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Darul Aman – Solutions Lab
Creating Places of Peace and Security
Darul Aman means “a place of peace and security”. The Coalition of Muslim Women’s CMHC Solutions Lab looks to explore strategies to address the housing needs of racialized women in Waterloo Region, particularly those transitioning from crisis situations.
By leveraging asset-based community development approach, the lab aims to develop culturally relevant, wrap-around housing solutions that bridge critical service gaps—creating much-needed places of peace and security for racialized women in our community. We want to co-create a model that is both scalable and sustainable—and your input is essential.
What is a Solutions Lab?
Solutions Labs, funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the NHS Solutions Labs, are an innovative way to tackle complex housing problems. They create a safe space for diverse perspectives to come together, question assumptions, and experiment with solutions.
Labs are systemic, social, experimental, and transformational:
- They put lived experience at the centre.
- They co-develop ideas with community partners.
- They test prototypes in real contexts.
- They build roadmaps for solutions that can be scaled and sustained.
Our Lab, Darul Aman (“a place of peace and security”), focuses on bridging critical housing service gaps for racialized women and newcomers, supporting safe transitions from crisis to stability, and sharing lessons so other communities can build similar solutions.
Phases and Timeline
Phase 1: Definition
July 2025
Setting scope, engaging partners, and planning the process.
Phase 2: Discovery
Aug–Sept 2025
Community engagement labs, and research to map challenges and opportunities.
Phase 3: Development
Oct 2025
Co-design workshops and early prototypes.
Phase 4: Prototype & Test
Oct 2025–Jan 2026
Testing solutions with lived experts, landlords, and partners.
Phase 5: Roadmap
Feb–Apr 2026
Documenting pathways for scaling and sustaining solutions.
Phase 6: Sharing & Scaling
May–July 2026
Public events, knowledge sharing, and coaching for other cultural organizations.
Get Involved
We’re entering an exciting stage of our project! In Phase 4, we’ll be testing and improving our housing prototypes with input from homeowners, system partners, cultural and faith-based groups, and women with lived experience of housing instability.
Your feedback will help shape the final designs and set the stage for next steps in Phase 5.
What’s Coming Up
Introductory Session for Home Partners
Jan 19, 6:30–8:00 PM (Virtual)
Learn about the prototypes and start the conversation.
Engagement Labs
Jan 21 (Virtual): Community & System Partners
Late Jan/Early Feb (In-Person): Cultural & Faith-Based Partners
Lived Experience Interviews
One-on-one conversations to ensure real needs guide our solutions.
Contact us and stay tuned for registration links and updates through your email!
Your voice matters, help us build housing solutions that truly work for our communities.
Acknowledgements
The Darul Aman Solution Lab received funding from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the NHS Solutions Labs, however, the views expressed are the personal views of the author and CMHC accepts no responsibility for them.
Contact Us
Coalition of Muslim Women
- info@cmw-kw.org
- 226-499-2269