Author Archives: The Ottawa Mission

Sharing the faces and stories of people experiencing homelessness through photography

There’s a story written on all of our faces.

A story of who we are. Of where we’ve been.

Through her photography, Leah Denbok seeks to capture the stories of people experiencing homelessness and offer viewers a glimpse of their struggles.

In 2015, when she was only 15 years old, she created Humanizing The Homeless, a series of portraits of people experiencing homelessness primarily from Toronto. The striking images are accompanied by stories about their lives, their passions, and their struggles.

Leah was drawn to photography from a young age. After coming upon the work of British photographer Lee Jeffries and his striking portraits of people experiencing homelessness, her father Tim suggested she look for opportunities to create her own.

Leah said that growing up in a small-town in southern Ontario insulated her from the scale of homelessness in large urban centres like Toronto

“Going into it, I was somewhat naive about their lives and had many of the negative stereotypes that people often assume,” she said. “But as you soon discover, people experiencing homelessness can be some of the kindest, most humble people you’ll ever meet.”

But her belief in the project also comes from a personal place: her mother, Sara, was once homeless.

As a child, Sara was found in the streets of Calcutta, India in the early 1970s, and was brought by a police officer to Mother Teresa’s orphanage. From there, she was adopted by a Canadian couple near Collingwood.

“I realize that if not for people having empathy for people experiencing homelessness, I wouldn’t be alive,” she said.

Humanizing the people she photographs and encouraging empathy lay at the heart of the project.

After capturing hundreds of images and stories in cities in Canada and internationally, Leah said what inspires her to keep the project going is knowing that the work is helping change perspectives.

“I think if anyone actually took the time to listen to what people have had to go through and experience just to survive, they’d be shocked,” she said.

“I receive from people who’ve seen the photos saying they’re not just going to walk by anymore, and that they’ll stop just pretending that they aren’t there.”

After several years, Leah collected her works into three volumes of photography books, with all proceeds going to support local emergency shelters. The fourth book in the series will be released later this fall.

To learn more about Leah and her project, visit https://www.humanizingthehomeless.org/

Ottawa Mission Food Truck Program Experiences Unprecedented Growth In Response to Rising Rates of Hunger in Ottawa due to Covid19

Ottawa, ON – As hunger worsens in our community, The Ottawa Mission brought together its community partner Somerset West Community Health Centre and Councillor Catherine McKenney, Special Liaison for Housing and Homelessness to discuss rising food insecurity as a major consequence of the pandemic and options to address this.

The Mission launched it Mobile Mission Meals food truck project in the summer of 2020 with 5 stops serving 500 meals per week. Just over 9 months later, it has grown to 19 stops across the City of Ottawa and serves 3,000 meals per week. The Mission also has a waiting list of partners who want to join this program to serve the needs of their respective communities for accessible, healthy food.

In January 2020, just before the pandemic was declared, The Mission served just over 1,400 meals per day that month. Now the shelter is serving over 2,500 meals per day ― an increase of almost 80%. This also means that total number of meals served by the Mission over its last fiscal year (May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021) was over 700,000.

“Every single day our truck goes out across Ottawa, and hundreds of people line up to receive the meals they need to survive. People line up in walkers, in wheelchairs, and with their kids. People who never had to worry about feeding themselves and their families until Covid-19 arrived come to our truck just to survive,” said the Mission’s Director of Food Services Chef Ric Allen-Watson.

“When we updated the community in November about this program, we had clients tell us that they go hungry, sometimes for days, until our truck comes. In a wealthy city like Ottawa and a wealthy country like Canada, this is wrong – just plain wrong,” Allen-Watson added.

Naini Cloutier, Executive Director of Somerset Health Community Health Centre, a community partner of the Mobile Mission Meal program, noted the relationship between the lack of affordable housing in Ottawa and the use of the Mission’s food truck program. “In our catchment area, almost 30% of residents are low-income – over twice the Ottawa average. People who are low-income often have to choose between paying their rent or feeding themselves and their children. This is especially true in our city given that rents rose 15% from 2014 – 2018, with affordable housing options increasingly scarce.”

Cloutier also noted the disproportionate impact of food insecurity on specific populations. “Our catchment area also has a higher proportion of Indigenous peoples, immigrants and newcomers, refugees, and Black and racialized residents than the Ottawa average. These factors are also very important since all of these populations have higher rates of food insecurity.”

