<\/p>\n
Grant Yusak has called many places in Ottawa home: his truck, a hospital, the airport, and even a storage locker.<\/p>\n
Grant\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first became homeless, it was unsettling,\u201d Grant recalls. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
In January 2024, Grant shared his homelessness story with the media, an interview that caught the attention of Mikyla Tacilauskas, The Salvation Army\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Housing Success<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cOur 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,\u201d Mikyla says. \u00a0\u201cA 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Mikyla says The Salvation Army\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to do everything we can to make their house a home and create pride of ownership and independence,\u201d Mikyla says.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n