Reviewing and updating Ottawa’s homelessness strategy

The City of Ottawa is five years into a decade-long strategy to end homelessness, and could now be making a few adjustments to the plan.

Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor was assigned by Mayor Jim Watson to have a look at what has been working over the last five years, and what needs to be improved.

He listened to different community delegations and delivered recommendations to the Community and Protective Services Committee at a hearing Thursday.

He also joined The Rick Gibbons Show on 1310 NEWS.

Taylor said the results may not be there yet in terms of decreasing Ottawa's homeless population, but he believes things would be worse had it not been for this strategy's implementation back in 2013.

Three key areas, highlighted by the Deputy Mayor, which need more investment through the next five years are youth and Indigenous homelessness, as well as supportive housing.

Housing loss prevention is also going to be key, along with creating affordable housing near transit stations.

The challenge for the city is getting pieces of land, especially around new light rail transit terminals, before its all gobbled up by private builders.

Taylor said the handling of family shelters could also use a revamp in Ottawa. he would like to see an expansion of the province's Families First model.

According to the city, more than 100,000 residents have benefited from housing and support services, delivered by more than 130 community partners since the 10-year strategy was implemented. The city said it has built 364 new affordable and supportive housing units, diverted 1,280 people from emergency shelters and moved 519 single individuals with long shelter stays into permanent housing with supports.

Click here to read the complete report.

Listen to Deputy Mayor Mark Taylor's full conversation on The Rick Gibbons Show: