Treacherous Weather Doesn’t Stop Ottawa Booth Centre’s Outreach Services Team from Bringing Hope to the City’s Homeless Population

Freezing rain in Ottawa today hasn’t prevented The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre’s Outreach Services team from continuing to offer help and support to those who are homeless.

For The Salvation Army, aiding anyone on the street remains a high priority, regardless of inclement weather conditions, which can make it dangerous for those who are precariously housed.

“The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre’s Outreach Services team doesn’t stop because the weather is bad. It is even more important that we are out during poor weather conditions,” says a Salvation Army Street Outreach and Housing Services Worker.

“The Salvation Army’s Outreach Services vans are out today to respond to emergencies among those who are homeless or anyone who needs emergency transportation to a shelter. Exposure risk is much greater in poor weather.”

Ottawa Booth Centre’s Outreach Services team proactively informed those living on the street of the impending bad weather and explained helped them understand their options, which includes moving indoors to The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre, or other emergency shelters in the city.

For those who chose to remain outside, the Outreach Services team provided food, water, warm clothing and emergency medical assistance to keep people as safe and warm as possible during the storm.

“The Ottawa Booth Centre’s Outreach Services team checks on people in locations where we know they are living outdoors. If anybody feels that it is too miserable to be outside, we can transport them to an emergency shelter,” the Outreach and Housing Services Worker says.

If you are concerned about anyone out in the cold, you are asked to please call 311 and The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre’s Outreach Services team will be dispatched to support these individuals.

“We encourage people to call 311. The more eyes we have out there the better,” the Outreach and Housing Services Worker says.

To support Outreach Services and other critical programs please donate online at www.salvationarmy.ca or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.