One of the most important actions we can take in response to the homelessness crisis is to create pathways that help people get back on their feet. While it’s important to meet people where they are, it is equally as important that, as a community, we can offer hope and support to help them move toward a better future. The City has been involved in several projects that are launching this fall and will collectively help create steps out of homelessness. The first of these projects is here at 206 Concession St, where a property purchased by the City has been converted into an 18-bed residential treatment facility. This new facility will be overseen by Addiction and Mental Health Services and will offer addiction treatment and rehabilitation as a vital first step for individuals on their path out of homelessness.
“Of course, while treatment and rehabilitation are crucial, one of the most common concerns I hear is the need for affordable housing options that individuals can transition into after treatment.” So as a City, we are working hard to try to facilitate as many new affordable housing options as possible. In a partnership with Caraco Homes and Tipi Moza, we’re close to the grand opening of a brand new four-plex on Yonge St, that will provide safe and affordable housing units for Indigenous individuals and families. Last month, I also had the privilege of touring the eight new tiny homes constructed by Habitat for Humanity on a City-owned parcel of land in Shannon Park, next to the Rideau Heights Community Centre. It was amazing to speak with one of the new residents of these tiny homes, who just a year ago was living in the encampment in Belle Park and is now living in her own home and ready to help others climb out of homelessness.
There is an enormous amount of work still to be done to address homelessness in our community, but the investments we are making are helping to create a vital pathway out of homelessness for those in our community.
Video: Helping Individuals on Their Path Out of Homelessness