From Homelessness to Hope with The Salvation Army
Grant Yusak has called many places in Ottawa home: his truck, a hospital, the airport, and even a storage locker.
Grant’s challenges started in 2020 following a bad investment in a bowling alley, which led to him losing his savings. As a result, he sold his house, moved into and out of a series of apartments, and lived in his trailer before moving from place to place, including riding buses around the city all night to stay warm.
“When I first became homeless, it was unsettling,” Grant recalls. “I lived out of my truck, and then I lost my truck. So, I lived everywhere. It was difficult during the wintertime because it was so cold outside.”
In January 2024, Grant shared his homelessness story with the media, an interview that caught the attention of Mikyla Tacilauskas, The Salvation Army’s manager of outreach and housing in Ottawa. Within a month of that interview, Grant had his own safe and comfortable subsidized apartment just a few kilometres from where he grew up. The Salvation Army Street Outreach and Housing Support teams at the Ottawa Booth Centre advocated to speed up the process of finding permanent housing for Grant.
Housing Success
The Salvation Army in Ottawa has seen tremendous success in finding permanent housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. So far in 2024, 151 individuals like Grant now have keys to a place in Ottawa they call home.
“Our goal is to find homes for as many people as possible. We believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We are very grateful for the community’s support and landlords who help us find permanent housing for those we serve,” Mikyla says. “A year ago, we would house one or two individuals a month. And now it’s at least two a week, which speaks to our innovative partnerships and commitment to the homeless population in Ottawa.”
Mikyla says The Salvation Army’s housing staff creates a bond beyond the usual landlord-tenant relationship by helping landlords get to know their new tenants while building a deep understanding of the importance of stable housing for vulnerable individuals. She adds that landlords can always get in touch with caseworkers, fostering a sense of trust and collaboration.
Even before moving into their new place, tenants are taken out to shop for furniture, housewares, clothing, and food. During in-home visits from Salvation Army caseworkers, they are taught the basics of home maintenance.
“We want to do everything we can to make their house a home and create pride of ownership and independence,” Mikyla says.
Plans for the Future
Without the assistance of The Salvation Army, Grant says he would likely still be sleeping wherever he could. But now with a roof over his head, he approaches life with optimism and confidence. He works regularly at various local events, likes to cook and garden, has a book for sale on Amazon (with several more being written), and wants to travel.
“I always had the belief that somebody was taking care of me. And I know life was going to change for the positive at some point, which it has,” he says. “My gratitude is over the top. I’m looking forward to taking another step forward.”
Grant’s journey from homelessness to hopefulness has profoundly transformed his life, demonstrating that with determination and support, a brighter future is always within reach.
To help The Salvation Army assist people like Grant in your community or across Ontario, please visit www.salvationarmy.ca or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
