Building a Brighter Future
Dear YMCA Community,
As we continue our mission to build a healthier, more compassionate community, we are pleased to share an important update regarding a significant development within our housing services. The YMCA of the National Capital Region is collaborating with the City of Ottawa to transition 49 families from our 180 Argyle facility to a newly modernized facility at Corkstown Transitional Housing Program located at 1 Corkstown Road. This initiative is set to commence on July 22, 2024, and reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the families we serve.
The need to further enhance the capacity for single men and/or women continues while ensuring adequate and responsive capacity and services for families. As such, the City, in collaboration with the YMCA, have decided to transition the families from the YMCA to the Corkstown location. The new facility at 1 Corkstown Road, is designed to provide improved living conditions that meet the evolving needs of our community, featuring larger living spaces, a fridge and microwave, and private washrooms for each unit, offering a significant upgrade in comfort and privacy. This will allow the program at Corkstown to service families in one location, providing targeted wrap around onsite supports. Additionally, this transition will allow the YMCA to accommodate single adults experiencing homelessness, and better meet the need of singles and newcomers with access to specialized targeted services as well as supports the City’s overall plans to transition out of Physical Distancing – Emergency Overflow Centres.
This move will not affect the youth, women, and men who are part of our other housing programs at 180 Argyle. We believe that these new facilities at Corkstown will not only provide a better living environment but will also allow us to better serve the needs of our community in the years to come. We are committed to ensuring that our actions always reflect our core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Thank you for your ongoing support and trust in us. We look forward to continuing to serve you and making a positive impact on countless lives together.
Sincerely,
Trevor McAlmont
President and CEO, YMCA of the National Capital Region
For more information, please read our media release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the urgency for this transition? Why is it necessary to move at this time rather than after more extensive consultations?
There is a recognized need in the community to eliminate the use of community centres and arenas as distancing centres. The large influx of newcomers and asylum seekers, mainly individuals, has put pressure on the system, and these distancing centres met the need for the short-term.
The City has committed to eliminating the use of these centres by this coming winter. In order to achieve this, the City worked in collaboration with the YMCA and it was decided that families be transitioned to Corkstown road and individuals fill the spaces at 180 Argyle. There is more need for vacancies for individuals, and this plan helps to fill that need.
This move aims to provide the families currently residing in our family shelter space at 180 Argyle, with a new, modernized living environment that better suits their needs, and to instead use this & facility as a space for those who require short term, urgent accommodation.
How many residents are being moved, and what logistical support, such as movers and moving supplies, will be provided?
All of the family shelter residents will be moving from the Argyle facility. In total, there will be 49 “households”, or 184 people. There will be full supports in place for the move and these costs will be covered by the City of Ottawa.
What are the plans for the current Argyle facility once vacated?
This move only involves 4 floors of the Argyle building. The remaining floors will still occupy our youth, women’s and men’s housing programs. In August, the vacated units will be occupied by new individuals from distancing centres.
How are the City and the YMCA working together on this move?
Staff from the YMCA and the City of Ottawa staff will work together to support a smooth and positive transition for families moving to the Corkstown Transitional Housing Program and for singles moving from Physical Distancing Centres to the YMCA.
Who is financially supporting the residents during this transition? Will residents incur any costs?
The City will provide the financial supports for all of the residents during this transition. Residents will not incur any costs.
What are the exact dates for the move for both the families at the YMCA to Corkstown and individual City residents to 180 Argyle?
The tentative plan is:
- To move families from 180 Argyle to Corkstown Road between July 22 and August 2, 2024.
- To move the individuals from the distancing centres to 180 Argyle between September 9 and 20, 2024.
After the move, will both the families and the individuals moving continue to be a part of the City’s shelter system?
Yes, both the families moving to Corkstown Road and the individuals moving to 180 Argyle will remain part of the City’s shelter system. The move will have no impact on that. YMCA staff will provide support where possible.
Will this change impact the capacity to serve families who are experiencing homelessness?
The opening of the City of Ottawa’s Corkstown Transitional Housing Program has significantly increased the capacity for families. All families who are experiencing homelessness will continue to receive placement through the Family Shelter Services system.
What facilities and amenities are available at 1 Corkstown, and how do they compare to those at 180 Argyle?
The Corkstown space overall is larger and more suitable for families than our units at the Argyle facility. The Corkstown units all have individual washrooms as well as a microwave and fridge in each room. The City plans to add communal kitchens to Corkstown, as currently exist at Argyle.
What is transitional housing?
Transitional housing provides onsite programming with a residential component, as well as supports can include:
- Life skills training.
- Newcomer supports (e.g., referrals to settlement agencies, interpretation services, help to find a job, employment training, help with immigration process).
- Access to financial assistance as well as community agencies.
- Staff on site 24 hours/7 days a week to help and assist clients with their day-to-day living.
- Staff working with clients to obtain more long-term suitable housing as soon as possible.
What services will be offered at the YMCA to new individual residents at 180 Argyle?
The YMCA will continue to offer transitional housing services to newcomer single male and females experiencing homelessness. Services will include, but not be limited to, housing support services, settlement services and other supports. More information will be available as we get closer to the move-in date.
Will both the incoming city clients and outgoing YMCA residents have access to YMCA wraparound supports at their new locations?
Incoming individuals at 180 Argyle will have access to wraparound YMCA supports. The City will provide supports to the new residents of 1 Corkstown Road, but the YMCA will assist wherever possible.
How are you addressing the needs of residents with special requirements, such as mobility or health issues?
The Y and the City want to ensure that all residents feel supported during this transition and receive support that meets their direct needs. Based on the requirements required of each resident, this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
How can I be referred to the YMCA Transitional Housing Program for Singles?
The YMCA Transitional Housing Program functions as a part of the City’s shelter system.
Anyone experiencing homelessness can contact 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for emergency housing assistance and staff will provide a placement option that suits that household’s needs. Households requesting placement in the shelter system are not able to choose their placement location.
What can the community do to support those who depend on the YMCA?
The YMCA can always use more volunteers and donors. Should you wish to help please contact the YMCA at donations@ymcaottawa.ca.