Ottawa, ON – Today The Ottawa Mission issued a major report on epidemic levels of homelessness and food insecurity in Ottawa and across Canada. Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley noted this impact in stark terms. “For the past several years, our shelter has dealt with a homelessness emergency, increased mental health distress and substance use, as well as food inflation. This has stretched our capacity to serve vulnerable community members to the limit. On top of this, since last summer, our shelter has seen record numbers of newcomers turn to us for help. This continues to have a major impact on our operations, including our meal service, frontline, clothing room, and our housing case managers.”

Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Director of Food Services for the shelter, confirmed this impact on the shelter’s meal numbers. “The meals we provided to our community doubled during the pandemic, rising to over one million in 2022 – 2023. This is astonishing when you remember that Ottawa has just over one million people. This has been driven by our food truck program, which started as a pandemic response with five community partners and has grown to now 35 organizations across our city. With so many newcomers now under our roof, our annual meal numbers will rise even higher to between 1.1 to 1.2 million meals. Our food truck program costs almost $1 million per year, and we have to absorb these additional costs on top of that.”

Ashley Potter, Manager of Frontline Services for The Mission, noted the impact of recent arrivals on frontline operations and related supports. “Frontline staff are the first point of contact for anyone seeking help. We were already at overcapacity before last summer, with all our dorm beds plus nine mats for people to sleep on in our chapel floor also full. Since last summer, we’ve also had dozens of newcomers and others sleeping on chairs in our lounge every night, and have had to turn others away to alternative accommodation. We’ve also had to purchase winter clothing as well as toiletries since many newcomers arrive here with nothing. Meeting this increased need has further strained our budgets for these items.”

CEO Tilley noted the impact of providing housing services to newcomers within a very difficult housing environment. “Over the course of the pandemic, despite almost no affordable housing in Ottawa and the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, our housing case managers were able to place 424 clients into housing. This was not easy, but a permanent home is always our goal for our shelter guests. Now, instead of working to help guests find permanent homes, our housing staff are helping newcomers navigate the process to apply for refugee status, which means our ability to help shelter guests to find new homes has been impacted.”

These developments are occurring against a backdrop of epidemic levels of homelessness and food insecurity in Ottawa, Ontario and across Canada. Despite the National Housing Strategy commitment to housing as a human right and access to food as part of the federal poverty reduction strategy to ensure dignity, the lives of millions of people are compromised by these factors.

Vulnerable populations, including refugees and asylum seekers, are at particular risk of these conditions. The Mission is urging the federal government to end the distinction between refugee claimants and asylum seekers by establishing welcome centres to support new arrivals, and flow additional funds to the City of Ottawa to support newcomers.

Recent announcements by the federal government concerning housing and a national school food program are encouraging. Having said this, to make meaningful progress on unprecedented food insecurity and homelessness, The Mission is calling on the federal government to:

• Implement a Homelessness Prevention and Housing Benefit to support households at risk of homelessness, help people leave homelessness, and reduce pressure on Canada’s homelessness systems.
• Implement all recommendations from the Federal Housing Advocate on encampments through launching a National Encampments Response Plan by August 31 to save lives.
• Implement all recommendations from the Auditor General of Canada’s 2022 report on the National Housing Strategy.
• Implement a grocer’s code of conduct to ensure transparency and fairness in food prices and further measures in addition to its recently announced school food policy to address food insecurity in children.

The Mission is also encouraged by recent announcements concerning housing and homelessness by the government of Ontario. In addition to these commitments, The Mission is also calling on the government of Ontario to:

• Implement all recommendations from the Auditor General of Ontario’s 2021 audit of homelessness programs.
• Address the erosion of affordable housing by reintroducing rent controls to buildings erected after November 2018, increasing the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit and making it permanent and clarifying the Residential Tenancies Act to support municipal bylaws to prohibit bad faith renovictions.
• Address inadequate incomes for vulnerable Ontarians by increasing social assistance rates to enable those receiving this benefit to live with dignity and security as well as the provincial minimum wage to enable earners to meet their expenses without having to work multiple positions.

“As Ottawa’s oldest and largest homeless shelter, we urge all governments to work together to ensure that safe, appropriate and affordable housing and nutritious food are human rights for all Canadians and not a luxury only for those who can afford them,” CEO Tilley concluded.