Councillor McKenney pointed out how Covid-19 has impacted existing very serious issues within the community. “Before Covid-19 arrived in early 2020, our entire community was dealing with not one but 2 emergencies: the homelessness emergency and the opioid use emergency. The pandemic has magnified each of these through its devastating impacts on financial health, mental health, and increased risk of homelessness and hunger.”

However, McKenney also noted that the pandemic has shown that large-scale system changes can be enacted quickly to meet millions of people’s needs such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), and why this should be made permanent. “One of the reasons people fall into homelessness, hunger and despair is because they’re poor. In April of this year, the Parliamentary Budget Officer delivered a report that suggested that a universal basic income project could reduce poverty levels in Canada by almost half in just one year. Combined with enhanced government support at all levels for affordable housing and mental health, it would reduce homelessness, hunger, and mental distress.”

Peter Tilley, CEO of the Ottawa Mission, noted the continuing impact of Covid-19 across our community and how it will affect the shelter’s program delivery. “Given the overwhelming impact on our collective mental health, finances, food insecurity and risk of homelessness, we anticipate remaining the first place of refuge for increasing numbers of very vulnerable people going forward for several years after COVID has passed.”

Tilley concluded the press conference by noting that the Mission will continue to meet these needs while also advocating for large-scale system change. “We’re very fortunate that we can continue to raise funds to further expand this program and work with our community partners across the city of Ottawa to reach even more people in need. We’ll also continue to work together with our partners on city council, Queen’s Park, and Parliament Hill to enhance and make permanent needed government programs to help people rebuild their lives.”

About The Ottawa Mission

Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving the homeless, the hungry and the lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2019-2020, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 197 men every night and served an average of 1,422 meals every day. The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of a new housing department.

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
C: 613.712.3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

Statement on remains of 215 Indigenous children found at former residential school in BC

The Ottawa Mission shares in the mourning of the 215 Indigenous children discovered in an unmarked mass grave at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Our thoughts are with the families, the communities, residential school survivors and all others who mourn this enormous collective loss for our country.

We also join calls from those in the Indigenous community and others for the federal government and partners in residential schools to acknowledge and address the pain and injustice imposed upon First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Further, we urge these parties move quickly to implement all 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and to examine all current policies and actions today that result in continuing trauma.

As an organization that works closely with Indigenous clients and partners, we have seen the effects of intergenerational trauma and abuse that so many have suffered, including a significant and disproportionate burden of homelessness. We will continue to reflect on and learn how to best we can meet our responsibilities in supporting our clients who are First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

To learn more about the impact of residential schools on Indigenous peoples, we invite you to please explore the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada reports and calls to action.

Hobin Architecture helps build communities in more than one way

A city is more than just a collection of buildings and neighbourhoods.

It’s the people that make a city a community.

Focusing on people and the community has been the guiding light for local architectural design firm Hobin Architecture since its founding in 1979.

Architect Bryan Bonell, an Associate at Hobin who has been with the firm for over 30 years, has seen this principal guide the team in many of its design projects.

“We’re not just looking to make beautiful buildings, we also want to contribute to the fabric of the city and help provide services to people in need,” Bonell said.

Today, the firm continues to find new ways to contribute to building community in Ottawa, both through its design skills and its philanthropic efforts.

Earlier this year, Hobin Architecture started a fundraising campaign called You Give, We Give to encourage new donors to support four local charities, including The Ottawa Mission, The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, The Multifaith Housing Initiative, and Cornerstone Housing For Women.

For the campaign, Hobin is matching new donations to the four organizations until the end of June, up to a total of $10,000 per beneficiary.

Choosing organizations that focus on providing affordable housing was a response to what they see as a growing crisis.

“We have such a shortage of affordable housing in the city,” Bonell said. “It’s reached crisis proportions.”

Through its design work, the firm has also helped contribute to providing high-quality, affordable housing throughout the city.

The firm’s founder Barry Hobin got his start in residential housing and that evolved into community-oriented affordable projects like the redevelopment of Beaver Barracks, the Bethany Hope Centre, and The Haven.

Hobin’s connection to The Mission runs deep, with one of the firm’s partners Gordon Lorimer serving on our board for many years.

The firm has also supported The Mission with their design talents, assisting with the expansion of the Diane Morrison Hospice, as well as renovations at the former LifeHouse building adjacent to The Mission at 55 Daly Ave.

