The Bishop’s Panel on Housing Justice (BPHJ) is providing bulletin inserts to every parish with facts about homelessness and affordable housing and questions for candidates.

“Housing affordability and homelessness touch every community across the diocese,” Moira Alie, the BPHJ chair said. “Municipal leaders need to know this is an issue people care about.”

The campaign is taking place as Centre 454, operated by Belong Ottawa, a Community Ministry of the Diocese that serves many people who are homeless or precariously housed, faces a deadline to move from its longtime location at St. Albans Church on King Edward by Jan. 31, 2027.

Belong Ottawa has made an urgent request to the City of Ottawa to extend the deadline to ensure its essential services can continue without interruption, avoid the dislocation of a move in the dead of winter and allow for meaningful planning for its future. Details of Centre 454’s services to the most vulnerable are on Belong Ottawa’s website (belongottawa.ca). There is also a letter-writing campaign supporting its request for an extension of the deadline: Centre 454 Advocacy Campaign.

For the municipal elections, the panel recommends several steps for churchgoers who see the bulletin and volunteer to help. One option is to attend all-candidate meetings and ask questions, using the information provided. Another is to engage directly one-on-one with a candidate, proactively or when the candidate shows up on a doorstep.

For anyone who misses the bulletin but would like to participate, details are posted on the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa website. ottawa.anglican.ca/what-we-do/homelessness-and-affordable-housing

All municipalities in the diocese have good current information on candidates and election arrangements on their websites.  (See sample of links at the end of this article.)

The bulletin insert (which can be downloaded from the diocesan website) begins with the fact that homelessness in the Diocese has reached record highs. It offers basic facts (such as 3,000 people are homeless in Ottawa every night); suggestions for municipal action; and questions for candidates, including, “Will you make ending homelessness and building more affordable housing a priority if you are elected?”

The panel’s goal is to make sure homelessness and affordable housing are municipal election issues. Candidates who are faced with a multitude of issues need to hear from many voters to make something a priority.

“We want it to be an election issue,” said panel member Joyce Potter. “We want people running for council to be aware of the issues and to have to think about their positions.”

The panel sees the election initiative as part of its mandate to inform parishioners about the housing and homelessness situations. Feedback from participating volunteers is encouraged.

It’s easy to find out who is running for election in your municipality. In Ottawa, searching for Ottawa election candidates 2026 brings up full details.

Links for other municipalities:

Carleton Place

Cornwall

Mississippi Mills

Pembroke

Perth

Renfrew

Smiths Falls

The post Anglicans asked to help make affordable housing and homelessness municipal election issues appeared first on Perspective.

I was just walking down Metcalfe Street, on my way

to the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library,

when I saw a woman wearing a shirt that said,

“Grow through what you go through”, illustrated

with some various vegetables, and I really

loved and love that quote, with a thought of

telling her how much I liked it, though we had already

passed each other by.

Then came a thought that it only

tells the what, but not the how. And I then realized

that the only way to get to the how is with support. Unlike

the idea that we are spoon-fed from birth in our Western society

that says that this is something that we must do completely

on our own, that no one is responsible for anyone

but themselves, that tells us the fantasy

(and the lie), of people who

achieve greatness

against all odds.

It does have a wonderful sound to it,

and it makes a gloriously heroic archetype for movies and

the stories of our lives, so I can’t blame anyone too much for believing it.

The only problem with it is that it is almost true, but not quite.

Where it goes wrong is when it speaks of people

achieving greatness against all odds.

But no one can achieve greatness against all odds.

No one can achieve greatness against all manner of adversity

without having at least one thing going their way, without having at

least one advantage, often hidden, which helps tip the

teetering scales of life in their favour.

No one can achieve greatness feeling the whole

world hates them and not having a supportive family

and belonging to a stigmatized, marginalized

group and having every other disadvantage

that one could possibly conceive of.

There has to be at least one person, one role

model, whether it be a parent, a teacher, a preacher,

or someone of at least some standing in society

who doesn’t think they suck, who believes

in them, and who helps shine a light

to light a path through the thorny

brambles and obstacles that

this world often throws our way.

With that then comes the actual possibility

of being able to “Grow through what you go through”.

Amen to that.

— James Andriulaitis is a writer and artist living in Ottawa.

Related articles:

Belong Ottawa’s Centre 454 asks City for an extension of its time at St. Albans

Ride fodr Refuge supports Centre 454 on Oct. 3.

Library exhibit showcases Belong Ottawa artists’ talent

“We are put here to blossom…to sing”

St. Albans concerned about Centre 454 transition

The post “Grow through what you go through.” Great—but how? appeared first on Perspective.

“This fall, your ride will help ensure Centre 454’s essential services continue uninterrupted during its upcoming move,” said Belong Ottawa’s executive director Shauna-Marie Young.
“While our address will change, our commitment to welcoming and supporting people experiencing poverty, homelessness, isolation, and other barriers remains unwavering.”

