IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, FOR YOUTH FACING ADDICTIONS, AND FOR PEOPLE AND FAMILIES DEALING WITH POVERTY, MENTAL ILLNESS AND VIOLENCE.
For many in our community, just getting through the day can present serious challenges. Poverty, mental illness, homelessness, family violence and crime all take their toll.
To help turn lives around, we are focusing our efforts in three areas:
- Helping get homeless people off the streets through housing first initiatives;
- Helping people with mental health and addictions issues get access to the support they need; and
- Providing support and treatment for people and families in crisis.
Helping get homeless people off the streets
Why are we focusing here?
- It costs $100,000/yr to keep someone on the street in health, social service and justice costs. For $18,000/yr you could permanently housing a homeless person.
- By helping get homeless people off the street you're providing security, quality of life and the chance to address the root causes that led to their initial homelessness."
Our Community Goal
- Help homeless people get off the streets and turn their lives around.
Measuring Success
United Way Ottawa is working with government, stakeholders, community agencies and partners to finalize the measurement that will be used to show progress in this area.
Together, we are…
- Partnering with service providers to deliver supports through a 'housing-first' model.
Helping people with mental health and addictions issues
Why are we focusing here?
- 20% of us will experience a personal mental health issue during our lifetime.
- 85% of adults with addictions started abusing drugs and/or alcohol before the age of 18.
By giving people facing mental health or addiction issues easy access to help you decrease the chances that they will spiral into deeper problems.
Our Community Goal
- Connect people facing mental health issues or addictions with the help they need.
Measuring Success
United Way Ottawa is working with government, stakeholders, community agencies and partners to finalize the measurement that will be used to show progress in this area.
Together, we are…
- Investing in community based programs and services that promote healing, resiliency and recovery
- working with partners to strengthen school-based substance abuse prevention and intervention
- working with partners to improve coordination of resources and enhance collaboration among service providers and others"
Supporting people in crisis
Why are we focusing here?
- In order for a community to be healthy, a social safety net must be in place to support its most vulnerable individuals when they face crisis or overwhelming barriers."
Our Community Goal
- Give people in crisis a place to turn when they need help the most
Measuring Success
United Way Ottawa is working with government, stakeholders, community agencies and partners to finalize the measurement that will be used to show progress in this area.
Together, we are…
- Investing in programs like the 24 hour distress line - which gives people a place to turn to when they need help the most.
- It provides access to trained volunteers, who provide suicide prevention, crisis intervention, confidential support and referrals to other agencies where required.
For more information download our
Focus Area One-Pager
