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/article/ne...-how-to-become-building-superintendents/

https://ottawamission.com/maintenance-se...ng%20superintendents%20upon%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/actua...n-itinerance-Q3DVM5LOTFCQFLUPO5VVYIKALY/

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

If I were the City I'd actually pay businesses to make use of Rideau Street sidewalk. Right now it's mostly used by homeless people, drug users and preachers.

Yeah, walked along it on Thursday after work. It's like East Hastings with less aggressive drug addicts. It's bad.

Somehow the cop break room did nothing, other than spawn police SUVs on the sidewalk and bike lane.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Yeah, walked along it on Thursday after work. It's like East Hastings with less aggressive drug addicts. It's bad.

Okay, let's not get carried away. It is not like East Hastings, which is in a universe of its own.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

Okay, let's not get carried away. It is not like East Hastings, which is in a universe of its own.

Not quite as bad as East Hastings, but it's trending that way. Walked between Sussex and William on Thursday afternoon and I counted nearly a dozen on the ground. The abandoned HBC certainly hasn't helped.

Rest of downtown is also getting worse. There's a guy camped at Lyon by the Food Basics exit door, been there for a few months.

There's a guy on the sidewalk on Bank by the Bank of Canada plaza who's been there for years. That one really hits as a social commentary about the state of the Country. Solving homeless should be a top priority in a place as rich as Canada.

Anyway, getting way off topic.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

If I were the City I'd actually pay businesses to make use of Rideau Street sidewalk. Right now it's mostly used by homeless people, drug users and preachers.

Those aren't necessarily 3 different people either

Yeah Rideau street is wild. I needed to buy some quick dollar store ear buds yesterday so as I often do I grab a seat on the ledge more towards the Mcdonalds and across the street from Shanghai Wonton.

Start chatting with this fellow is is clearly.. deranged but otherwise kind of nice and chatty. I'm not that fussy and hangout and talk to street people a bunch, actually by the end of the evening I took a native girl with a broken leg to see an anime movie at the Bytowne cuz why the heck not.

Anyhow.. it didn't take long sitting on the ledge for some "usual" crowd to show up and next thing I know there is a half dozen people openly smoking meth next to me. To be honest.. I don't give a —. Whatever.. I got my beer.. shared a few with the first guy.. I had my ipod and speaker and was playing tunes so everyone is pretty happy.. police just driving by multiple open containers and a half dozen flaming glass bowls.

I don't know what we are supposed to do about that? I try to be somewhat respectful, I put my beer cans in the trash and dont leave a mess. To be honest.. I'm going to drink in public here or any of the other 50 cities I've been to around the world cuz im a friggin alcoholic and I'm ok with that. I'm not a — or a nuisance in any major way. I hold doors for people.. last night I helped a man try to find his backpack that was apparently stolen in the alley next to the AC Marriot and went and tried to get the desk to see if there was camera on the side and maybe he could see who took it. I'm pretty much hammered drunk at this point but you get used to it.

So I am not sure what the solution is. It's an unsolvable problem in the end. Unless you want to enact some type of police state and round everybody up and jail them. Not so sure I agree with that. I suppose as long as people aren't fighting, vandalizing and aggressively getting in the faces of "taxpayers" it just kind of is what it is. As far as people coming to market area with their families and children seeing people openly using drugs... well.. so what? be an adult and have an honest conversation with your child about some of the things they are seeing.

And it certainly doesn't look like the businesses along Rideau are hurting for it. I can only think of 1 shuttered store front.. used to be a gym by Cumberland and it had been there for many many years. Also Steve's I guess, but at least these were very long term tenants and it's just normal retail turnover in the end.

Bank street north of Somerset on the other hand could use a bit of love.

Anyhow.. at the end of the day.. Rideao street is Rideau street and it's always kind of been that way. If it's any worse now than when I was a kid it's because its just scaled up with the rest of the cities population.

TBH.. I don't mind having a greasy pocket of the city. And it's only as greasy as you want it to be. Assuming you have a destination just go there and keep your head up. There are so many other areas of Ottawa that are squeaky clean in comparison.

Maybe it's just me. Drugs and anti social behaviour don't bother me much. Probably because I partake. I also have a great job and career and love building and creating things for people and fostering long term professional relationships. But I also like getting fucked up. Because life is absurd in a way. Spent the morning on a chartered fishing boat with my dad and uncle and then a couple hours later breathing in second hand meth smoke listening to ACDC on the sidewalk and smashing beers. If that isn't absurd I don't know what is.

[J.OT13]

I've been to Edmonton and Calgary the last couple weeks. As bad as Rideau Street and Downtown Ottawa are, it does not compare to those two Alberta cities.

[daud]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I've been to Edmonton and Calgary the last couple weeks. As bad as Rideau Street and Downtown Ottawa are, it does not compare to those two Alberta cities.

sadly, I've been mortified by what I saw in both Ottawa and Edmonton on 2 separate occasions.

In Ottawa 2 summers ago, I witnessed a fully — woman with a crack pipe standing on the corner of Dalhousie and George asking people for a light. Middle of summer, middle of the day (a Sunday). Completely flabbergasted.

In Edmonton, I've been downtown and walking through that mall by the ICE district. In Winter, the area between the outside and inside doors is completely full of some form of crack or meth smokers that completely reek up the doorway. Just walking through there seems really dangerous to me as they are all teenagers and 20 something year olds pumped up on stimulants.

Its unbelievable that this is what its come to in Canadian Cities.

[J.OT13]

Yeah, it's really disconcerting. I wish the Provincial and Federal Governments put a whole lot more resources in addiction treatment and housing. In a place like Canada, ending homelessness should be relativly feasible if we try.