The Ottawa Mission Serves Thousands in our Community

Ottawa, ON – During the Ottawa Mission’s annual Christmas dinner, which was held on December 16, the shelter served thousands of meals to those in need in our community. On a yearly basis, The Mission serves almost 479,000 meals to shelter residents and members of the community at large.

In addition to warm and nutritious food, the Christmas dinner provides a sense of shared community to those who may otherwise not only go hungry, but also find themselves alone. On the menu this Christmas was: 2500 lbs of oven roasted turkey; 30 pans of savory stuffing; 450 tourtiere pies; 750 lbs of mashed potatoes; 250 lbs of glazed baby carrots; 250 lbs of green beans almandine; 3000 cupcakes; 230 dozen rolls; 50 gallons of giblet gravy; and 100 vegetarian stuffed peppers.

According to Ottawa Public Health, one in 15 households in Ottawa is food insecure. Food insecurity contributes to poor mental health, and also serious chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Research also suggests that two-thirds or more of people who are homeless are food insecure.

“Poverty, homelessness and food insecurity are serious public health issues. We at the Ottawa Mission are doing our part to support the most vulnerable in our community by addressing food insecurity and keeping people healthy through our meal program,” said Ottawa Mission Executive Director Peter Tilley.

“Over 175 dedicated volunteers and also our exceptional kitchen staff worked very hard to ensure that to ensure everyone had a delicious turkey dinner. Our great frontline staff went the extra mile to ensure that all who entered our Mission could be accommodated. And our donors and supporters have been profoundly generous in their continuing support to the Mission. A huge thank you to all,” Tilley concluded.

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 hope. In 2017, The Ottawa Mission sheltered an average of 236 men every night and served an average of 1,312 meals every day. The Ottawa Mission also provides health services, mental health programs, addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and men’s clothing to thousands in need in our community.

For information, please contact:

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

Nurse Practitioner Cynthia with Carole’s Poem

Carole suffers from multiple health issues and is unable to work.  For many years, she did not have access to a family doctor and had to rely on drop-in clinics to meet her increasingly complex healthcare needs.   She often had to visit different clinics, and because she suffers from anxiety, this was yet one more stressful situation for her to bear. Carole has been a grateful client of The Mission’s Primary Care Clinic since its doors opened in 2007, and she visits at least once a month.

“The service at The Mission’s clinic is incredible. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, and the care is wonderful.  They all know me and my medical history, and they treat me with kindness and compassion.  They have also given me referrals to other medical facilities for tests and follow-up treatment. At The Mission’s clinic, I know I’m getting the best possible care. I know everyone there and, for me, it’s my safe place,” says Carole.

As an expression of her gratitude for all the help she has received at the clinic, Carole wrote a poem to her nurse – and we’d like to share an excerpt with you.

Your warm smile and kind words make for a caring atmosphere
That eases my mind and alleviates any and all fear
As I leave here today all seems so much more clear
I thank the Lord each and every day for placing you right here

The Mission has begun work on the relocation and expansion of the clinic, and the new facility expects to be able to serve double the number of people as it does now.  When Carole learned about this, she was very excited.  “Knowing that the clinic is growing and improving is very good news, for me and for hundreds of others who have come to rely so much on this wonderful place.”

With more than 20 years of service under her “apron” Kit McKay is one of The Ottawa Mission’s most longstanding volunteers at our annual holiday dinners.  She has generously helped us out at all three dinners – Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas – every year, almost without exception.  She began volunteering for us by bringing her two teenage sons with her – as a way of showing them that there were people in their own community who were hungry and needed help.  Kit felt an immediate connection with The Mission and the people we serve, and she hasn’t looked back.

When asked why she feels so strongly about volunteering here, Kit’s eyes well up, and she apologizes for being emotional.  That’s how compassionate a person she is.  In Kit’s words, “Everyone deserves a home to go to – a safe place – and it breaks my heart to know that this is not a reality for so many among us.”

From Kit’s perspective, the special holiday dinners bring a touch of home to the people we serve.  “For all the other meals at The Mission, people line up cafeteria style, and clean up after themselves.  But on these holidays, there are linen table cloths and napkins, the tables are decorated, and they receive table service, often by people like the mayor and the police chief.  On these days, they are made to feel special – they are our honoured guests.”

Kit will be front and centre at our Christmas dinner on December 16, and given her vast experience, she will be wearing a “red apron” as a volunteer team leader.

To Kit and the hundreds of people who volunteer at our special dinners and all year round – thank you  for your service, and for the smiles you bring to the faces of people who often have little to smile about.

