A group raising money to help 31 people left homeless by a huge fire in Ottawa's Chinatown last week said it is still hoping for more donations to help the victims get back on their feet.

"This community is very generous indeed. So we're hoping or keeping our fingers crossed that we will obtain more dollars within the next few days to come," Suzanne O'Byrne, spokeswoman for the Somerset West Community Health Centre, said at a news conference Tuesday.

'I had nothing but the clothes on my back — I had no shoes when I left the building,' said Cheryl Campbell, who is grateful for the community's support after her apartment was destroyed in the fire.
(CBC)

The centre has raised $12,000, or about $390 each for victims such as Cheryl Campbell, who left behind almost everything she owned as she fled for her life.

"I had nothing but the clothes on my back — I had no shoes when I left the building," said Campbell, who added that she is lucky to be alive and very grateful for the help. "I think that's great, the community has been just super in its support."

Donations can be made through any Scotiabank branch. The centre hopes to raise enough for first and last month's rent for each person by Friday. The money will be distributed to victims next week.

Somerset ward Coun. Diane Holmes said finding all the victims will be the biggest challenge.

"Eleven of the people, as we know, are in city-owned shelters. We don't know where the others are and it's going to be a bit of … detective work to try and find those others," she said. "They may be with friends, they may be with family members."

Meanwhile, as of Wednesday morning, the intersection of Somerset and Booth streets remained closed as investigators continued trying to determine the cause of the fire, which ripped through five addresses and destroyed several buildings.