We are in the process of purchasing a new building funded by MOH Phase II. The closing date is scheduled for December 16, 2004.
Over the last 7 months, through attrition and relocation, we have been vacating our rental properties known as Hope Community on King Edward Avenue and Hope Discovery on Guigues / Cumberland / St Andrew. Together Hope Community and Hope Discovery have capacity for 104 residents. We are currently in negotiations with our landlord to come to a mutually agreeable arrangement to exit both rental properties.
In the new location at 208 St Andrew, which is next door to Hope Discovery, we will be securing tenure for 40 residents in permanent independent stable housing. This will substantially reduce our presence as a housing provider in our Lowertown Community. The present residents of 208 St Andrew are welcome to stay – save the one unit on the ground floor which we plan to convert to an office. All other units will be filled as attrition occurs in the existing tenant base, which we expect to take several months – if not years.
A screening and assessment process has been in place now for over one year in preparation of our eventual move. Many of our residents have a history of severe mental illness, which has been chronic by nature, causing isolation, loss of social interaction skills, and deterioration of life skills. As a coping mechanism, many have developed an addiction. We have been successfully working with these individuals in our current housing programs along with The Royal Ottawa Hospital (ROH), Causeway, and Salus, who are our partners in MOH Phase II.
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The Shepherds’ role of housing provider and service coordinator as well as the ROH’s role in assessment, short-term treatment, education and training and Causeway’s role in vocation and employment services as well as substance abuse services, creates an effective team in supporting each of these residents. All prospective Shepherds’ residents shall be thoroughly assessed; shall be actively participating in the necessary support programs; and shall have achieved the requisite level of independence and capacity, prior to taking up residence in 208 St Andrew. Should any of the Shepherds’ residents relapse, the Shepherds shall take the necessary remedial steps to ensure that they are placed in appropriate housing. The Shepherds are using best practices from Salus and are modelling this residence and associated programs on the Salus residence which currently operates successfully in Hintonburg.
There is great excitement and confidence about this new location. The Shepherds shall be providing 24/7 property management on site. A security system and improved lighting shall be installed as well as other initiatives to ensure the safety and security of all tenants as well as the community. Major renovations are planned to update the building, both structurally and aesthetically (e.g. garages, balconies, new windows, gardens, back patios and painting) some of which will be underway in 2005. In the next 10 years, approximately 1 million dollars will be allocated in our Capital Project Budget for 208 St Andrew improvements.
A Community Developer will be on site every day and their main responsibility will be to assist in creating community in the building as well as the greater community in the neighbourhood. Additional support for individuals will be available offsite (e.g. social and recreational opportunities, life skills training, by Shepherds’ staff as well as ROH, Causeway and CMHA).
The Shepherds of Good Hope shall be working with the community to ensure this consolidation of our housing program will be a success for all.
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