The Salvation Army in Ottawa is Dedicated to Sheltering and Supporting Vulnerable Individuals
During the cold Ottawa winter months, The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre’s Street Outreach Team brings care, compassion, warm clothing, and other life-saving essentials to vulnerable people living rough on the street or in homeless encampments. Frigid temperatures, snow, and ice doesn’t keep them from their mission to keep people safe and warm.
Getting people housed and keeping them housed is priority for The Salvation Army, and the Booth Centre team works to find permanent housing for individuals who can also access case management services and life skills training that helps with their transition. The Street Outreach Team successfully secured private permanent housing for 108 individuals experiencing homelessness in Ottawa in 2023, while providing vital supports to 2,091 homeless individuals.
The Street Outreach Team works tirelessly seven days a week, year-round to ensure people are protected from the harsh weather conditions while living on the street. Two Outreach Teams work in tandem to meet a range of needs with one team focusing on keeping people safe and warm and another focused on finding secure housing.
“This service is essential to keep people safe and illustrates our commitment to addressing homelessness in Ottawa,” says Mikyla Tacilauskas, Manager of Outreach and Housing Services. “Our primary function, especially during the winter, is ensuring the safety of those who choose to stay outside, while also assisting them in accessing temporary emergency shelter or permanent housing.”
On the streets, team members provide wellness checks to vulnerable individuals as they patrol locations and encampments where people are known to congregate. Winter essentials like sleeping bags, boots, jackets, mittens, and tarps are handed out. The team is on the road from 6 am to 3 am to assist anyone in distress, and during cold weather alerts, the service expands to a full 24-hour schedule to ensure everyone gets the care they need.
“We’re constantly planning ahead to improve someone’s situation, equipping them with the support and resources needed for our permanent housing program. Our goal is to empower them with encouragement and essential skills to secure and maintain safe, long-term housing,” says Mikyla.
The team has been the recipient of many generous donations from the community to help in the efforts to keep people bundled up. Algonquin College recently donated 500 warm duvets to hand out to those living outdoors. Scarves, mitts, hats, sleeping bags, warm winter jackets, boots, and socks always come in handy and can be dropped off at The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre at 171 George Street.
If you are concerned about anyone out in the cold in Ottawa, you are asked to please call 311 and our Street Outreach Team will be dispatched to support these individuals. To support the work of The Salvation Army, donate online at www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
