Frame Three
How We Help
Homes for all. Community for all. Hope for all.
Learn about how Shepherds is fostering hope and reducing harm in Ottawa’s most vulnerable communities.
Shepherds of Good Hope offers supportive housing options all across Ottawa
Including residences in Rideau-Rockcliffe, Lowertown, Carlington, and Kanata. Supportive housing is a highly effective strategy that combines affordable housing with intensive coordinated services to help people like Wendy who are living with complex trauma, physical and mental health issues and substance use disorders. In supportive housing, Wendy has her own apartment where she has 24/7 access to health care and social supports, which help her maintain her housing in the long term. Shepherds of Good Hope offers an array of supports, some designed for individuals who are able to live with a high level of independence, while others provide more specialized and intensive supports like our Managed Alcohol Program.
Shepherds of Good Hope’s Managed Alcohol Program (MAP) is a world-renowned harm reduction program.
The program helps participants like Sim to stabilize their alcohol use through a medically regulated administration of alcohol.
Sim knew he required support in managing his substance use and maintaining his physical and mental health. In MAP, Sim can receive a medically prescribed dosage of wine, every hour, for fourteen hours a day.
Through this structure and support, Sim was able to stabilize his use, gain a sense of community, and live life with dignity. As a result, he has drastically reduced his overall consumption of alcohol, and some of his friends now refrain from consuming alcohol completely. Sim and his friends have daily access to medical and mental health services, tailored case management, life skills and recreational activities.
Shepherds of Good Hope’s Transitional Emergency Shelter Program (TESP) is like a mini hospital that focuses on providing health care for people with complex needs.
Alongside our partners, most notably Ottawa Inner City Health and Carefor, we offer specialized supports for people like Chadd who are living with trauma, physical and mental health challenges and substance use disorders.
TESP accepts diversions from other emergency services, like the Police and Paramedics, rather than sending people to hospitals and jails. This allows emergency responders to get back on the roads faster.
In TESP, Chadd receives health care, even if he’s intoxicated, in a familiar environment without judgment. He also gets access to health and wellness services and case management to support him with his goals.
Impact of Shepherds
Shepherds of Good Hope is one of the largest not for profit organizations in the housing and homelessness sector in Ottawa. We provide a comprehensive continuum of services for people at risk of, experiencing and exiting homelessness.
In the last year...
162,513 meals served
2,677 people used our programs
103 people diverted from entering the system
933 people diverted to our shelter
195 people had permanent stable housing
113 units under development
Our community kitchen, drop-in and shelter programs provide people with far more than basic needs— they provide a welcoming environment where people feel accepted as part of a community.
Our many partnerships allow us to offer innovative harm reduction programs that meet people where they are, without judgment, and support them with their goals around housing, substance use, health and more.
We offer a range of supportive housing programs throughout the city of Ottawa. With our partners, we offer medical, mental health and substance use supports that allow residents to not just maintain but thrive in their housing and fully integrate into their communities.
*data from April 1, 2020 to March 31 2021
Shepherds of Good Hope in Ottawa
Richcraft Hope Residence is our newest supportive housing residence. It opened in 2021 with 42 units for people of all genders. The program includes managed alcohol services, life skills and individual care plans.
St. Andrew’s Residence is a 35 unit apartment style supportive housing facility designed for individuals who live with concurrent mental health challenges and addictions, but who are able to live with a high level of independence. The program provides residents with access to various health and wellness services.
The Oaks has 55 units across two buildings in Nepean. Many of the residents are part of our innovative Managed Alcohol Program which stabilizes participants with a medically regulated dose of alcohol and also provides medical and mental health services, case management and activities.
Hope Living is a 100 bed supportive housing program that offers on-site amenities including a dining hall, activity room and large outdoor area. The program provides comprehensive health and wellness support, enabling residents, who are mostly seniors with significant mental health concerns, to maintain their independence in a community setting.
This newly acquired property is currently under renovation to provide housing for 57 people. The housing units, ready in 2022, include a mix of barrier-free studio apartments and rooms with wrap around support services.
This historic building currently houses our Community Soup Kitchen, drop-in program, volunteer services and administrative offices for both the Shepherds of Good Hope and Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation. When the kitchen and drop in move across the street the space will be renovated to provide additional meeting space and community space.
Our shelter building is home to the 102 bed Men’s Shelter, 68 beds for the Women’s Transitional Emergency Shelter Program, 58 beds for the Men’s Transitional Emergency Shelter Program, and a Supervised Consumption and Treatment Service. Along with a traditional men’s shelter, the emergency shelter programs operate like a mini hospital that provides medical care and diverts people of all genders from hospitals and jails, thereby providing on-site supports appropriate to their needs.
Action Step Learn More about Shepherds
There are so many ways to support people experiencing, exiting and at risk of homelessness in your community through Shepherds of Good Hope!
We love sharing what we do! Reach out to our team to Request a Tour (when COVID allows), Request a Virtual Presentation or get Information for Schools!
Not sure where to start? Reach out to us!