Save the date: Sunday, September 27, 2026, with an image of a crowd of people in race bibs running in the sun
Save the date! Registration will open soon for our second annual Race to End Homelessness Ottawa, taking place Sunday, September 27, 2026. We can't wait!
Great to hear Sandra Clarkson and Michael Lethby in conversation with Catherine Cullen on CBC, talking about shelter diversion!
Learn how they're reducing shelter stays by talking to people about their individual needs instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
Comme beaucoup d’entre nous, nous ressentons du chagrin et de la colère face à la fermeture des sites de consommation supervisée et des sites d’injection sécuritaires à travers l’Ontario. Cette décision a été annoncée un vendredi après-midi, juste avant la semaine de relâche en Ontario, un choix qui laisse entendre que le gouvernement ontarien est pleinement conscient du caractère cruel et injustifiable de cette mesure.
Les données recueillies dans toute la province de l'Ontario à la suite de la fermeture des centres de surdosage en 2025 révèlent une forte augmentation du recours aux services médicaux d'urgence (+69,5 %) et aux services des urgences (+67 %) pour des surdoses liées aux opioïdes, ainsi qu'une hausse du nombre de décès survenus dans des résidences privées et à l'extérieur.
Les lieux de consommation supervisée sauvent des vies et renforcent la sécurité de tous au sein des communautés.
Comme beaucoup d’entre nous, nous ressentons du chagrin et de la colère face à la fermeture des sites de consommation supervisée et des sites d’injection sécuritaires à travers l’Ontario.
Like many people, we are feeling grief and frustration about the closures of supervised consumption and safe injection sites across Ontario. This decision was announced on a Friday afternoon before Ontario’s March Break, a choice that suggests that the Ontario government is well aware that the decision is cruel and unjustifiable.
Ontario-wide data following the 2025 SCS closures show a sharp increase in usage of emergency medical services (+69.5%) and emergency departments (+67%) for opioid-related overdoses, as well as an increase of deaths in private residences and outdoor settings.
Supervised Consumption Sites save lives and make communities safer for all.
Like many people, we are feeling grief and frustration about the closures of supervised consumption and safe injection sites across Ontario.
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/ottawa_safe_...
Yesterday, one of our member agencies, Capital City Mission, lost a community member & 4 others were injured when an SUV drove into their drop-in.
We are heartbroken, & ask that you consider supporting them as they recover from this tragedy.
capitalcitymission.com/community-up...
Bruce Deachman wrote a great article about the shelter diversion pilot in the @ottawacitizen.com.
Opening with the story of a woman who was reunited with her family instead of being admitted to shelter, it goes on to explore & celebrate the program's larger impact.
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
We were proud to appear on Sam Laprade’s An Hour to Give recently, with guests @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social and Stephen Bartolo from Shepherds of Good Hope to discuss lived experience leadership, shelter diversion, & ending youth homelessness
Full segment here: ottawa.citynews.ca/video/2026/0...
So glad to have you both with us!
Great momentum to end youth homelessness in Ottawa!
Great leadership and commitment from @en.ottawa.ca , @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social , United Way Ottawa, ATEH and RBC
@tkavanaghbayward.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @och-lco.bsky.social
Panel discussion at the event today
Ariel with representatives from the United Way and housing organizations at the breakfast today
There is so much momentum in Ottawa, aimed at ending homelessness. It was great to stay the day at a breakfast organized by @ottawaalliance.bsky.social and the United Way, featuring experts from Niagara Region + Calgary, who have transformed their shelter systems and housed thousands of people.
Consultez le rapport, devenez membre de l'Alliance et rejoignez le mouvement pour mettre fin au sans-abrisme dans notre ville.
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/diversion
Les résultats sont frappants : le personnel a réussi à réorienter 22 % des personnes vers des solutions alternatives à l'hébergement d'urgence. Cela démontre qu'en investissant dans la prévention et les interventions en amont, nous pouvons réduire le nombre de personnes sans abri.
Taux de détournement réussi de 22 % 36 % des personnes étaient nouvelles dans le réseau de refuges d’Ottawa (au cours des 48 dernières heures). Principaux types d’hébergement vers lesquels les personnes ont été orientées : Retour à leur logement locatif (28 %) Famille (23 %) Logement de transition (22 %) Ami.e.s (16 %) Nouveau logement supervisé ou retour à leur logement supervisé (8 %) 67 % des personnes réorientées ne sont pas retournées dans le système d’hébergement d’urgence Durée moyenne du séjour en refuge : 11 nuits (pour toutes les personnes réorientées, y compris celles qui l’ont été sans être admises en refuge)
Aujourd'hui, nous publions un rapport sur un projet pilote de six mois mené auprès de l'organisme Les Bergers de L’Espoir, afin de les orienter vers des alternatives positives à l'hébergement d'urgence.
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/diversion
It shows that when we invest in prevention and upstream approaches, we can stop more people from becoming homeless. Read the report, become a member of the Alliance, and join the movement of ending homelessness in our city.
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/diversion
Infographic showing results of the diversion pilot, which are detailed in the report 22% successful diversion rate 36% of individuals were new to Ottawa’s shelter system (within the last 48 hours) Top accommodation types to which people were diverted: Returned to their own rental housing (28%) Family (23%) Transitional housing (22%) Friends (16%) New supportive housing placement or return to their own supportive housing (8%) 67% of diverted individuals did not re-enter the shelter system Average length of stay in shelter: 11 nights (for all diverted individuals, including those who were diverted without being admitted to shelter)
Today we’re launching a report on a 6-month shelter diversion pilot project at Shepherds of Good Hope.
