Author Archives: The Ottawa Mission

Helping those who have served our country

We will mark Remembrance Day this week. This is a day to for all of us to pause and reflect upon the tremendous sacrifices made – both past and present – to maintain our freedom and keep peace in the world. Here at The Ottawa Mission we have seen military veterans of all ages come through our front door over the years – for many reasons.  Some come for a meal, some stay at the shelter for a time, and some are desperately looking for help to change their situation.  Many are also dealing with shame of asking for help and may not tell people about the service they have given their country.

We are blessed to work with a group called Soldiers Helping Soldiers – an organization made up of past and present members of the Canadian Forces trying to connect with veterans in need. Members of this group volunteer in our kitchen twice a month, serving lunch to hundreds of hungry people. They also do a walk about to all the shelters at this time of year to reach out to those who may have a military background.

Capitan Vicky Ryan is one of the founding members of Soldiers Helping Soldiers. She says in a lot of cases veterans wrongly believe they don’t qualify for benefits because of misconceptions. “There’s a definite reaction former members of the Canadian forces have to us, as we wear our uniforms when we are volunteering”, says Captain Ryan. “They feel a bond to us – and us to them.  We act as a bridge organization, to help them connect with benefits they are entitled to – even if they’ve had just one day of service in the Canadian Forces. It brings a special joy to me and my colleagues that we can help this way in our own community.”

On behalf of everyone at The Mission, we thank Captain Ryan and everyone with Soldiers Helping Soldiers for their efforts to ease the distress of veterans in our community. And on November 11th, a minute of silence will begin the daily Chapel service here at The Mission.  We will remember.

 

A Magical Halloween Season at The Ottawa Mission

Thanks to the great support of volunteers and donors, The Ottawa Mission is able to ensure that the people we help – who are often alone and feel forgotten – are able to enjoy some fun seasonal activities.  Halloween is one such occasion and, this year, we had a triple dose of magic.

Last week, some of our residents enjoyed getting together with several staff members to carve some Halloween pumpkins which are proudly displayed in different areas of The Mission.

Then on Friday, volunteers from our good friends at Starbucks came by in the afternoon to host a Halloween-themed bingo.  More than 50 clients enjoyed the “treats” (baked goods and, of course, great coffee) that were generously provided.  Starbucks is there for us at Halloween and many other times during the year, and we are most grateful for their support.

Today, our kitchen staff and volunteers cooked up some devilish good food for lunch, including Witches Brew (soup), Bat Wings (chicken wings) Broomsticks (spicy fries) and Skeleton bones (carrot & celery sticks).  And, as always, their costumes we’re “out of this world”.

Our thanks go out to everyone who pitches in to make a difference, at Halloween and all year round!

 

Chad is forever thankful

Recently we received a note on our Facebook page from Chad, a former resident of our shelter who was marking a special anniversary.  It was four years to the day since he had first slept at The Mission.

We reached out to congratulate him and learned Chad’s life had changed significantly in those four years!

He says he struggled a lot in his youth and had little support. By his thirties, Chad was dealing with a serious addiction. After arriving at The Mission in the middle of winter with only the clothes on his back, he spent a month in the shelter before moving into our Stabilization unit, where people get support to stabilize their lives and their health before entering addiction treatment.  Chad says his time in Stabilization was life-changing.  “After years of suffering, I finally felt secure in sharing my pain. People really listened to me, and they gave me the strength and courage to pursue long term treatment.”

Chad left Stabilization after 3 months to go into a treatment program, but he never completely left The Mission.  Since he was without a family doctor, he continued to visit our medical clinic twice a month to deal with some ongoing health issues.  Chad cannot say enough about the care he received.  “I have not met any people more caring than the nurse practitioners at The Mission.  And this sense of caring extends to everyone I met at The Mission – the Front Line staff, kitchen staff, custodians, counselors, and even the other clients.  It’s a very special place and it changed my life.”

After successfully finishing his treatment, Chad went on to work for a local recovery program and is now  going to Algonquin College to pursue a career in social work.  He recently married, is in great health, and remains sober and committed to his new life.  And he couldn’t be more thankful.