Read Report: No More Waiting: A Call to Action Against Homelessness and Food Insecurity

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

Ottawa, ON – During the Ottawa Mission’s special Easter meal service, which was held on April 1 for shelter and community members in our dining room, as well as the week prior through our Mobile Mission Meals food truck program, the shelter served 17,405 meals to those in need. Several elected officials participated in serving this special meal today to shelter guests and community members.

Continuing food inflation, sky-rocketing rents and other factors has meant shocking increases in food insecurity in Ottawa. To meet this deepening need, the Mission has expanded its food truck program to two trucks, 35 stops across Ottawa where 7,000 meals a week are served. In 2022 – 2023, the shelter served over one million meals to vulnerable community members across Ottawa through its community and food truck meals programs.

“This is a new record for our Easter meal and more than five times the number of meals we served for Easter 2019 before the pandemic. The astounding increase in hunger in our community is why we’ve expanded our food truck program so many times across our community,” noted Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Director of Food Services for the Mission.

“Ottawa was already in the grip of a continuing homelessness emergency, an opioid-use epidemic and then the pandemic. And now hunger is at urgent levels across our community because of continuing food inflation and the lack of affordable housing. Given the collective and 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 for several years. While we’re glad to be able to support so many people, in addition to providing hunger relief, we also need to address the roots causes of hunger, including housing and continuing poverty,” noted Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley.

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

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

Support the Mission this Easter by Donating Frozen Turkeys and Produce

Ottawa, ON – As we head into spring, planning is underway for The Ottawa Mission’s annual Easter Dinner, which will take place on Monday, April 1st at the shelter. The Mission will also be serving a full Easter meal from March 25 – 31 through its food truck program to 35 community partner stops across Ottawa. The Mission launched this program to meet the unprecedented need for food in our community. The Mission anticipates that it will serve over 16,000 Easter meals, a new record for this special holiday meal for the shelter.

“Our kitchen volunteers and staff are working very hard to ensure that everyone will have a delicious Easter meal by preparing for this very special event in advance,” On the menu will be: 7,000 lbs. of turkey; 3,500 baked potatoes; 3.500 lbs. peeled potatoes; 2,000 lbs. vegetables; 150 gallons of gravy; and 900 vegetarian quiches.

It will take about 700 turkeys to ensure that everyone can enjoy a special Easter meal provided by the Mission. Members of the public can help ensure that no one in our community goes hungry this Easter. Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 am – 5 pm at the garage entrance to The Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staff-person will arrive to receive your donation. Monetary donations to support the Easter meal are also appreciated and can be made at: https://ottawamission.com/donate/.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

Ottawa, ON – Today The Ottawa Mission celebrated the graduation of 22 students of its renowned Food Services Training Program (FSTP) trained at “Chef Ric’s”, the shelter’s social enterprise at 384 Rideau Street.

One of these graduates is Mehal. The program has given her the knowledge and confidence to pursue a new career. “The Food Service Training Program has been so beneficial. I’ve found my passion and now know that I want to continue pursuing my culinary career. I have a science background and this is a big step away from that. I’m now applying to culinary schools, looking to expand on all that I’ve learned from the FSTP. Without this program, I’m not sure how I would’ve broken into the food service industry. It’s given me the experience to take that next step,” she notes.

2024 marks the 20^th anniversary since the inception of the FSTP. Since that time, the program has graduated 334 students, almost 90% of whom have found employment in the food service industry. The Mission will celebrate this tremendous achievement later this year.

The FSTP was created by Chef Ric Allen-Watson, The Mission’s Director of Food Services. Homeless at age 14, he knows the power of paying it forward. “Someone reached out to me and showed me that education could help and I started this program to help other people in need. After 20 years, I couldn’t be happier that we’ve helped and continue to help so many people in our community who need support.”

Mehal attests to this. “They offer you help in many different areas beyond cooking. They’ve helped me build my resume, provided pointers on how to find work, and even organized life coaching sessions. I’ve seen my progress from when I started the program, to now. I’ve gained quite a lot of experience with different styles of cooking and catering, learning new recipes and even developing my own.”

