Our Story
Summit Housing & Outreach Programs (under the name of Summit House) was created in 1981 in response to the desperate need for supportive affordable housing for people with diagnosed mental illnesses.
At that time, there were virtually no mental health supportive housing projects available for people being discharged from hospital, or for other individuals who were homeless or at a risk of becoming homeless. In 1982, Summit Housing & Outreach Programs opened its first shared living house in Burlington for five people.
Our organization now offers a wide variety of housing options in Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Georgetown and Acton. In addition, we are able to provide a variety of case management services which include assertive community treatment throughout the Region of Halton.
Quality Improvement Plan
Equitable
Increase programming available to specific diverse populations
Efficient
Reduce room turn over times between clients, reduce rent subsidy surplus returned to ministry at year end
Patient Centered
Improve client knowledge of agency complaint procedure, increase client knowledge of services after discharge
Clinician Experience
Increase staff engagement
Senior Leadership Team
Alban Joxhe
Executive Director
Alban is an inspirational leader with over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. His diverse background encompasses housing, start-ups, organizational growth, education, service and program development, social enterprise, business development, and organizational change. Prior to joining Summit House, Alban served as the Director of Transitional Housing at Friends of Ruby and held key leadership roles as Vice Chair of the Toronto Shelter Network Board of Directors and Co-Chair of YSINI (Youth Shelter Sector). A dedicated builder and facilitator, Alban is passionate about social justice and advocates tirelessly for the most vulnerable members of our community.
Kerry Prevett Director, Client Services and Quality
Kerry has been working at Summit Housing for over 31 years . During this time, she has worked in most programs and a wide variety of positions. This has allowed her to gain experience in all aspects of the support provided by Summit Housing. Kerry has her BA in Psychology from York University, as well as her Addiction and Gerontology Diploma from McMaster. She is very dedicated to Summit Housing and combines her education and experience to support staff and clients.
Malama Musumbulwa Director of Finance
Malama brings over 25 years’ experience in financial management and accounting with a career spanning Not for Profit Organizations, Financial Institutions and the Mining Industry in Canada and Zambia. He has qualified as Chartered Accountant with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – ACCA UK and is passionate about contributing to Summit Housing’s Mission by providing excellent financial leadership and stewardship.
Katelyn McInerney,
Associate Director of HR
Driven by values
Summit Housing & Outreach Programs is a non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network.
Staff and Board members continually work to improve the services provided by Summit Housing & Outreach Programs, and every effort is made to operate programs that are sensitive to the varying needs of the people we serve.
Donations and fund raising provide resources for improvements to the homes and for special activities. All private donations are tax deductible.
Board of Directors
Naushaba Degani, Chair
Naushaba Degani is the Director of Quality Improvement and System Performance at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. She has worked in health system performance and evaluation for more than 20 years and has a PhD and an MHSc from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto as well as a BScH from Queen’s University. In addition to strong skills in data and measurement and knowledge of quality improvement methods, Naushaba has a background in harm reduction, evaluation and equity assessment.
Michael Wells, Vice Chair
Strategic, results focused bilingual human resources leader, collaborating with senior operating management to provide the development of performance, customer and market driven organizations. Expertise in providing innovative human resources vision and direction, steering organizations through transition and accelerated growth. Passion surrounding the overall alignment of the human resources function through partnering with senior leadership in the areas of talent management, training and development, reward and recognition as well as human resources analytics. My diverse background spans multinational organizations with global presence across Financial Services, Consumer & Packaged Goods, Manufacturing, Education, and Pharmaceutical industries. Formal education includes a B.Ed. from McGill University, MA from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. Active participant and spectator in all sports, but, triathlons are my passion. Completed over 25 races since the summer of 2013 and I look forward to the preparation and challenges presented by each and every race. An avid reader of biographies as well as HR industry related articles and books on leadership, performance management and career planning. An active member of the Human Resources Professional Association – Halton Chapter, a former member of the Oakville YMCA Board of Directors, as well as the Oakville Club Board of Directors as I enjoy giving my time back to the community.
Vanda Koukounakis
Vanda Koukounakis is the Vice President of Support Office Services for Schlegel Villages, a senior living organization with properties located throughout southern Ontario
She has worked in the long term care and retirement sector for nearly 20 years, supporting diverse populations. Vanda is an operations leader with extensive experience providing supports and services in a variety of areas; including clinical services, food and nutrition, environmental service, and program services. Vanda is passionate about advocacy and supporting individuals who represent the underserved in our communities.
Abrar Nantel
Abrar Nantel oversees financial planning and reporting, auditing, and mutual fund oversight at iA Clarington Investment Inc., one of Canada’s leading investment management firms. Abrar has more than 15 years of finance experience in the investment industry. Abrar graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and a Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance. Abrar obtained her CPA designation and is a Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada member.
Parul Vora
Parul Vora is a financial services executive with over 20 years of experience across a broad spectrum of banking and insurance. Areas of focus have included retirement solutions, payments and loyalty as well as asset servicing. Parul is an exceptional people leader with a passion for the value of diverse views and fostering a culture of inclusion in order to achieve results. Parul has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University as well as a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business. She also holds a professional accounting designation (CPA/CMA).
Happuka John
Camille Vezina, B.A., LL.B., CEO
Camille Vezina is the CEO and owner of Vezina Consultancy Inc. a Toronto-based firm specializing in consultation and engagement with Indigenous peoples. Since her call to the Bar more than 15 years ago, Camille has helped companies and governments build a positive reputation as well as gain support for their projects and initiatives, through respectful and thorough consultation/engagement. Camille has worked on multiple initiatives throughout Canada related to extractives, renewables, linear infrastructure, and water/waste water management – facilitating the building of equitable relationships and partnerships between proponents, governments and Indigenous Nations. She has also advised governments, courts and national organizations in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania on human rights and the responsible regulation of resource extraction.
Theresa Garvis
Theresa is a Senior Manager with BDO Canada in Management Consulting and has worked with clients to improve corporate-wide internal procedures and financial and operational business processes to increase efficiency, privacy and security. Theresa has led strategic programs involving all levels of the organization and acts as a trusted advisor for strategic planning and financial value reporting of technology solutions to executive and senior leadership. Throughout her successful career, she is the proud mother of two sons (26 and 14), navigating both mental health issues and autism as a single parent. Theresa’s success is the result of her client-centric approach, strategic vision, and her excellent interpersonal skills.
Victoria Cino
Victoria Cino is a lawyer, advocate, and researcher with a strong commitment to housing justice and disability rights. She has worked with the Law, Disability & Social Change Project at the University of Windsor, where she led research and developed public education materials on legal and policy issues impacting people with disabilities in Canada. Victoria has also worked directly for a United Nations Committee Member, producing high-level reports on countries’ compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Most recently, Victoria has focused on tenant advocacy – arguing for stronger tenant protections before the Landlord and Tenant Board, and contributing to consultations on municipal renoviction policy. Victoria holds a JD from the University of Windsor and a BA with Distinction from the University of Toronto.