongoing commitment and support to ex-offenders.