The results are striking. Staff were able to successfully divert 22% to positive alternatives to emergency shelter.
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/diversion
A montage of photos of Alliance staff and volunteers, including at the Race to End Homelessness and during an Empathy Project, styled to look like polaroids. there is also the Alliance's logo, and the logo for An Hour to Give
We’ll be featured this Saturday, January 31 on Sam Laprade’s “An Hour To Give” on Rogers TV Ottawa and Country 101.1!
Ending homelessness is possible. We’ll talk about how we’re bringing people together to go from managing the crisis to solving it, and how you can help.
Coming up this Wednesday! Register now, you won't want to miss this one.
Ending Homelessness Is Possible: Lessons in Emergency Shelter Transformation Wednesday, January 28 - 7 pm ET In-person in Ottawa, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre Watch online or join a watch party! Sandra Clarkson, Calgary Drop-In Centre Michael Lethby, Niagara Resource Service for Youth Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Catherine Cullen (Moderator), CBC Radio
Thrilled to announce that Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Infrastructure, will be joining us for this event!
Register here for info on how to watch in-person in Ottawa, or via livestream or watch party: alliance-to-end-homelessness-ottawa.s1.yapla.com/en/event-78066
Ending Homelessness Is Possible: Lessons in Emergency Shelter Transformation Wednesday, January 28 - 7 pm ET In-person in Ottawa, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre Watch online or join a watch party! Sandra Clarkson, Calgary Drop-In Centre Michael Lethby, Niagara Resource Service for Youth Catherine Cullen (Moderator), CBC Radio
Ending Homelessness is Possible: Lessons in Emergency Shelter Transformation
A panel discussion on preventing and ending homelessness, with leaders who are doing it!
📅 January 28
🍿 In-person in Ottawa, livestream, or join a watch party
alliance-to-end-homelessness-ottawa.s1.yapla.com/en/event-78066
If you’re in a position to contribute time or money, or to help raise awareness for an organization doing good work this #GivingTuesday, consider taking a look through our members page to find an organization that speaks to you.
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/members
Building Ottawa series: Thinking Beyond the Market, with Dr. Brian Doucet. Wednesday, December 3, 8:30 am - 10:00 am, Dr. Doucet is Associate Professor School of Planning, University of Waterloo, and the maker of the film Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing
Next Wednesday, December 3, join us for a conversation with Dr. Brian Doucet about his documentary "Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing".
Register here if you'd like to join: alliance-to-end-homelessness-ottawa.s1.yapla.com/en/event-78913
Deachman: Trying to navigate homelessness taught me something new about empathy A real-life simulation shows what a day in the life is like for someone trying to avoid homelessness—and exposes the system's gaping holes. Author of the article: By Bruce Deachman Published Nov 22, 2025 Last updated 1 day ago
Have you been curious about the Empathy Project, our program that helps people who may not have been homeless understand the barriers people face in getting housing?
Bruce Deachman at the Ottawa Citizen gave it a try and wrote about his experiences:
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
Building Ottawa series: Thinking Beyond the Market, with Dr. Brian Doucet. Wednesday, December 3, 8:30 am - 10:00 am, Dr. Doucet is Associate Professor School of Planning, University of Waterloo, and the maker of the film Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing
Next Wednesday, December 3, join us for a conversation with Dr. Brian Doucet about his documentary "Thinking Beyond the Market: a film about genuinely affordable housing".
Register here if you'd like to join: alliance-to-end-homelessness-ottawa.s1.yapla.com/en/event-78913
Total raised: $31,872.55 Race to End Homelessness Because we can't go fast enough Saturday, October 4, 2025 10k, 5k, and 1k walk/run RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Dr 1K: 9:00 am / 5k and 10k: 9:30 am
From the bottom of our hearts, huge thanks to everyone who ran in the #RaceToEndHomelessness this past weekend. 💛
We've raised over $31,000 for Ottawa organizations working to end homelessness, and you can still contribute til Friday:
raceroster.com/events/2025/...
Thanks so much for joining us!
Thanks so much for taking part!
Ariel with Theresa Kavanagh and Meg from the Alliance to End Homelessness at the race
Ariel with friends from the YMCA and Refugee 613 at the race
A sign that says there are over 700 families in shelter in Ottawa
Ariel with Kaite from the Alliance to End Homelessness at the race
I had a blast walking the 5k at the first-ever Race to End Homelessness this morning! Congrats to everyone who participated, and to @ottawaalliance.bsky.social for organizing! So great to see so many friends from the housing and homelessness sector there.
Beautiful day for @ottawaalliance.bsky.social run 🏃
"Finland has ended homelessness and I hope our run is a chance to talk about solutions that many people don’t know of, but should, because there are lots of solutions out there.”
irun.ca/mind-and-bod...
Race to End Homelessness Saturday, October 4, 2025 image of runners' legs
See you tomorrow!
Online registration for the #RaceToEndHomelessness is now closed, but you can register onsite at the RA Centre tomorrow, and you can also still donate to the runners!
raceroster.com/events/2025/...