For Bonell, the satisfaction from working on projects like those at The Mission comes from seeing them used to do good work.

“I think as a firm, we feel a certain responsibility to the community as a whole,” he said. “So it’s nice seeing everything come together and then turning the building over to a group of people who are really dedicated to helping the community.”

Help contribute to Hobin’s You Give, We Give campaign

Ottawa Mission Food Services Training Program Grads celebrates their new lives

Ottawa, ON – Today 10 students of The Ottawa Mission’s celebrated Food Services Training Program (FSTP) celebrated their graduation from this initiative, joining the ranks of 200 people who have graduated since the FSTP began in 2004.

The impact of the FSTP on the program’s graduates can be profound. In the words of Mercy Abe, FSTP Valedictorian, “Getting into this program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Coming here, I felt accepted, I felt that everyone wants me.”

For men and women looking to change their lives, the FSTP provides the skills necessary to work in a commercial kitchen. FSTP applicants must demonstrate only one qualification to be accepted into the program — a strong desire to change their lives for the better. Students pay no costs and we make sure they have all the tools they need to succeed. Students graduate with not only a credential that allows them to be self-supporting, but also with newfound confidence, pride and dignity.

The FSTP is more than a cooking program according to the Director of Food Services for The Ottawa Mission Executive Chef Ric Allen-Watson. “Teaching students how to cook is just one aspect of this program. People come to us and we give them, food, clothing, anything they need, but most of all, we give them love and a sense of belonging. For so many of our students, this is not something they’ve received a lot of in their lives, and it’s the foundation of their ability to succeed.”

Eight of these new FSTP graduates already have jobs in the industry and since 2004, 90% of students have found employment after graduation in the industry. In the summer of 2021, the FSTP will be moved over to the program’s new home at the former Rideau Bakery, which will be renamed “Chef Ric’s” in honour of Allen-Watson. The new site will combine the FSTP, The Ottawa Mission’s established catering social enterprise, and a new retail component where affordable and healthy prepared foods may be purchased for take-out. The grand opening for the new Chef Ric’s will take place in September 2021.

About The Ottawa Mission

FOR INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW PLEASE CONTACT:

Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
613-712-3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

The Mission’s Volunteer Family

There isn’t a single type of volunteer at The Ottawa Mission.

All of them have a story of how they arrived here, and different reasons that keep them coming back.

They have different ages, backgrounds and beliefs, but all of them come into the building with the same goal: they want to do some good for people.

From serving meals, to doing laundry, to supporting transformative programs for clients, the work that is done on Waller Street is only possible through the passion and generosity of our volunteers.

“They’re the cavalry coming over the hill,” said Jake Harding, The Mission’s Coordinator of Volunteer and Community Engagement Services.

“From a strictly operational point-of-view, without volunteers to help us, we could not do what we do,” he said.

That’s been especially true during COVID-19.

The impacts of the pandemic have been felt everywhere at The Mission, most notably in the huge growth in food insecurity across Ottawa and the need for food programs like the Mobile Mission Meals food truck.

Finding the helping hands to meet that growing need, in the middle of the pandemic, was the challenge that fell on the volunteer office.

Before COVID-19, the average volunteer would come in 9 hours per month, but now, that number is up to 14 hours per month.

But with many volunteers who are elderly or immune-compromised needing to stay home for safety, experienced volunteers and new ones alike have stepped up to take on more shifts to help meet the growing need for food in our community.

For some volunteers, having to staying away has been hard.

Normand Bradley started volunteering with The Mission 4 years ago, and over 2,000 hours of volunteering later, keeps coming back every week.

But last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Norman wasn’t able to leave the building he lives in for nine weeks, which prevented him from volunteering.

“It was terrible,” he said. “You become so close to the staff and other volunteers, it’s as hard as not seeing your family.”

However, the day he was allowed to leave again, he remembers the feeling of picking up the phone to call Jake and schedule a shift.

“It felt like I had won the lottery,” he said.

“If not now, then when?”

Svjetlana Gavric walked by The Mission every day on her way to work, seeing the growing demand for its services firsthand. She started volunteering on her own several years ago, and found herself quickly drawn into the community of care developed by the staff and volunteers.

“You meet so many different people that have crossed so many different paths,” she said. “And you learn something from each of them.”