As Ottawa continues to deal with chronically high inflation, hunger, poverty and homelessness, The Mission will remain the first place of refuge for increasing numbers of vulnerable people for the next several years. “At Chef Ric’s, we’re doing our part to help even more people in need by helping people graduate to new lives,” Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley concluded.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

Shelter smashes previous numbers for Christmas special meals

Ottawa, ON – During The Ottawa Mission’s annual Christmas meal, which was held on December 17 as well as the week prior to this date through the shelter’s food truck program, The Mission served 17,427 meals – a new record for a special meal service.

“It took 7000 lbs. of turkey, 3500 lbs. of peeled potatoes, 2000 lbs. of vegetables, 150 gallons of gravy, and 900 vegetarian quiches to ensure that those who turn to us for help this Christmas did not go hungry,” said Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Director of Food Services for the Mission.

Prior to the pandemic, the average number of meals served each Christmas was about 2,500; 17,427 is almost seven times that number. While the pandemic has waned, persistent high inflation and other factors have meant surging numbers of people who are turning to the shelter for basic necessities such as food.

The shelter’s annual meal numbers have more than doubled since the beginning of pandemic, rising from 495,000 in 2018 – 2019 to 1,057,000 in 2022 – 2023. The pandemic and now inflation means even more people are having to choose between feeding themselves and their families or paying their housing costs, and turning to the shelter for help. “I’ve been at The Mission for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen hunger this shocking in our community,” Allen-Watson added.

In addition to this special meal, the occasion also provided a sense of warmth and community to those in need who would otherwise be alone.

“While we are so pleased to be providing this special meal for both shelter guests and community clients, we remain very concerned about the shocking increase in hunger across our community due to the pandemic and inflation. We look forward to working with all levels of government in 2024 to address those conditions which caused so many people in need to turn to our shelter for help, including poverty, lack of affordable housing, and other factors,” Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley concluded.

About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

Shelter Will Surpass 2022–2023 Annual Meal Count and Serve Record Number of Christmas Meals this year

Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Mission is on track to surpass its shocking all-time high annual meal count of 1,057,489 meals from its past fiscal year as it prepares to serve a record number of special Christmas meals from December 10 – 17. Thus far this year the shelter has served over 600,000 meals to vulnerable community members. Based on the total of 16,496 Thanksgiving meals served from its food truck program and shelter in October, it expects to serve almost 17,000 special Christmas meals this December.

“It will take 7000 lbs. of turkey, 3500 lbs. of peeled potatoes, 2000 lbs. of vegetables, 150 gallons of gravy, and 900 vegetarian quiches to ensure that those who turn to us for help this Christmas do not go hungry,” said Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Director of Food Services for the Mission.

Prior to the pandemic, the average number of meals served each Christmas was about 2,500; the estimate of 17,000 is almost seven times that number. While the pandemic has waned, persistent high inflation and other factors have meant surging numbers of people who are turning to the shelter for basic necessities such as food. “I know what it’s like to go hungry, and it’s my mission to ensure that no one who turns to us for help does,” Allen-Watson added.

Turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 am – 5 pm at the garage entrance to the Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staff-person will arrive to receive your gift.

On November 27 and 28, monetary donations to support the Christmas meal and other vital programs at the Ottawa Mission will be matched by DYMON Storage and can be made at ottawamission.com. In addition, DYMON will be donating a meal for every Ottawa Mission Giving Tuesday post that is shared on the Mission’s social media channels. “DYMON is a longtime invaluable partner in supporting our 17 programs to help vulnerable people rebuild their lives,” CEO Peter 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 skills. In 2021-2022, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 118 men every night and served an average of 2570 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

Ottawa, ON – In the wake of ongoing high inflation and shocking increases in hunger across our community, The Ottawa Mission has been forced to increase its ask to donors to cover the costs of individual meals to $4.68.

The last time The Mission raised its meal donation ask was in 2017, when it was raised from $2.97 to $3.47. Since that time, inflation has risen by almost 22%, and the number of meals served annually by the shelter has surged from 484,494 to 1,057,489, an increase of over 215% as deep hunger spreads across our city.

“Over 60% of our annual budget is supported by our donors, who are caring and compassionate people. Without them, we couldn’t possibly provide our 17 programs to help so many people rebuild their lives,” noted Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley. Since 2017, the percentage of The Mission’s budget supported by its donors has grown by over 20% as community need has increased sharply in a post-pandemic environment.

