It Takes A Village

What Is It Takes A Village?

CORAS ‘It Takes a Village’ program provides practical, in-home support to women in Ottawa, Ontario (or within a 20 minute drive of the city’s outskirts) who could use some help getting through the day. Our helpers can assist with light household tasks, laundry, meal preparation, organization, errands, entertaining little ones while their caretaker is home, and all the small things that become enormous when you're doing everything yourself.

  • Support is free for low-income individuals (or those in need), and pay-what-you-can otherwise.

Who Can Access the Program?

This program is available to women (women of all backgrounds, ages, and identities are welcome) who could use another pair of hands. That might mean a mother struggling to keep up with the endless work of raising a family, a disabled woman who could use help around the house, a woman recovering from gender affirming care, someone going through a difficult or overwhelming period, or simply someone who is tired, isolated, lonely, and would rather not tackle everything alone.

You don't need to be in crisis. And you don't need to convince us that things are “bad enough” to deserve support.

Our helpers can lend a hand with everyday tasks like laundry, dishes, light cleaning, meal prep, organization, errands, tackling an overwhelming space, or simply working alongside you while you get things done.

We live increasingly isolated lives, but we were never meant to do everything alone. We’re here to help. We’re here to be a village.

What We Can Help With

Every household is different. During your initial meeting, we'll talk about what would take some weight off your shoulders and create a simple plan together.

Support may include:

  • Light household cleaning

  • Decluttering and organizing

  • Tackling a room or task that has become overwhelming

  • Basic pet care- dog walking, cleaning up after pets

  • Light yard work- raking the lawn, pulling weeds, etc

  • Meal preparation and food prep

  • Grocery shopping and everyday errands

  • Changing bedding and other routine household tasks

  • Seasonal organization, packing or unpacking

  • Working alongside you to get through a to-do list

  • Playing with or occupying children while you take a break at home

  • Helping prepare for a new baby, move, school year or other transition

  • Accompaniment for errands or appointments when appropriate

  • Being present and doing light housework while you get tasks done (body doubling!)

  • Being a listening ear during a hard time

  • Support navigating other necessary resources, such as guiding through social support websites or applications, even writing a text or basic maintenance issues.

This is not a professional cleaning, home-care or childcare service.

Our goal is practical, peer-based support: essentially being another pair of hands.

A Few Requirements

For the safety and comfort of both participants and our helpers:

  • The participant receiving support must generally be present during the visit, outside of approved circumstances (i.e; someone in hospital needing support at home).

  • Our helpers are entirely women. This program is by women, for women.

  • Men cannot be present in the home during a support visit, except where an exception has been discussed and approved in advance.

  • Pets, accessibility needs, children and other household considerations should be discussed during the initial meeting so we can make an appropriate match.

  • Helpers will only complete tasks that can be performed safely and reasonably within the scope of the program and within their own abilities.

  • We cannot provide medical or hygienic care reserved for certified professionals, administer medication, complete hazardous or heavy-duty work, or any care that would require a licensed professional.

  • Participants and helpers are both entitled to end a visit at any time if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

  • Masks are optional, and available on request from participants/helpers. Helpers will not refuse requests ro wear masks.

If you're unsure whether something you need falls within the program, ask us. If we can reasonably and safely lend a hand, we'll do our best.

How Intake Works

Your first meeting happens right in your home (or virtually on request). One of our team members will stop by, meet you, have a chat about what you're finding difficult or overwhelming, and take a look at what you'd like some help with.

There's no formal assessment and no need to clean up before we come - seeing the reality of what you're dealing with helps us understand how we can actually be useful.

We'll talk through what you'd like to get done, any specific supports you’d need, what you’d like to prioritize, and what kind of support would make things feel a little lighter. From there, we'll make a simple plan together and figure out what we can reasonably tackle during your support visits. No judgment. We're just there to help.

Providing as much detail as possible on the form below is encouraged- it will help us, help you!