With many volunteers having to stay away due to the pandemic, it’s been hard on the community.

“I’ve made real friendships here, the kind where you call to check in on one another,” she said. “Speaking with them, you can tell it causes them hurt that they aren’t able to come in.”

For Svjetlana, that’s one of the reasons it was still important for her to continue to serve, despite the risk.

“If not now, then when?” she said. “As long as there are people in need, we’ll be there. We have to come together as a community, now more than ever.”

“Help is like a two-way street here.”

Beyond the friendships that are built, for many volunteers, helping serve people experiencing poverty in our community has changed their perspectives on homelessness.

Cezar Iliescu is a law student at the University of Ottawa, just a few blocks away from The Mission.

“On campus, I feel many students know there’s a shelter over there, but not the exact details of what happens here,” he said.

It was while taking a social justice course that Cezar came to start volunteering at The Mission, and discovered the breadth of services offered here.

Eventually Cezar got other students involved through a student group he founded, including running a fundraiser and volunteering as a group.

“Before I introduced them, they all had their own biases and preconceptions about why people are homeless,” he said. “By volunteering here, they really learned how poverty affects people, and how homelessness can happen to anyone.”

Those fellow students he introduced have continued to volunteer on their own now, something Cezar attributes to the volunteer community and culture of The Mission.

“Help is like a two-way street here,” he says. “I’ve always been told here, if I ever run into food problems, or anything like that, we’re all here to help you.”

Working with others

As COVID-19 continues to present new challenges, the work continues in the volunteer office to help meet the need.

For Jake, he says the mental health challenge COVID-19 has presented to them has been twofold.

“For staff on the frontlines, it’s been isolating to not have the regular community of volunteers with us,” he said. “And for the volunteers not able to come in, they find it difficult to be away.”

“The community aspect is what we’re all missing,” he said.

But even through the trials of the pandemic, that community isn’t gone.

It’s kept alive through those that continue to serve, and by those looking forward to returning one day soon.

Helping Those in Need this Easter: The Ottawa Mission Serves 4,653 Meals in our Community

Ottawa, ON – During the Ottawa Mission’s special Easter meal service, which was held on April 5 for shelter guests in our dining room and community members through our garage entrance, as well as the week prior through our Mobile Mission Meals food truck program, the shelter served 4,653 meals to those in need.

Shelter guests and community members enjoyed a full roast beef dinner on April 5, while Mobile Mission Meals clients took home a delicious turkey dinner. In addition to warm and nutritious food, the special holiday meal provides a sense of community to those who may find themselves alone.

In 2019 – 2020, the shelter served more than 520,000 meals. Due to the impact of Covid19, the Mission estimates that it will serve 700,000 – 800,000 meals in 2020 – 2021.

“Ottawa was already in a homelessness emergency and an opioid-use epidemic when Covid19 came upon us. Given the overwhelming impact on our collective mental health, finances, food insecurity, and risk of homelessness, we anticipate remaining the first place of refuge for even more vulnerable people after Covid19 has passed,” noted Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley.

“Our dedicated volunteers and also our exceptional kitchen staff worked very hard to ensure that everyone had a delicious Easter. And special thanks to our donors and supporters who have been profoundly generous in their continuing support of the Mission in these continuing difficult times. A huge thank you to all,” Tilley concluded.

About The Ottawa Mission

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Aileen Leo

Director of Communications

T 613.234.1144 x 305

C 613.712.3092

aleo@ottawamission.com

Helping Those in Need During COVID19: The Ottawa Mission Will Feed Even More People Who Are Hungry This Easter

Ottawa, ON – As Easter approaches, we want to assure our community that, in these continuing difficult times, The Ottawa Mission will be serving an in-house Easter meal to our residents, and also a special take-out Easter meal for community members.

The current pandemic has made food insecurity in Ottawa much worse, and the shelter expects to feed well over 4,000 people this Monday and during the week leading up to April 5 through our food truck program Mobile Mission Meals.

WHEN: Monday, April 5, from 11:00 am until 12:00 noon for the shelter residents, and also a special take-out meal for community members from 11:00pm until 3:00pm.

WHO: The following individuals will be available for media interviews on behalf of the Ottawa Mission:

Chief Executive Officer Peter Tilley
Director of Food Services Chef Ric Allen-Watson

WHERE: Media are requested to gather at the entrance to the shelter at the corner of Waller and Besserer Streets just before the beginning of the community take-out meal service at 10:45 am for media availability with Mr. Tilley and Chef Ric.