Homelessness in Ottawa

An In-Depth Look at Homelessness in Canada’s Capital

What causes an Ottawa individual or family to experience homelessness? It’s often the result of a number of factors; poverty, lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, violence against young people, domestic abuse, eviction, trauma, and addiction are all leading causes. Many city-wide organizations and volunteers do what they can to help those experiencing homelessness, but some solutions are only temporary. Others, however, like many of Ottawa’s homeless shelters, are able to make a lasting impact when it comes to addressing homelessness in Ottawa.

Homelessness and its Presence in Ottawa

In the past year, the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa released its annual progress report on homelessness in the capital region. While the length of stay in a shelter has gone down for Ottawa individuals, the number of unique individuals accessing a shelter in the city rose in 2015. Significantly, the number of Ottawa families experiencing homelessness is on the rise, with a 10.8% increase since 2014 in the number of families accessing shelters.

In Ottawa, homelessness is a real issue that affects thousands of people—6,825 individuals used one of the capital city’s shelters in 2015. There are many efforts to combat homelessness in the city, and social housing along with Ottawa’s shelter systems help alleviate the burden of trying to find a place to sleep every night.

Despite these efforts, homelessness continues to be a reality for many people in Ottawa. While a bed for a night can provide temporary relief to an individual or family experiencing homelessness, long-term solutions are required to get people off the streets and into housing.

Ottawa’s Plans to Combat Homelessness

1999 marked the first year the City of Ottawa developed an action plan to combat homelessness, updated twice in 2002 and 2006. In 2009, the Homelessness Community Capacity Building (CCB) Steering Committee introduced Ottawa’s fourth action plan on homelessness. This plan was in place until 2014, and in 2013 the City of Ottawa announced a ten-year plan to end homelessness by 2023.

The City of Ottawa’s Action Plan features three definitions of homelessness to account for the variances in how somebody may experience homelessness:

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-right” icon_color=”#1f66b1″]

  • Absolutely Homeless: individuals and/or families who “sleep in indoor or outdoor places not intended for human habitation. This includes the street, parks, abandoned buildings, cars, and underpasses.”
  • Lacking Permanent Housing: individuals and/or families who are “staying in temporary accommodation, not meant as permanent housing. This includes emergency shelters, time-limited transitional housing, treatment programs, withdrawal management facilities, and the homes of friends, family, or acquaintances.”
  • At Risk of Homelessness: individuals and/or families with housing that is currently “unaffordable, overcrowded, unsafe, and/or inappropriate. They may also require supports to maintain appropriate housing; for example, assistance with daily living, life skills training, budget coaching, and conflict resolution.”

[/su_list]

They also define three degrees of homelessness:

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-right” icon_color=”#1f66b1″]

  • One-time homelessness: generally caused by “unexpected, sudden events, including fires, natural disaster, eviction, or family breakdown. Frequently, individuals experiencing one-time homelessness can draw upon social or economic resources to find housing and stability.”
  • Episodic homelessness: “periods of housing stability with periods of housing instability.”
  • Chronic homelessness: individuals who have “spent more than 60 nights in a row in an emergency shelter and/or on the street are considered chronically homeless. Frequently, these people lack the physical or mental health capabilities, not to mention the skills or income, to access and maintain stable housing.”

[/su_list]

A Demand for Affordable Housing

When it comes to the need for affordable housing in Ottawa, demand generally exceeds supply, as is the case with most cities. According to the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, 2015 saw the lowest number of new affordable housing units in a decade. 34 new affordable housing units were opened, and only 12 other subsidies were made available via the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care.

There is constant demand for more affordable housing, especially with an aging population. A growing number of older adults (people aged 55 and up) are experiencing homelessness. However, the largest population of people experiencing homelessness in Canada are single adult males—at 47.5% of individuals living without a home – men aged 25 to 55 make up nearly half of the homeless population.

Between 2013 and 2015, the city set an Investing in Affordable Housing Program target of 130 new units for approval. Even with these new units, Ottawa will not be able to meet the need for affordable housing, making the services and programs of shelters and community organizations in the city more essential than ever.

There is cause for optimism, however:

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-right” icon_color=”#1f66b1″]

  • The average length of stay at an Ottawa emergency shelter was reduced by 6.4% in 2015, the first reduction since 2006, according to the Alliance to End Homelessness.
  • There are signs of success with targeted interventions.
  • The use of shelter beds has reduced by 3.4% in 2015.
  • The introduction of the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative in 2013 has provided a greater degree of flexibility to Service Managers to better address community needs.

