Ottawa’s Budget 2018 provides more than $200 million to help City end homelessness by 2024
The City of Ottawa is waging war on homelessness as the number of homeless Ottawa individuals and families continues to rise.
Through its Budget 2018, the City is providing an arsenal of $201.5 million to combat homelessness and boost supportive and affordable housing. This is a $3.8 million increase over 2017.
“It is an increase this year and everything helps,” says Marianne Wilkinson, Councillor for Kanata North and a former Chair of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation’s Board of Directors. “The City takes the issue of homelessness and the cost of housing to low-income residents very seriously.”
As you read through Budget 2018 website’s Affordable housing and homelessness and Housing budget highlights, numbers leap off the page and come to life. It’s easy to envision a construction crew erecting the frame of a house, to smell the fresh scent of cedar boards and to hear the shrill sound of nails being hammered. All in support of the homeless.
The City’s Community and Protective Services Department’s Operating Budget has, for example, earmarked $30 million from the Province of Ontario, over three years, for the Home for Good program. The goals are to create 150 supportive housing units and help 310 households find and maintain affordable housing.
A total of $14.4 million in federal and provincial funding will support the Investment in Affordable Housing program – a 48 percent surge from 2017. Also, a $760,000 increase over last year’s budget totals $26.3 million for housing and for homelessness agencies.
Budget 2018 supports Ottawa’s 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan to end local homelessness by 2024. The Plan is a long-term commitment to reduce shelter stays to under 30 days. A 40 percent savings in funding to emergency shelters is expected to result.
The City “is constantly working to add affordable housing, maintain existing affordable housing and ensure that services are available,” says Wilkinson.
The numbers tell the story. More than 10,000 Ottawa households are waiting for subsidized housing, according to the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa.
The alliance’s 2016 Progress Report points out that, across the city, some 22,000 households that rent spend more than one-half of their income on rent and utilities. These people are deemed to be at major risk of losing their homes.
The City’s housing shelters also represent stark statistics. In 2016, close to 7,200 people stayed at a local shelter, according to the alliance’s report. Overall, this number was up 5.2 per cent from 2015. However, the number of families that used a shelter soared by 12.5 per cent.
Ottawa’s Shepherds of Good Hope is one of nine organizations funded by the City’s Housing Services branch, that offer emergency shelter services and interim housing programs city-wide.
Founded in 1983, Shepherds of Good Hope provides 24/7, comprehensive services through its 254-bed shelter and five supportive living residences. Each night, the organization houses more than 450 men and women. Most of these people live with addictions, mental health challenges and trauma.
According to Lindy Rosko, Shepherds of Good Hope’s senior manager, Supportive Housing, Budget 2018 “provides a three percent increase to its per diems. This amounts to $1.53 per day.”
The funding increase is allocated for Shepherds of Good Hope’s three residential services programs. These housing programs support meals, housekeeping, and medication management. “People of low income require these supports in order to live independently.”
Rosko says the additional funding “allows us to keep up with cost of living increases, so that we can keep the level of service we currently provide.”
Looking ahead, Wilkinson says, “We need to continue to provide support and housing options. But what has been done in the last few years is helping and is a step forward.”
(Note: In-person interviews were not possible, as Councillor Wilkinson was travelling and Shepherds of Good Hope required longer lead time.)
————————————————————————-
Photo caption:
Kanata North Councillor Marianne Wilkinson is shown serving meals during the Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre’s Annual Community Christmas Dinner, held December 9, 2017. (Credit: Salvation Army Area Director of Public Relations Glenn van Gulik)