We transform lives, break cycles of poverty and end homelessness by funding innovative approaches to holistic community building.
OUR MISSION
We empower individuals and communities by providing lasting resources for safe, affordable housing.
OUR MANDATE
We believe that access to the right resources can lead to social equity, inclusion and better health outcomes, so we go beyond just providing a roof over someone's head
– we equip and resource our communities for long-term success.
Our aim is to equip everyone in our communities with the resources, knowledge, and hope they need to move forward in life.
OUR HISTORY
At More Than A Roof Foundation, we are a Christian faith-based charity founded in 2005.
As the philanthropic arm of More Than a Roof Group of Societies, we began seeking affordable housing solutions for individuals and families at risk of homelessness.
With the help of partners like the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and the Province of British Columbia, we started building small suite communities with on-site health services for individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges.
We believe that education is vital to lasting change, so we partnered with many organizations to provide Financial Literacy Education, Food Security programs, Community gardens, as well as physical, mental, and spiritual wellness programs.
Our history is rooted in compassion for the most vulnerable members of our society.
Until recently, the principal investor in More Than A Roof has been the BC Government through BC Housing. With shifting economies and changing times, More Than A Roof sees an opportunity to increase the number of units under management and help to expand its unique programs to help more individuals and families desperate to find affordable housing. As a result, More Than A Roof Foundation is now taking an active approach to growth over the next few years.
Emerging trends like corporate social responsibility and tax-advantaged impact investing are gaining traction. However, BC Housing will continue to be the primary funder of our communities.
More Than A Roof wants to lessen dependence on public funding while understanding how it might better meet the growing needs in the affordable housing sector. Our firm belief is that we can do “more” and continue to find practical solutions for those in need
In 2022, we received a generous family endowment which will help us continue our activities in perpetuity. Today our founder-led mission has expanded even further. With strategic capital project acquisitions, we can extend our reach and expand our mission of compassion and care across an ever-growing population. Our aim is to equip everyone in our communities with the resources, knowledge, and hope they need to move forward in life.
Join our cause. Donate now
The Culture
More Than A Roof: A Place Where Faith and Generosity Come Together.
At More Than A Roof, we believe in a spirit of generosity and faith that transcends barriers of race, religion, age, culture, or sexual orientation. We strive to create safe, affordable housing for vulnerable people from minority groups or low-income backgrounds to help them thrive and find their place in their community.
We believe that through volunteerism and donations, we can bring our vision of providing stable, quality housing to life. Our staff works hard to meet the physical need for secure accommodation while creating mental, emotional, spiritual, and personal growth opportunities.
Through Christian teachings – our main inspiration – we are motivated to tackle societal challenges with respect and care. At More Than A Roof, we emphasize the importance of trust and connection between volunteers and those they serve.
Our team is dedicated to testing new approaches while staying true to our core values and spiritual calling. We believe that this way of mind – practical yet caring with a focus on growth – will help us ultimately improve lives through quality housing.
Find out how you can join us in making a difference today at More than a Roof!
The People
With over 25 years of community and project development experience in the non-profit sector, Lee-Anne is a focused, dedicated and results driven non-profit executive with extensive experience leading diverse teams, facilitating change, developing and implementing programs and mediating conflict. With a Master of Arts degree in Leadership, she has a proven track record of values-based leadership with a focus on social innovation and community engagement.
Scott Campbell (CFRE) is the Executive Director of More Than a Roof Foundation.
For the majority of his career, Scott has served in senior fundraising and leadership positions in the not-for-profit sector working with arts organizations, in post-secondary education, and with local and international relief and development groups.
With a proven track record of creating plans and building teams that produce outstanding results, Scott is a relational leader who thrives in spaces where he can work creatively, managing complexity and leading strategic change for organizations.
Scott is also a trained theatre artist. He prioritizes staying involved in theatre-making along with volunteering his time serving on several boards of local organizations and participating in activities his kids and wife enjoy in and around their home in Fort Langley.
Overseeing the daily operations of his family’s commercial real estate holdings, DJ’s
expertise is in all aspects of real estate investment. He manages a variety of properties consisting of multi-tenant, industrial, manufacturing and distribution facilities situated in Surrey and Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Having been trained and apprenticed as a journeyman, DJ knows the nuts and bolts of quality construction. Years of hands-on experience in acquiring, overseeing and managing his company’s holdings has provided him with the negotiation skills to retain tenants as well as successfully deal with banks and mortgage companies.
DJ’s Specialties are real estate investment, tenant improvements, tenant negotiation, tenant retention, construction, and property management of owned industrial holdings. This experience serves More Than A Roof well.
Willy is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg, majoring in economics and administrative studies and with a minor in religious studies. Early in his career, he enjoyed a variety of business ventures before settling into a life calling of pastoral ministry and leadership in various settings.
Highlights include being the founding pastor of SunWest Christian Fellowship in Calgary, AB, where he served as lead pastor for 19 years. He then took a national leadership role as the Executive Director of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren Denomination. He currently serves as the founding Director of 78.7 Collective. This organization aims to catalyze, inspire, and empower Christian faith leaders from all walks of life to bring God’s hope, healing, and restoration to all Canadians from coast to coast.
Willy and his wife, Gwen, enjoy water skiing, exploring new places, and hanging out with their kids and grandkids. He is a pastor at heart and brings his strong Christian faith presence and perspective to our Foundation Board of Directors.
Marie-Louise Fast (Stolz) was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 and Bachelor of Law in 1983. She has been in private practice as a lawyer since 1984 and has been operating as “Fast & Company Law Firm” since 1988. Her area of practice is primarily solicitor’s work with a focus on real estate, corporate and commercial, and estate work. She is a member of the Law Society of B.C. and occasional lecturer for People’s Law School and Continuing Legal Education. She is also a member of the Canadian Bar Association and Christian Legal Fellowship of Canada. She has participated in the Pro Bono Legal Aid clinic.
Having obtained her A.R.C.T. (Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto) diploma in cello while in high school, and studied at the Musikhochschule Detmold in Germany, she also remains active musically, whether playing in orchestra’s (cello) or singing in various choirs. Politically, she has acted as official agent in two previous elections for Vancouver South MP Wai Young.
She is a former member of board of directors for the Early Music Society of Vancouver, a past chair and current board member of More Than a Roof Mennonite Housing Society (‘MTR’), and a longstanding board member of Pinegrove Place complex care home in Richmond, B.C. She and her husband also own and operate “Haddon House”, a bed & breakfast located in Burnaby, B.C.
After Graduating from Simon Fraser University, Dave articled with the Chartered Accountant firm of Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG). He also is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and holds the CPM® and CRES designations. In 1980 he founded a property management firm managing apartment buildings, over 780,000 sq ft of commercial property, and four residential properties. He has served on a number of charitable and civic committees over the years in Prince George. Dave and his wife have enjoyed designing and building their home on a beautiful lake near Prince George. They have two sons, two wonderful daughters in-law and seven grandchildren. His hobbies include playing with grandchildren, fishing, landscaping and tinkering around the house.
Spencer Andres is the Manager of Development at CitySpaces Consulting Ltd and a development consultant and community planner with over nine years of experience leading and supporting community planning, consultation, and development projects for institutional, non-profit, and government clients. His recent work includes leading the CitySpaces Development Team, acting as project manager and owner’s representative for pre-construction and construction of non-profit housing projects, and leading affordable housing feasibility studies, strategic planning exercises for non-profit organizations, and targeted studies on municipal tools for providing affordable housing options.
Corey is a general contractor and developer, offering a hands-on approach to building with a background business management, real estate development and trades work. Specializing in both high-end custom homes and affordable residences, Corey has gained experience making practically based, effective decisions that have spurred growth and maintained stability for his business, Ventura Enterprises Inc. for over 15 years. He has also studied English and Sociology at Simon Fraser University giving him a wide range of experience.
Looking for opportunities to help with homelessness and housing conditions in Vancouver, Corey joined the board in December of 2015. As a board member with More Than A Roof, Corey is making a difference by contributing to the decision making process as it relates to his experience. His interpersonal skills developed through managing trades, city officials and clients offers sound communication with other members of the organization. Corey has experience as an advisor to the board of Nation’s Cry and their work in Sierra Leone, as well as being an active volunteer in his community. He lives in East Vancouver with his wife and three children.
Rachel currently serves as an accountant and financial consultant for numerous charities, non-profit organizations and businesses. She has been a senior accountant for Loewen Kruse Chartered Accountants since 2002, acting more recently as Director of Finance at Kibaale Community Centre in Uganda. In that time, Rachel has developed a passion to empower leaders and build capacity with non-profit organizations. She is an active member of her community, volunteering her time to work with children in her faith community and provide transitional support for new Canadian immigrants. She graduated from Trinity Western University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Rachel is a board member for both More than a Roof Mennonite Housing Society and ACTS Canada.
Kara Douglas is the Director of Marketing, Communications and Member Affairs at Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia & Yukon (CPHR BC & Yukon). Kara is an articulate and accomplished senior marketing communications professional with over 15 years of strong results in marketing, program management and event planning. In that time, she has increased CPHR BC & Yukon’s engagement through various social media and has seen the association more than double the size of their membership and revenue.
Kara thrives on leading and inspiring teams to achieve their goals. She is a skilled relationship builder who excels at bringing cross-functional teams together to achieve common goals.
Kara enjoys giving back to her community. She is a past board member with Urban Promise Vancouver and sat on the Project Oversight Committee in the Communication role for First Baptist Church.
When not working Kara is a wife and mother of three active boys living in East Vancouver. She enjoys reading, travelling and whatever delights her boys at that moment.