One example of a Mission program supported entirely by donations is its food truck program. Beginning in September 2020 in response to the pandemic with one truck and five stops, it served 500 meals per week. Since that time, it has expanded to two trucks and 35 stops serving over 7,000 meals per week. The Mission also operates a grocery program through the food truck program, providing a small bag of groceries to each client who receives a meal. This past fiscal year, the shelter handed out 51,161 bags of groceries.

“Some clients have told us that they go hungry until our trucks come. Others have told us that our food truck helps them with feeding their families since the cost of groceries has risen so much,” Tilley noted. A 2021 survey showed that 34% of food truck program clients are families with children.

“Over the past several years, we’ve worked hard to maintain our ask for donations at $3.47 per meal despite the increasing cost of food and community need. This effort is supported by our wonderful volunteers, hundreds of whom help us deliver services that are desperately needed,” noted Tilley.

However, we’ve been able to keep our meal ask low for only so long, and time has come when we have no choice but to ask our generous and steadfast donors to help us for by contributing just a bit more. The good news is that even with this increase, our meal costs remains low and far below the average cost of a meal.  Our generous donors, volunteers and community partners are key to us continuing to meet the needs of our community in a compassionate and cost-effective way,” 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 skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

Ottawa, ON – During The Ottawa Mission’s annual Thanksgiving meal, which was held on October 9^th as well as the week prior to Thanksgiving through the shelter’s food truck program, The Mission served 16,496 meals – a new record for a special meal service.

“It takes 6,000 pounds of turkey to feed everyone during our special Thanksgiving dinner,” noted Chef Ric Watson, Director of Food Services at The Mission. Also on the menu was: 3000 lbs. peeled potatoes; 2000 lbs. glazed fresh carrots; 150 gallons of gravy; and 900 vegetarian quiches. “This Thanksgiving meal count is yet another example of the overwhelming need for food in our community.”

Prior to the pandemic, The Mission served 495,360 meals annually. This past year, it served an astounding 1,057,489 meals. “While it has been heartening to welcome community clients back into our shelter for meals, our community faces very serious challenges in a post-pandemic environment, the most shocking of which is the skyrocketing rate of hunger,” stated Peter Tilley, Ottawa Mission CEO.

“This means that we served the equivalent of more than one meal for every person in Ottawa this past year. It’s disgraceful that increasing numbers of people in our community have to choose between paying their rent and feeding themselves and their families,” Allen-Watson added.

This is one reason why The Mission launched its food truck program. Beginning in September 2020 with one truck and five stops serving 500 meals per week, it now has two trucks which deliver over 7,000 meals per week at 35 community partner locations across the city to ensure that those who cannot travel to the shelter do not go hungry. The shelter is working to expand this program in response to continuing overwhelming community need.

“Poverty, homelessness and food insecurity are serious public health issues. We at The Ottawa Mission are doing our part to address shocking increases in hunger and keep people healthy through our meal program,” said Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley. “Now more than ever, our team of staff, volunteers and service partners supported by our donors are working harder than ever to meet the increasing need in our community.”

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 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

Despite no affordable housing, the shelter continues to place vulnerable community members into homes.

Ottawa, ON – Today the Ottawa Mission released its annual impact report outlining its support of increasing numbers of vulnerable community members over its past fiscal year.

“Fortunately, as COVID-19 declined in our community, in November 2022, we expanded services that had been scaled back during the pandemic. It has been heartening to welcome community clients back into our shelter for meals, educational, employment and housing support, addiction and trauma counselling, and other services they rely upon,” noted Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley.

“Having said this, our community faces many very serious challenges in a post-pandemic environment such as increases in mental health distress and substance use coupled with inflation, the ongoing housing emergency, the poisoning of the street drug supply and a rise in overdoses,” Tilley added.

But the most severe change has been the shocking increase in hunger across Ottawa. “Prior to the pandemic, we served 495,360 meals annually. This past year, we served an astounding 1,057,489 meals. That means that we served more than one meal for every person in Ottawa this past year,” noted Chef Ric Allen-Watson, the Mission’s Director of Food Services.

In response to worsening hunger across our community, The Mission launched its food truck program in September 2020. Beginning with one truck and five stops, it served 500 meals per week. Since that time, it has expanded to two trucks and 35 stops serving over 7,000 meals per week. The Mission also operates a grocery program through the food truck program, providing a small bag of groceries to each client who receives a meal. This past fiscal year, the shelter handed out 51,161 bags of groceries.

“Many clients have told us that they go hungry until our trucks come. Other clients have told us that our food truck helps them with feeding their families since the cost of groceries has risen so much,” added Allen-Watson. A 2021 survey showed that 34% of food truck program clients are families with children.

Despite the duration and severity of pandemic restrictions coupled with the continuing lack of affordable housing in Ottawa, from May 2019 to April 2023, The Mission placed 424 clients into housing. “This is remarkable since the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has confirmed that there are almost no affordable private rental units for low income households in Ottawa: average rents for one-bedroom apartments have risen 15.3% since last year and are now $2,146 per month. In fact, 10% of people living in shelters are employed, but cannot afford these rents,” noted Kristen Schilkie, Manager of Housing. In 2020, Ottawa City Council declared a homelessness emergency. While the number of people living in shelters declined in 2020 and 2021, it rose again in 2022 and remains higher than it was 10 years ago.

Among the many housing services provided by the shelter, The Mission has a unique city-funded position that provides support to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. “Veterans are among several unique populations who are at greater risk of homelessness due to PTSD and other factors,” Schilkie added. “Last year, we provided 20 veterans case management support at the shelter and six were successfully housed.”

Despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic over the past year, the shelter continued to support increasing numbers of vulnerable community members who have turned to it for help. In addition to its meal and housing programs, support has included:

• Providing emergency shelter to 1,830 unique individuals.
• Providing 83 clients with employment referrals.
• Providing 121 clients with mental health referrals.
• Helping 123 clients achieve their educational goals.
• Training 42 Food Service Training Program graduates, 37 of whom found employment in the industry.
• Supporting 59 Addiction and Trauma Services graduates on their journey to wellness and recovery and reducing their risk of relapse.
• Provided compassionate and evidence-based care through 14,739 primary care patient consults, 37 new Hospice admissions, and 593 dental care patient visits.
• Bringing comfort and solace to clients through our Chaplaincy services.

“Like hospital emergency rooms, emergency shelters are the entry point for many people within the homelessness continuum of care. At The Mission, we’re proud to provide the care vulnerable people need to keep them safe and rebuild their lives. Given the severe challenges faced by increasing numbers of vulnerable people in our community, we continue to be their first point of refuge for the next several years. We’re very fortunate to continue to have exceptional support from our very generous donors and supporters. Given the continuing need to support so many vulnerable community members, we call on all levels of government to increase their funding for affordable housing, food insecurity, and treatment for mental health and substance use,” 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 skills. In 2022-2023, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 177 men every night and served an average of 2,898 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

E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

Help The Ottawa Mission Feed Hungry Community Members this Thanksgiving by Donating Frozen Turkeys

Ottawa, ON – As we head into the fall, planning is well underway for The Ottawa Mission’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner at its shelter, which will take place on Monday, October 9^th, and also from October 2 – 8 through its food truck program.

The meal for shelter guests and community members will begin at 11:00 am in The Mission dining room. The Mission’s food truck program will also serve a full Thanksgiving meal to everyone who accesses this service the week prior to the October 9 meal.

On any given day, The Ottawa Mission serves about 3,000 meals to shelter residents and those in need in the community. Due to the shocking increase in hunger across our community, the shelter anticipates serving over 14,000 meals this Thanksgiving.

“It will take about 6,000 pounds of turkey to feed everyone who comes to our special Thanksgiving dinner,” says Chef Ric Watson, Director of Food Services at The Mission. “Our kitchen volunteers and staff are working very hard to ensure that everyone will have a delicious turkey dinner by preparing for this very special event in advance.”

Also on the menu will be: 3000 lbs. peeled potatoes; 2000 lbs. glazed fresh carrots; 150 Gallons of gravy; and 900 vegetarian quiche.

Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 am – 5 pm at the garage entrance to The Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staff-person will arrive to receive your donation. Monetary donations to support the Thanksgiving meal are also appreciated and can be made at: https://ottawamission.com/donate/.

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 2021-2022, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 118 men every night and served an average of 2570 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:
Myles Dingwall – Communications Officer
C 613.613-809-3764
E-mail:  mdingwall@ottawamission.com