Within the City of Ottawa, like many other municipalities across the country, there is an increase in the number of people pitching tents, making temporary structures and all out living on the street. The increasing affordability crisis has caused rates of homelessness to skyrocket.
Minimum wage in Ontario sits at $17.20 per hour but various studies indicate that a living wage in Ottawa is at least $22.80. This extreme gap, plus the difficulty with even finding a job, is one factor of the increased number of people out on the streets.
Ottawa’s latest Point-In-Time Count, on the night of Oct. 23, concluded there were2,952 people across the city experiencing homelessness.
Peter Tilley is the CEO of the Ottawa Mission. He said that the federal government’s housing strategy enacted in 2017 was aggressive, but with only just over half of the targets met, there are still many vulnerable people on the streets.
“We’re in a desperate situation that the promises made in the ten year housing strategy by the federal government in 2017, haven’t even come close to their objective,” he told CityNews.
With a lack of affordable and accessible housing available, those living in shelters can not move onto transitional housing, leaving shelters overcrowded.
“We’ve all got people lining up to wait for a bed each night that’s happening all across this country,” Tilley said.
As winter temperatures encroach, those living on the streets are more at risk, and the demand for shelter space increases even more.
Over the past three days, highs in Ottawa have peaked at a frigid -10 C. While a stark contrast to the mild mid-November and early December temperatures experienced, meteorologists predict the 2024/25 winter season to be colder than normal.
“Just over a year ago, we had 50 to 60 people sleeping in our waiting area in plastic chairs or curled up on the floor,” Tilley said about the influx of refugees in 2023. “It’ll be the same thing now because there’s no beds and our mats are at full capacity.”
But he said the Mission will never turn anyone away from its doors.
“We’ll welcome everyone indoors and make sure they’re fed and, take care of them, rather than have them outside.”
Nursing staff at the Mission remind people that 10 minutes outdoors and -10 C weather can start exposing oneself to the risk of frostbite.
On Dec. 15 the Ottawa Mission hosted its annual Christmas meal which, combined with the services of the Mission’s food truck the week leading up to the event, served close to 18,000 meals. The new record tops off the fiscal year where nearly 1,132,500 meals were served, a 234 per cent increase from pre-pandemic.
Tilley said last week he signed off on a $10,000 cheque to purchase winter gear like hats, boots and coats to hand out to those in need. This is supplementary to items donated by the community.
“We know what’s going to happen,” he said. “Our clothing inventory room will be drained after a cold snap like this.”
But Tilley wants to remind the Ottawa community that the Mission is not just a Christmas charity.
“We’ll put on a nice Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the residents at the Ottawa Mission for those who are staying there,” he said. “But then we’ll wake up Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 and have to carry on with the same level of services.”
While Tilley said the charity has been impacted by the Canada Post strike as it was not able to receive mailed in donations from the community, there are many other ways the community can provide its support. Donations can be made online or in person. The Ottawa Mission accepts cash donations as well as clothing and hygiene items.