Joe – who is also featured on our newsletter’s cover – will be sharing Christmas dinner with us at The Ottawa Mission this year, as he has done for many years.  Since first coming through our doors eight years ago, hungry and suffering from addiction, a lot has changed in Joe’s life.

A native of the small town of Thoburn, Nova Scotia, Joe spent his younger years working on a farm, in the fishery, and in sawmills.  Sadly, over the years, childhood trauma caught up with him and he fell into addiction – but he always had a job.  When the local economy went into a slump, Joe made his way west looking for work, and ended up in Ottawa.  Unable to find a job, Joe needed shelter and food – and help with his life – and a friend recommended The Mission.  He stayed with us on and off for two years.

Joe admits that he was slow to open up to staff at The Mission, and at first he avoided seeking help available through our many counselling programs.  But, in time, Joe grew to trust the staff, and he says that once this trust was established, he got the help he needed to turn his life around.

Today, Joe is  proudly seven years sober, working several part-time jobs, and living in his own place.  But he continues to rely on us for meals and, more importantly, for ongoing support with his recovery.   As Joe says, “The staff at The Mission are 100%.  Whenever I’m feeling low, I pick up the phone and call Mike (pictured here with Joe), and he’s always there to offer his advice and encouragement.  And this has been the case with so many people at The Mission who have helped me over the years.”

For Joe this Christmas, as with many before it, brings with it the gift of hope because – thanks to your support – he can always turn to The Mission for help when he needs it most.

This will be the first time in many years that Kerry will have a place to call home at Christmas, and for him this is a dream come true.  His journey has been a long and winding one – a journey that he is thankful finally led him to The Ottawa Mission.

Kerry recently turned 57, and recalls that his descent into addiction began when he was only 12.  In the years since then he has spent much of his time homeless – as he points out, not necessarily “on the street”, but couch-surfing, sleeping in cars and trucks, or in motels.  All the while, Kerry was able to work most of the time – everything from commercial house painting to oil rigs to sales and retail management.

Two years ago, a single night in another local shelter convinced Kerry that he needed to finally seek help for his addiction.  After going to a detox centre, Kerry was ready to enter long term treatment.  He had heard about The Mission and only had to wait 3 days to be admitted to our Stabilization program.  He then completed our LifeHouse 5-month residential treatment program and afterwards spent 14 months in one of our 2nd Stage houses in the community – still receiving counselling and support.  During this time he worked with one of our housing staff to find an apartment, navigating the paperwork and bureaucracy that goes hand in hand with this process, and finally just this past October, he moved into his apartment.  Our staff also helped Kerry access furniture and appliances to get started.

Kerry appreciates that subsidized housing is a very rare commodity in our community, and while he feels extremely fortunate to have found a place, his heart goes out to all the others who are still waiting.  As Kerry says, “For people who are recovering from addiction, or suffering from mental illness, a journey without a destination is not an option.  I have reached my destination – I’ve found my home – and now I finally have hope for the future.”

Mary is a retired nurse who continues to demonstrate the spirits of caring and compassion that are the hallmarks of her former profession.

For us at The Ottawa Mission, Mary’s kindness shines through in two wonderful ways.

After taking a tour of The Mission a couple of years ago, Mary decided to become a monthly donor.  She learned a lot during the tour.  As Mary says, “What struck me was how clean and well-organized the shelter was.  And the people were so kind and friendly.”  Mary also discovered that there is much more going on at The Mission than just providing food, shelter and clothing – like job training, on-site medical and dental care, and housing support services to name a few.

For Mary, being a monthly donor is easy and convenient, and since The Mission operates 24/7, 365 days a year, she knows this is the best way to spread her contributions over the year to help keep programs operating all year long.

Mary’s second act of generosity is very tangible and meaningful to many of the people we serve.  She loves to crochet and, as the cold weather approaches, she sends us gifts of hats, scarves and blankets that provide the wonderful gift of winter warmth to people in need.  This year, despite ongoing health issues, Mary intends to keep this tradition going as much as she can.

“I am fortunate in my life, and I feel so sorry for people in need, especially in the winter.  I know that The Mission and those they serve appreciate my contributions – both my monthly gifts and the crochet work – because they often send me handwritten notes.  It’s nice to know that you are making a difference.”

To Mary, and all of our generous donors and supporters, you are indeed making a difference.  Thank you.

On National Housing Day, Governments Must Do Better to Support Ottawa’s Homeless Population

The Ottawa Mission Releases 2017-2018 Impact Report

Will there come a time when programs have to be cut?

