- • A conservative estimate, as reported in the 2013 State of Homelessness in Canada, suggests that there may be three individuals experiencing hidden homelessness for every one person in our shelters.

Q: Will you survey the entire city?

- • During Ottawa’s Action Week, in addition to street-based outreach, survey teams will go to at least 30 different locations where homeless people are in large numbers, including both our emergency shelters and at places where the ‘hidden homeless’ may gather.
- • Our objective is to create a snapshot of the most vulnerable in our community to identify the housing solutions we need.
- • By engaging homeless individuals firsthand, we aim to encourage housing solutions that integrate the stories, needs and perspectives of our homeless neighbours.
- Q: How many people are homeless in Ottawa today?
- • We have excellent data and information on the families and individuals that stay in our emergency shelter system. In 2014, over 6500 individuals accessed an emergency shelter in Ottawa at some point in the year.
- • Each spring, the Alliance publishes shelter data from the year prior; a complete picture of 2014 shelter data will be released in May.
- • We only have estimates of the numbers of families and individuals who are among our hidden homeless. A conservative estimate, as reported in the 2013 State of Homelessness in Canada, suggests that there may be three individuals experiencing hidden homelessness for every one person in our shelters. Through this survey, we hope to learn the names and better understand the needs of some of Ottawa’s hidden homeless.

Q: The national campaign has established a target of housing for 20,000 by July 1, 2018. What is Ottawa’s target for 2018?

- • Through our community’s 10-year plan, we in Ottawa are committed to ending long-term homelessness. Our City is developing interim targets to achieve that goal.
- • We know that the City can not do this alone. Through this campaign, we will issue a Call to Action, building public support for ending homelessness and political support for renewed federal and provincial investment in housing and support services. Drawing on Action Week data, we will collaborate with partners and stakeholders to set ambitious targets for us in Ottawa. We know ending long-term homelessness is possible, and we are committed to that goal.

Q: How does Housing First help end homelessness?

- • Our community is moving ahead with a coordinated system of supports to ensure that those individuals who are the most vulnerable are housed first and fast.
- • Research has demonstrated that housing homeless people as quickly as possible without pre- conditions, is not only more effective but saves money.
- • This approach means providing people with a place to live first and offering recovery-oriented services and additional support for underlying issues, such as addiction and mental illness, that best meet the needs of the individual.
- • Access to a home (one that is subsidized) – and access to the supports to help one stay housed – these are the two basic ingredients.
- • With a limited supply of affordable and subsidized housing here in Ottawa, we’re currently missing a crucial part of the solution.
- Q: Can we really end homelessness?
- • Ending homelessness may not mean that no one will ever experience a housing crisis again – the dynamics of our world are such that job losses, health crises, family conflicts, and other phenomena – experiences which interrupt housing stability – are likely to continue. But no one should be – or needs to be - trapped in an endless cycle of homelessness.