Tag Archives: homelessness

Help The Ottawa Mission Feed the Hungry 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, which will take place on Monday October 14^th, from 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at 35 Waller Street, Ottawa.

On any given day, the Ottawa Mission serves over 1,450 meals to shelter residents and those in need in the community. During Thanksgiving, The Mission will provide 2,000 – 3,000 meals for this special occasion for those who would otherwise go hungry.

“It takes between 80-100 large turkeys, or about 2500 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 to ensure everyone will have a delicious turkey dinner by preparing for this very special event in advance.”

Also on the menu will be: savory stuffing (30 pans); baked ham (300lbs); mashed potato (450lbs); corn niblets and roasted red peppers (350lbs); green beans almandine (350lbs); assorted pies (2500 units); fresh baked rolls (250 dozen); and giblet gravy (50 gallons).

In addition to warm and nutritious food, the Thanksgiving dinner provides a sense of shared community and fellowship to those in Ottawa who may otherwise not only go hungry, but also find themselves alone.

Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off 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.

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 and 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
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com

The Ottawa Mission Increases Capacity for Health and Dental Care Through Its Expanded DYMON Health Clinic

The Health Needs of Ottawa’s Most Vulnerable Continues to Grow: The Ottawa Mission Increases Capacity for Health and Dental Care Through Its Expanded DYMON Health Clinic

Ottawa, ON – Today, The Ottawa Mission unveiled its newly expanded DYMON Health Clinic to serve Ottawa’s most vulnerable residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in response to the significant increase in both the number of patient consults and the acuity of patients’ needs.

“From last year to this year, patient consults increased from 7,600 to 13,250, a staggering 74%,” stated Ottawa Mission Executive Director Peter Tilley. The clinic is operated in partnership with Ottawa Inner City Health. While OICH provides health services across Ottawa, no site has more patient visits than the Mission’s clinic.

People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have a much higher burden of disability, serious mental and physical health conditions, and addictions. “Many of our patients have multiple physical and mental co-morbidities which makes providing care more challenging,” noted Dr. Jeff Turnbull, OICH Medical Director.

The Mission began planning an expansion of health services over 2 years ago. In addition to existing services, the clinic will offer new services such as women’s care, a Hepatitis C community clinic and foot care to keep vulnerable community members as healthy as possible. “Treating patients onsite will reduce the strain on hospital emergency rooms and contribute not only to the health of Ottawa Mission clients, but also to the sustainability and accessibility of the entire healthcare system,” said OICH Executive Director Wendy Muckle.

The Mission clinic also provides oral health through its dental clinic within the health clinic, staffed by over 100 volunteer dentists, denturists and hygienists, with 579 consults and treatments this past year. “Accessible dental care is especially important since it is not included within publicly funded healthcare, rendering it out of reach for those who live in poverty. In addition to the ability to eat properly and daily social interactions, good oral health supported by regular dental care is essential given its relationship to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes,” stated Dr. Tom Harle, founder of the Mission dental clinic.

“The City of Ottawa is committed to providing access to health services to all its residents, and is proud to work with our community partners to reach that goal. I’d like to congratulate the Ottawa Mission and Ottawa Inner City Health for their leadership in expanding these much needed services that will help our most vulnerable residents,” stated Jim Watson, Mayor, City of Ottawa.

“We applaud the expansion of this clinic and the incorporation of new services. The increase in patient visits show just how valuable these health services are in our community,” added Councillor Mathieu Fleury.

“The Mission provides emergency housing while also supporting their clients to find a way out of homelessness,” stated Dr. Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Ottawa. “With the recognition that being homeless affects physical, mental and social well-being, The Mission also makes a difference in people’s quality of life and well-being through clinical services.”

DYMON has provided a very generous gift of $300,000 to support this important project. “DYMON has passionately supported The Ottawa Mission’s mandate to provide food, shelter and hope to our neighbours in need for several years, and it’s even more rewarding now to have the chance to significantly expand our partnership by providing these much needed health and dental services.” noted Glen Luckman, Founder and CEO, DYMON Group of Companies.

“As an important local community partner, we’re thrilled by DYMON’s commitment to giving back to our community, and the newly named DYMON Health Clinic could not be more appropriate,” concluded Ottawa Mission Board Chair Matt Triemstra.

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 and 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
-30-

World Hunger Day 2019

May 28, 2019 On World Hunger Day, The Ottawa Mission Is Alarmed by the Increase in Community Hunger Numbers Ottawa, ON – On World Hunger Day, The Ottawa Mission is reporting alarming increases in the need for its community meal program service.

In 2017 – 2018, on average, the Mission served 1312 meals per day to shelter residents and community members; the total number of meals served was 478,880. Figures just in for 2018 – 2019 show the daily average had risen to 1358 from May 2018 – April 2019, and the total number for that year at 495,360, a total increase of 3.5%. However, for the month of April 2019, the daily total jumped to a daily average of 1468. If this trend continues for the entire year of May 2019 – April 2020, this will mean a total increase in the annual number of meals served to 535,820, a total increase of 11.6% over 13 months.

“In a reasonably affluent city like Ottawa, these numbers are shocking,” noted Ottawa Mission Executive Director Peter Tilley. According to the Ottawa Food Bank, since the 2008 recession, the numbers of food banks and clients accessing them have increased by almost 30%. Furthermore, in 2018, 53,600 Ottawans were food insecure, but only 37,524 accessed a food bank in any given month. Many people are not able to access a food bank when they need to because of available resources, transportation issues, or shame.

“This means that community meal programs such as The Ottawa Mission’s must meet the increasing number of people in our community who are hungry and have nowhere else to turn,” observed Mr. Tilley. The significant increase in the Mission’s community meal program use is likely influenced by the following:

Food prices continue to rise at a rate higher than inflation. For people on the margins, this can mean the difference between eating at home or relying on community meal programs such as the Mission’s.
Other community meal programs in the region have been curtailed or closed recently, leaving people who need these programs with fewer options.
Ottawa has the 2nd highest cost of living in Ontario, with 55,000 households considered low-income. Our community also has some of the lowest vacancy rates and the highest increases in rents in major urban centres across Canada. Housing costs compete for limited funds for those on low incomes, and lack of affordable housing is a main reason why people turn to food banks and other emergency food providers.

Poverty is a major determinant of both homelessness and food insecurity. While poverty rates across Canada and Ottawa have declined recently, this trend has not benefited marginalized and vulnerable populations. According to Canada Without Poverty, poverty, homelessness and food insecurity have a disproportionate impact on those with physical or mental disabilities, who identify as Indigenous, are racialized, seniors, female single parents, and children. These conditions, in turn, further negatively impact health and wellbeing. All of these constituencies use the Mission’s community meal program.

“Given this very disturbing increase in hunger, we urge all levels of government to consider how their policies affect vulnerable populations to ensure that they don’t fall further behind. Poverty reduction, addressing and preventing homelessness, and food security must be urgent priorities,” Mr. Tilley concluded.

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