She added that she hopes to see teams from many Anglican parishes across the diocese participating along with many others from the broader community. “As we enter this next chapter, your support will help ensure Centre 454 continues to be a place of dignity, connection, and belonging for all who rely on it,” Young said.

How to get involved and help:

On October 3, Belong Ottawa invites everyone to join the Ride for Refuge—a family‑friendly national event where communities walk, ride, roll, rally, and push together in support of people seeking hope, safety, and stability.

Last year, more than 60 participants and 10 teams helped Belong Ottawa reach their goal. This year, every dollar raised will help Centre 454 navigate this critical period of change and ensure essential programs, meals, and supports continue uninterrupted.

Here is how to support Ride for Refuge and help keep Centre 454’s 72‑year Anglican ministry strong:

• Lead a Team:Register as a captain and rally your parish, friends, family, or colleagues.
• Join a Team:Be part of the movement—walk, ride, run or roll and fundraise with us.
• Donate:Support Centre 454 even if you can’t join us on Ride Day. Donate at belongottawa.ca/donate or scan the QR code in the ad below

Our Ride for Refuge page has everything you need to get started, including links to register as a captain, join a team, or donate.

Belong Ottawa Elmvale Acres:

On October 3, all you need to do is show up, enjoy the festivities, and know you are helping secure the future of Centre 454.

Join us. Support us. Ride with us. Together, we will keep community strong.”

The post Ride for Refuge supports Centre 454 on Oct. 3 appeared first on Perspective.

As an Anglican Community Ministry, Centre 454 has offered care and essential services to adults experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental health challenges, substance use related harms and social isolation for 72 years. St. Albans Anglican Church at the corner of King Edward and Daly Avenue has housed this ministry for most of that time. The City of Ottawa, which provides core funding for the program, has advised Belong Ottawa that Centre 454 will need to relocate, with a current deadline of end of January 2027.

Belong Ottawa has sent a formal written request for an extension of the transition timeline to ensure its “essential service continues without interruption for everyone who depends on it.”

The prospect of any move of this kind is daunting. Belong Ottawa welcomes 600 to 700 people to its three locations every day, with about 45 percent of them at Centre 454. In addition to meals and other essential services, Belong Ottawa provides referrals to help participants access income, housing, newcomer supports, addiction and mental health treatment services, education, employment, health, legal and other supports.

In recent years, Center 454 has upgraded its kitchen and laundry appliances. The centre provides access to showers, laundry and lockers where people experiencing homelessness can temporarily store their possessions, and cots with clean linens where they may rest in a safe space. Moving locations in the dead of winter would add another level of complexity at a time when the City requires warming centres and safe places people can seek shelter from the cold.

Belong Ottawa is a low barrier drop-in day program. Everyone is welcome, and for the safety of everyone involved, open use of drugs or alcohol has always been prohibited inside the program and on other Community Ministry properties. As the opioid crisis intensified over the past several years, however, the increasing prevalence of public drug use created new challenges for participants, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding neighbourhood. It also intensified pressure from some nearby residents who had long called for Centre 454 to relocate. Belong Ottawa staff have been trained in the use of Naloxone to reverse overdoses, and they regularly save lives. The recent closure of Consumption and Treatment Sites (CTS) in Ottawa, including two in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood near Centre 454, have increased pressure on the city’s health and social service system.

Kale Brown, director of Housing and Homelessness for the City of Ottawa, acknowledged that “Centre 454 is an important part of Ottawa’s social support network and has supported some of the community’s most at-risk residents for decades.” He attributed the need to find a more suitable location to “the needs of program participants and the surrounding community” evolving. “As a primary funder, the City is working closely with Belong Ottawa to review location options and support the transition. As planning continues, our focus remains on maintaining service continuity and supporting community well-being,” and helping “ensure day programs, like Centre 454, remain a welcoming community resource.”

Belong Ottawa’s executive director Shauna Young told Perspective it is vital that any new home be “meaningfully placed,” so it is accessible to the people Centre 454 serves. Launching a fundraising campaign to uphold critical services and fortify Centre 454 through this transition, Belong Ottawa confirmed its commitment “to continuing Centre 454’s compassionate, low barrier support for generations to come. As community needs grow, we are partnering with the City to strengthen this vital service.” A silver lining outcome would be finding a larger and purpose-built space to help meet increasing needs, Young said.

The Rev. Victoria Scott, director general of the Anglican Community Ministries, said: “As attention continues to focus on Centre 454’s relocation, our immediate priority remains advocating for an extension to the January 2027 timeline and helping people understand the impact this transition will have. As we navigate this moment together, we remain committed to holding with care the longstanding witness of this ministry, the people who rely on it, the realities facing the surrounding neighbourhood and the City of Ottawa, and the discernment required to find a new home where Centre 454 can continue offering dignity, stability, and compassionate support.”

The important role Belong Ottawa plays in the community was evident at a summer barbeque held in Dundonald Park on July 22 that was attended by more than 500 people, most of whom participate in programs at one or all three of its locations.

