Homelessness/Drug Abuse in the Capital

[J.OT13]

Thread to talk about social issues in Ottawa surrounding homelessness and the drug abuse problems along with what originations and Governments are doing to help or hinder. Social housing projects are not to be included on this thread.

[J.OT13]

I'll start with the good work of the Ottawa Mission. The organization seems to do a better job than others to provide services and create programs that can get people off the street, giving the skills and tools to move forward.

New jobs program at the Ottawa Mission to teach community members how to become building superintendents

By Peter Szperling
Published: October 30, 2024 at 10:30AM EDT

The Ottawa Mission is launching a new initiative to teach vulnerable community members to obtain employment.

On Tuesday, the Mission announced it is launching the Maintenance Services Training Program, which at first will teach students to become building superintendents.

"There is a huge need. There's no other place that we know, across Canada that is doing a program for building superintendents," said Andy Higgs, manager of maintenance with the Ottawa Mission.


Higgs will be sharing his knowledge, providing classroom and hands on experience in what it takes to operate a building,

"They're going to be doing anywhere from minor plumbing, minor electrical, minor drywall. And they're the eyes and ears of the building. They're there every day. They're assessing, and they're keeping the building operational," he said.

Higgs says this training, will lead to employment.

“100 per cent there will be work for them. We've got, a couple large donors who also for our first year, has been willing to take them on and give them employment," he said.

FOOD TRAINING PROGRAM MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

The maintenance program builds on the success of the Mission’s Food Training Program, which has trained hundreds of students to work in commercial kitchens across Ottawa,

"This is how you end homelessness," said Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley.

"You provide people with hope and dignity and a chance at a career so that they can move on into a one bedroom or two bedroom apartment."

Tilley says the food program has graduated 373 people, 90 per cent of whom have gone into careers at the time of graduation.

"It's helped change people's lives," says Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Director of Food Services at the Ottawa Mission.

"It gave them dignity. It gave them hope. It gave them a chance. And, you know, I was in the same position myself one time. And just to have that opportunity as someone who believes in you is, it's it's what it's all about."

Sheila Whyte, FSTP Partner and owner of Thyme & Again, has hired students from the program throughout the years.

"Ric's program, he runs a very tight ship, and the students that arrive in our kitchens are very well trained. Comfortable working in commercial kitchens with a real drive and passion to do a great job. And we've seen that with every student that comes through the door."

Sammy Amponsah graduated from the food services training program in 2007 and is employed as a kitchen manager. "It has really helped me to setup for my better future – it really has helped me a lot," he tells CTV News Ottawa.

Tilley says, like the beginnings of the food program, the building maintenance program will start small, graduating four people to start, with hopes of it growing.

"I would love to see the maintenance services training program grow. Along the lines is the food services training program that in 10 or 20 years from now, it may not be myself and Andy and Chef Rick, but somebody will be here celebrating the success of this program and the number of graduates that are coming out of that program," he said.

The program will be free to students and is funded by donations.

"As with the Food Services Training program, the Maintenance Services Training program, the only buy-in they need is their time commitment and effort, and we’ll turn them into a successful career," Tilley said.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/articl...perintendents/

https://ottawamission.com/maintenanc...n%20graduation.

[J.OT13]

Gatineau remporte un prix pour sa stratégie en itinérance

Par Claudia Blais-Thompson, Le Droit
17 mai 2025 à 12h23

Gatineau a décroché un mérite Ovation municipale de l’Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) pour sa lutte à l’itinérance sur son territoire lors des Assises 2025.

Le projet Rebâtir demain tous ensemble a reçu cette distinction dans la catégorie «Sécurité publique» dans le cadre de la 20e édition du mérite Ovation municipale de l’UMQ. Cette reconnaissance souligne «le fruit du travail de municipalités, MRC et organisations municipales qui ont mis de l’avant des solutions originales pour répondre de façon optimale aux besoins de leur communauté», indique l’UMQ par communiqué.

Plusieurs actions ont été posées dans le cadre de ce projet, dont la tenue du Sommet sur l’itinérance et le développement social et la réalisation d’un portrait de l’itinérance en avril 2024, et la rédaction et l’adoption du Plan d’action en itinérance et en développement social en décembre dernier.

Gatineau a aussi contribué à la réalisation du Village Transitiôn, une solution de logement transitoire au Québec, et poursuit ses réflexions sur l’encadrement de la tolérance des campements de fortune.

«Cette distinction est le témoignage des efforts considérables déployés par nos équipes municipales pour contrer l’itinérance et soutenir les populations les plus marginalisées de notre communauté et cela mérite d’être souligné avec fierté, affirme par communiqué la mairesse de Gatineau, Maude Marquis-Bissonette. Chaque jour, des employés dévoués travaillent avec cœur, humanité et résilience pour répondre à des besoins criants. Je tiens à saluer sincèrement leur engagement, tout comme celui des nombreux partenaires du milieu, dont la collaboration est à la fois précieuse et essentielle. Ensemble, c’est toute une communauté qui se mobilise pour bâtir une ville plus solidaire, inclusive et humaine».

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/a...LUPO5VVYIKALY/