OTTAWA – The city has allocated $3 million to help 73 non-profit and charitable organizations that provide social services address immediate and ongoing needs due to COVID-19.

“The 73 social services organizations supported by the Social Services Relief Fund take care of the most vulnerable residents in our community,” Chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee Kanata North Coun. Jenna Sudds said. “Their work is critical to improving food security, maintaining safe housing, and improving quality of life for all residents.” 

Funded by the federal and provincial governments, the Social Services Relief Fund will help 40 homelessness service providers and residential services homes, along with 33 community agencies that provide essential services and supports for at-risk residents and equity-seeking groups. These organizations support the Indigenous community, isolated seniors, mental health, food security, day programs, community houses, community hubs, residential services homes, supportive housing and emergency shelters.

The following organizations will receive funding:

Emergency shelters

• Shepherds of Good Hope – $320,000
• Salvation Army – $190,608
• Ottawa Mission – $176,168
• YMCA/YWCA – $164,622
• Cornerstone Housing for Women – $144,400
• St. Mary’s Home – $27,800
• Youth Services Bureau – $20,000
• Catholic Centre for Immigrants – $19,000
• Restoring Hope Haven Youth Shelter – $4,500
• Haven Too – $4,200

Supportive housing

• John Howard Society – $60,000
• Elizabeth Fry Society – $50,000
• Ottawa Salus – $26,000
• Tewegan – $13,000
• Daybreak Non-Profit Shelter (Ecumenical) Corporation – $9,200
• Harmony House – $5,000
• Stepstone House – $4,600
• Housing supports and other services
• Canadian Mental Health Association – $48,000
• Minwaashin Lodge – $30,000
• Operation Come Home – $28,000
• Bruce House – $13,600
• Tungsuvingat Inuit – $7,600
• Residential services homes
• Rothwell Heights Lodge – $15,000
• Parklane Residence – $15,000
• Cumberland Lodge – $15,000
• Baycrest – $13,600
• Champagne Residence – $10,000
• Rockwood Residence – $8,000
• Wymering Manor – $7,102
• Richmond – $7,000
• Mon Plaisir Residence – $6,000
• Springfield Residence – $5,000
• Hampton Lodge – $5,000
• Fairfield – $5,000
• Duford Residence – $5,000
• Alexander and Kimberlane – $5,000
• St. Marie Residence – $4,000
• Watford – $4,000
• Marionville Pavillion – $2,000
• Alexandria House – $2,000
• Indigenous community needs
• Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health – $165,400
• Odawa Native Friendship Centre – $83,200
• Inuuqatigiit Centre – $82,500

Isolated seniors

• The Good Companions – $178,342
• Retraite en Action – $34,076
• Mental health
• Family Services Ottawa – $37,000
• Parent Pre-school Resource Centre – $29,077
• Kind Space – $19,122
• Bethany Hope Centre – Salvation Army – $14,042
• MAX Ottawa – $10,320
• Shelter Movers Ottawa – $9,950

Food security

• Parkdale Food Centre – $99,990
• Ottawa Network for Education – $67,500
• Social Planning Council of Ottawa – $49,500
• Causeway Work Centre – $31,600
• Jewish Family Services – $22,500

Community hubs

• Centretown Community Health Centre – $40,000
• Centre de ressources communautaires Vanier – $40,000
• Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre – $40,000
• Somerset West Community Health Centre – $40,000
• Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre – $36,599
• Nepean Rideau Osgoode Community Resource Centre – $33,680
• Centre de ressources communautaires de la Basse-Ville – $33,200
• Carlington Community Health Centre – $30,512
• South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre – $12,500
• Community houses
• Debra Dynes Family House – $15,885
• Banff Avenue Community House – $13,681
• Confederation Court Community House – $7,300

Day programs

• Anglican Community Day Programs – $94,000
• Caldwell Family Centre – $66,970
• Centre 507 Association of Ottawa – $14,700
• Centre espoir Sophie – $16,454
• St. Joe’s Women’s Centre – $30,400

To determine which organizations to fund, the city’s Human Needs Task Force assessed community needs and other COVID-related funding currently available. The task force prioritized organizations that support at-risk residents, address food security and serve residents in group-living settings.

In addition to the relief fund, the city will provide $1 million worth of personal protective equipment to funded organizations to support the health and safety of frontline social services staff. Thanks to a generous donation from Telus, the city will also distribute 100 tablets with a year of data to agencies in need.

The city will reassess community needs over the coming months and the Human Needs Task Force will continue to work closely with community agencies to address the needs of our most at-risk residents.