OTTAWA, ON – Despite continuing to meet the complex needs of increasing numbers of those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Ottawa, public funding to support these efforts has not kept pace with these needs, according to The Ottawa Mission. The organization released its first impact report today, which outlines how the Mission’s programs and services support clients in rebuilding their lives.

Deputy Mayor and Special Liaison for Homelessness Councillor Mark Taylor moderated the event. “Despite efforts by governments, this is not enough: homelessness has gotten worse, not better. Since 2014, emergency shelter use, length of stay, and chronic homelessness has increased by 16%, 12% and 21% respectively,” he noted.

While homelessness and related service costs have both increased, funding from the City of Ottawa has not, observed Ottawa Mission Executive Director Peter Tilley. In fact, shelter costs are considerably more than the current per diem rate.

“While our municipal funding has increased by about 7% over five years due to a increasing case load, funding from our Foundation has increased by 47%. The City has rightly noted the burden on municipalities for offloaded provincial services; it is the same for charities facing frozen funding. We invest through our Foundation to enhance our programs, improve our outcomes, and demonstrate value for money, but increasingly these funds are used to fund emergency shelter costs. Let us hope we don’t see a time when we have to cut programs” asked Tilley.

Tilley outlined the impacts of Mission programs to help clients rebuild their lives, including:

• 7,600 patient visits to our primary care clinic operated in partnership with our colleagues at Ottawa Inner City Health. This means fewer visits to emergency rooms, clinics, and the Royal Ottawa Hospital. The clinic has operated since 2007 and serves not only our residents, but also others who are homeless and at risk of homelessness.
• Cared for 53 patients within our hospice, also operated in partnership with Ottawa Inner City Health and other agencies. 30 clients passed away there last year.
• 622 patient visits to our dental clinic, accounting for 1892 volunteer hours from over 100 volunteers.
• 99 clients graduated from our addiction and trauma programs. Trauma is often at the root of addiction, and dealing with it is key to recovery and a better life.
• 134 clients graduated from our education and job training programs.
• Working with City-funded case managers, housed 230 clients through housing first and other methods.

Marc Gallant, Manager of Client Services for the Mission, noted the importance of The Mission’s partnership with the City of Ottawa to deliver housing services, including its support of staff who work within the shelter with clients directly. “Through this partnership, not only were 230 clients housed, but also 171 households were diverted from the shelter to alternate accommodation.”

Jordanna Marchand, Assistant Manager of Coordinator of Mental Health for The Mission, noted the burden that mental illness places on Ottawa’s homeless population. “Accordingly, the Mission strives to facilitate a hopeful and therapeutic environment in our shelter that instills in individuals the value, dignity, and motivation required to move out into the community.” Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Manager of The Mission’s Food Services Training Program, which trains students to work within commercial kitchens, noted the phenomenal success of this program to change lives. “This program builds self-esteem and confidence, which are fundamental to success in any career.” Since its inception in 2004, 90% of graduates have gone on to careers in food services. Last year, of the 20 graduates, 19 went on to careers in food services.

Wendy Muckle, Executive Director of Ottawa Inner City Health, which operates health services in partnership with the Mission within its building at 35 Waller Street, noted the much higher burden of disability, mental and physical health problems, addictions and even premature death. “Before The Ottawa Mission and Ottawa Inner City Health opened the primary care clinic here in 2007, those who were homeless often ended up in a hospital emergency room if they were sick and needed help. Our hospice here opened in 2001 and has expanded from 1 bed to 21 beds. Until this spring, it was the only hospice in North America for those who are homeless,” she pointed out.

Chad Bouthillier, a former client of The Mission, recounted how the intervention of The Mission changed his life and why he gives back to the Mission. “After years of suffering, The Mission showed me that there’s nothing wrong with me as a human being and they gave me the strength to commit to long term treatment and move on to a better life. The Mission treated me with dignity and respect. It was there for me when I needed it, and I want to be there for the Mission so that others can live receive the support they need to rebuild their lives,” Bouthillier noted.

“We urge the City to raise per diems to reflect the costs of providing homelessness services. We also urge all levels of government to accelerate new affordable housing, and supporting programs that address risk factors for homelessness,” Tilley concluded.

The Ottawa Mission Report (full report and summary report) is available here: https://ottawamission.com/impact/

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 hope. In 2017-2018, The Ottawa Mission sheltered an average of 236 men every night and served an average of 1,312 meals every day. The Ottawa Mission also provides health services, mental health supports programs, addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and men’s clothing to thousands in need in our community.

FOR INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:

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