[/su_list]

Communities Coming Together

Loss of housing can happen to anyone, and it is often unexpected. Strength is found when communities come together to offer hope and support to those that it need, and the strength of the individual lies in seeking that support.

A meal offers hope to someone who needs it the most, and a bed gives temporary relief to a person experiencing hardship. For individuals and families experiencing homelessness, it is essential to have services that connect people with a safe place to sleep and their next meal.

But the solution to homelessness doesn’t end there: homelessness needs to be addressed on a systemic level, working with the root causes of conditions that lead to homelessness. By creating programs and services for those experiencing poverty, addiction, violence, and other contributing factors to homelessness in Canada, we can provide the extra support that is needed to help people get back on track.

Frozen Turkey Donations Needed for The Ottawa Mission’s Thanksgiving Dinner

Ottawa, ON – Planning is underway for The Ottawa Mission’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner, coming up Monday October 10th. This annual event provides a special holiday dinner for those who are homeless or hungry in the community on Thanksgiving weekend. Once again this year, The Mission is appealing for community donations of large frozen turkeys for its Thanksgiving Dinner, which last year served up just over 3,000 plates of delicious turkey dinner.

“It takes between 80 – 90 large turkeys to feed everyone who comes to our special Thanksgiving Dinner,” says Chef Ric Watson, Manager of Food Services at The Ottawa Mission. “Our kitchen volunteers and staff are cooking for quite a few days before the special holiday event to ensure everyone will have a delicious turkey dinner.”

Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off at anytime at The Ottawa Mission’s front desk, located at 35 Waller St. Arrangements can also be made to have donations picked up by calling 613-234-1144, ext 248.

The Ottawa Mission’s Thanksgiving Dinner for those who are homeless and hungry will take place on Thanksgiving Monday, October 10th from 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at 35
Waller Street, Ottawa.

[su_button url=”https://ottawamission.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Thanksgiving-Turkeys-Needed-2016.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#1f66b1″ size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”0″]VIEW STORY[/su_button]

THE LONG WEEKEND

School is out, the weather is great, and the first long weekend of the summer is upon us. Many of us will be getting together to celebrate Canada Day with family and friends.

Peter will be spending the long weekend at The Ottawa Mission – and he is so grateful for the gifts of food, shelter and support that he will be receiving.

Peter has been living on a disability income for many years. He has no family to help him, so he has been living alone in a small apartment and trying to make ends meet. After paying his rent, he often had little left over for food, so he often came to us for meals over the years, and we got to know him well.

Last month Peter’s rent was suddenly increased, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to stay in his apartment. He was desperate and didn’t know what to do, so he came to us for help. Our staff is working hard to find Peter a safe and affordable place to live, but in the meantime he will stay with us.

Because of the generous support of our donors, our doors are always open for people like Peter in their time of greatest need. The long weekend need not be so long after all.

Lend a Helping Hand of Your Own, Visit Our Volunteer Ottawa Page

A special Graduation at The Ottawa Mission

June is ‘graduation’ season for many families in the community and one of the highlights of the calendar this month  at The Ottawa Mission is a special graduation celebration we hold for the men and women in our Food Services Training Program.

This week, 9 people completed the 5 month commitment to the culinary program. Chef Ric Watson, who oversees the Mission kitchen, maintains there’s much more involved in the FSTP than just teaching people to cook. In his words, “this program builds self-esteem and confidence, which are fundamental to success in any career.”

Sheldon can vouch for that. He is one of the graduates this week and says this program has made a huge difference in his life. Sheldon has always liked to cook but says “it was the Food Services Training Program that ignited my passion and gave me a goal. My plan now is to become a red seal Chef – it may take me a few years, but I have a purpose and life is back on track.”

Sheldon has already found a new full time job, working in the busy kitchen of the Lord Elgin Hotel and he says he couldn’t be happier there.

The Food Services Training Program has touched many lives in the past 11 years and thanks to the continued support from the community, it will continue to change lives like Sheldon’s in years to come.

Lend a Helping Hand of Your Own, Visit Our Volunteer Ottawa Page

Hunger doesn’t take a holiday

As the summer months approach, many of us are making plans for vacation, visits to the cottage, or simply sitting in our backyard with a good book.  But for people who turn to The Ottawa Mission for help, the summer months are just like any other time of the year.  They are hungry and hurting and have nowhere else to turn.  Our 235 beds are full almost every night and, along with the people staying here, there are many others in the community that also count on us for help every day.
John is just one example.

