What it’s like patrolling Ottawa’s downtown to help the homeless

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OTTAWA – Wearing matching black Hi-Vis backpacks, dark blue winter coats and hats stitched with City of Ottawa branding, Rachel Douglas – alongside seven fellow team members and a canine companion – make up the City’s Community Engagement Team. Better known as “CET” amongst clients who use the team’s outreach model, CET workers are paired together to collectively patrol the ByWard, Lowertown, Centretown, Elgin Street and Sandy Hill neighbourhoods.

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“I think community is all about inclusivity. So, making sure everyone is a part of it, no one is excluded from it and business owners, residents, our street level people are all able to connect and acknowledge each other for who they are,” explained Douglas, adding even the smallest greetings go a long way to building connections.

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With its inception as a pilot project in January 2022, CET formed as a response to the lasting impact of the pandemic, and the continued effect of drug use and unhoused individuals on businesses and residents in the community. The goal of the program is to help divert those who use drugs and are unhoused away from police and emergency medical services. CET can help folks get an ID, access shelter programs, or receive health services.

“We talk a lot about meeting people where they’re at and that has to be the starting point,” explained Caroline Yabsley, Program Manager at the CET program. “Not everyone knows what’s available to them. Not everyone understands what I can access. It’s not always that the services aren’t there but it’s how do you get people to the service or how do you get that service to them.”

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