Please note that due to current strict infection controls to minimize the risk posed by Covid19, in order to protect our clients, media will not be allowed to enter the Ottawa Mission to film. Further, in order to protect client confidentiality during the community take-out meal service, filming and photography will be limited to shooting from the back of the meal line and of individual servers providing meals as the meal progresses.

About The Ottawa Mission

FOR INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
C: 613.712.3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

Power of Attorney. What Is It?

When people seek help with their estate planning, they usually understand the need for an up-to-date will. Some, however, are less clear on the need to have a Power of Attorney. Having such documents is important and wise. Here’s why.

A Power of Attorney is a legal, written document that allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf. Essentially, it gives them the same powers you have to deal with your assets and your personal care. A Power of Attorney is only valid after it is signed and only for as long as you live.

There are two kinds of Power of Attorney:

Power of Attorney for Property covers your financial affairs and allows the person you name to act for you. A Continuing Power of Attorney for Property is a type of Power of Attorney for Property that allows the person you name to act even after you become mentally incapable.
Power of Attorney for Personal Care covers your personal care decisions, such as housing, nutrition, clothing, and health care, should you be unable to act on your own.

If you don’t have a Power of Attorney, a family member can make health care treatment decisions for you and can apply to the Court become your guardian of the person and of property. Alternatively, someone else, like a close friend, could apply to act for you. With a Power of Attorney, you get to choose whom you would like to act on your behalf.

Powers of Attorney are powerful documents and should be given to individuals only after carefully considering that they are trustworthy and able to do what is required. It is wise to ensure the people who need to know about these documents are aware of them and where they are located. They should also be kept in a secure place.

Powers of Attorney are practical documents that can make your life, and the lives of your family members, much easier. When you create or update your will, remember your Powers of Attorney, too.

Tax benefits for you and your estate

Every legacy gift through one’s will to The Ottawa Mission Foundation provides your estate with a tax receipt for the full amount of the gift. In the year of your death, you are deemed to have disposed of all of your assets. Because of this, your reportable income can be high. The charitable tax credit flowing from your gift can offset any tax owing from capital gains or the winding up of retirement funds. Your executor should consult an accountant about how to make use of the tax credit in the most beneficial way.

Susanne Greisbach is a Senior Advisor in Trust and Advisory Services with the National Bank and a specialist in Wills, Trusts, and Estate Law. Susanne is a member of The Ottawa Mission Foundation’s Allied Professionals Network. This group of volunteers from various professions – law, accounting, financial planning – bring their professional knowledge and technical expertise to The Foundation’s legacy giving program. To learn more about Susanne and our other allied professionals, please visit our Legacy Giving page.

How You Can Help Shape Our Future

A charitable gift in your will is important. Each year, thousands of philanthropic Canadians leave a portion of their assets in their wills to support causes they care about. Such gifts help people fulfil their charitable dreams and wishes. They can also generate significant tax benefits for one’s estate. For The Ottawa Mission Foundation, charitable gifts from generous donors like you ensure that those experiencing homelessness will continue to have a warm place to sleep, nutritious meals, housing support, medical, dental and addiction treatment programs, and so much more. That’s why we are asking you to remember The Mission with your own legacy gift.

You may direct your future gift to any area of The Mission’s work that you like, including our many supportive programs, our endowment funds or for our day-to-day operations. Alternatively, you may allow us to direct your gift to where the need and impact are greatest at the time. Whatever you choose, a planned gift can ensure a strong future for The Mission. Opportunities abound and there is one that is just right for you.

A charitable gift of any amount in your will could be a truly powerful gift that may not be financially possible during your lifetime. After providing for your loved ones, a gift in your will would make a tangible, meaningful difference to what we strive to do daily at The Mission.

If you are considering leaving a legacy for The Mission, speak with your professional advisors. Then, please contact Christina Hunter Cadieux, Planned Giving Officer, by email at chuntercadieux@ottawamission.com or calling her at 613.277.4902. If you have already remembered The Mission in your estate plans, please let us know. We can partner with you to establish or confirm how you would like your future gift to be used, thank you personally, and offer you recognition if you wish.

Please help us build a lasting future. Thank you for remembering The Mission with a legacy gift.