John is in his 50’s and lives alone in a small, subsidized apartment. He hasn’t had full-time work in a few years and although he can afford to pay his rent, there is often little left over for food.  That’s why he has been coming to The Mission for occasional meals for the past couple of years. Many of the staff and volunteers at The Mission know John by name and he feels welcome.  The nutritious meals we are able to serve him also helps maintain his health.   We consider him a member of our extended family, and he feels the same way about us.  He knows we care about him.

It’s through your generosity that The Mission is able to do as much as possible to make sure that John and so many others like him receive healthy meals and friendship – and never have to feel that they are alone – during the summertime and all year round.  If you would like to make a gift to help this summer, please call 613-234-1155, or donate at https://ottawamission.com/make-donation/
On behalf of John, we thank you.

 

Lend a Helping Hand of Your Own, Visit Our Volunteer Ottawa Page

Seeing is Believing

This past week we held a very special event at The Ottawa Mission and invited interested volunteers and donors to come for a visit to our shelter.

We call this annual event “Walking Together” because we know that the people we serve – the hungry, those recovering from addiction, people looking for work and a place to live – share their journeys with the volunteers and donors who support them. We wanted to thank them and give them an “up close and personal” look at all aspects of the programs we can offer because of their generosity.

For many, even long time volunteers, this was a really eye opening experience. One volunteer who has been helping us prepare and serve meals for many years had never been off the main floor of The Mission. He had never visited the clothing room, the medical and dental clinics, the dorm rooms, or the client services centre. The experience, he says, was a real education.

For the donors who attended, many had never visited The Mission at all. Not only had they not seen the areas of the shelter mentioned above, but they didn’t realize how many programs and services are open to anyone in the community who is in need. As one donor, Micheline Dubé, said, “I didn’t realize that the 1,300 meals served every day at The Mission are available not just to people staying at the shelter, but to anyone who is hungry. And learning more about the hospice, that it serves both men and women, and seeing just how clean and comfortable it is, was a heartwarming experience. What I’ve seen today gives me confidence that my donations are being invested very wisely.”

We thank everyone who took the time to visit yesterday, as we thank them for their ongoing support as volunteers and donors. We simply couldn’t do what we do without them. And we know that for all who attended, seeing is indeed believing.

If you are interested in visiting The Mission, we would love to welcome you! Please contact us by phone at 613-234-1155 or by email at foundation@ottawamission.com.

Lend a Helping Hand of Your Own, Visit Our Volunteer Ottawa Page

A STEPPING STONE TO EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY

The Ottawa Mission`s Stepping Stones Learning Centre is a small room on the top floor of our Client Services Centre located next to the main shelter. It`s not a formal `classroom` but rather a place where men and women can find support for a number of different educational hurdles – whether it`s completing online courses towards a high school diploma, or getting help with basic literacy. But education is much more than a textbook, and Stepping Stones is also a place where people can connect with our community in a social way. The French Club is just one example.

Every Wednesday afternoon at Stepping Stones you can hear the laughter mixed with beginner French pouring out of the classroom. The French Club meets weekly to learn basic French grammar skills and vocabulary. After the two teachers – SSLC’s teacher teamed with a Francophone tutor – introduce the theme of the day, and the new phrases have been practiced, the students get the opportunity to speak in their second language. Even more exciting, they play games that highlight key terminology regarding subjects such as the weather, food and eating, transportation and more.

During each eight week session, the students are invited on a field trip. Outings such as visiting “la cabane à sucre” or “La Musée de l’Aviation et de l’Espace du Canada” are so much fun. This week, the students had the opportunity to have “un pique-nique” followed by a concert of Broadway and jazz music put on by the Statistics Canada Choir at Tunney’s Pasture. Fantastique!!

Activities such as these can help people in shelters, or people ‘at-risk’ of homelessness, form new interests and friendships, and gain much needed self-confidence. They also give people a sense of being part of the community. For all of these reasons, they make a big difference in the lives of those who often have very little to look forward to.

Lend a Helping Hand of Your Own, Visit Our Volunteer Ottawa Page