Rabeya Klein told Perspective that Belong Ottawa changed her life. She recalled being isolated in her home in the years before the pandemic. “I would find myself alone all the time, getting depressed and not feeling like I belonged anywhere,” she said. Fortunately, at that time, she lived next door to St. Luke’s Anglican Church on Somerset Street where the St. Luke’s Table program (now part of Belong Ottawa) served hot lunches and offered other assistance to anyone in need. When she walked in for the first time, the staff welcomed her warmly, and she decided to volunteer. She began helping to serve lunches and then moved to calling bingo numbers. Now she serves as a member of the Belong Ottawa Participant Advisory Committee, gathering and expressing feedback from participants and sharing ideas to improve the drop-in day programs. “I’ve made lifelong friends through volunteering at St. Luke’s,” she said, noting that the relationships and opportunities for social connection are one of the best aspects of Belong Ottawa programs.

Calley, told Perspective that she has visited all three locations of Belong Ottawa at various times, said she found the staff are patient and “are always there to listen to you…They helped me understand that there is help out there.” She added that they helped her find housing after she went through a difficult time. Calley also mentioned the importance of the friendships and social connections formed at Belong Ottawa.

The Rev. Victoria Scott reflected on the importance of the Community Ministries for Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. “As a church, we are called both to respond to immediate need and to name the injustices that create that need. Compassion requires us to meet people where they are. Justice requires us to ask why so many people continue to fall through the cracks and what must change so that people and communities can flourish.”

She added, “Too often these conversations become polarized, as though we must choose between supporting vulnerable people and acknowledging the strain that frontline ministries and neighbourhoods are experiencing. We can hold both realities and work toward solutions that serve everyone. We can affirm the dignity of every person while also saying clearly the current situation is failing many people, including those struggling with addiction, those working on the front lines, and the communities around them.  Held together, these truths invite us into a shared work of discernment—one that refuses false choices and seeks the common good by pursuing solutions that honour the dignity of every person and strengthen the well-being of the whole community.”

Anyone wanting to support Belong Ottawa’s request for an extension to the transition timeline will soon be able to participate in a letter-writing campaign through Belong Ottawa’s website. There will also be opportunities to support the ministry financially through an upcoming fundraising campaign.

Supporters and allies are also encouraged to participate in or sponsor a team in the Ride for Refuge on Oct. 3: Ottawa Elmvale Acres (Belong Ottawa) – Ride for Refuge 2026 In the meantime, donations to support Belong Ottawa’s work can be made through the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa’s online donation page.Donate Now – ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF OTTAWA

Belong Ottawa hosts a summer barbecue

Concerns about Centre 454’s transition did not dampen the spirits of the Belong Ottawa staff, volunteers and the more than 500 people who attended a summer barbecue on a hot and sunny day in Dundonald Park.

Related articles:

Ride for Refuge supports Centre 454 on Oct. 3

St. Albans concerned about Centre 454 transition

“Grow through what you go through” — Great, but how?

The post Belong Ottawa’s Centre 454 asks City for an extension of its time at St. Albans appeared first on Perspective.

Belong’s Centre 454 location has operated in the lower level of St. Albans Church for decades, providing basic services such as meals, shower and laundry facilities, as well as equally essential social connection and care.

The Rev. Michael Garner, incumbent of St. Albans, welcomed everyone into the church. He said the staff and volunteers are “an inspiration to me personally and to this congregation. I just really want to thank you for all you do. It is not easy work. We see that…. The way that you show up with passion and love and understanding for people who really need it in this moment is amazing.”

The Rev. Victoria Scott, the director general of Anglican Community Ministries, added her own thanks to the staff and volunteers for “the ways that you all make this a place of dignity and hope and connection. For me, it is absolutely at the centre of the Gospel to walk in solidarity with those who are experiencing vulnerability and marginalization. And there’s tremendous opportunity in places like this for connection in the midst of the disconnection in our world and for a way to find hope even in the darkest times. And so just know that I personally am so grateful for each and every one of you…. and really recognize the transformative work that you do.”

Shauna-marie Young, executive director of Belong Ottawa, thanked St. Albans and Garner for hosting the celebration in the church and for the parish’s hospitality and support of Belong Ottawa’s work.

She also thanked Paul Weber for providing music for the celebration as well as for the concert he and his band performed at St. Albans in February with all the proceeds benefitting Belong Ottawa.

 “Belong Ottawa is truly fortunate to have 31 dedicated volunteers…. You offer your time, your energy, your compassion, and in many cases, your personal resources in support of our mission. You contribute in so many meaningful ways — serving meals, offering companionship, supporting programs, trimming hair, mending clothes, gifting donations,” Young said. “Everything you do helps Belong Ottawa create safety and belonging for every person who walks through our doors.”

Volunteers’ commitment has made it possible for Belong Ottawa to serve 162 ,000 meals since June 2025, she said. “That number …represents far more than food. It represents dignity, stability and community for those who need it most…. From the bottom of our Belong hearts, thank you for your generosity, your spirit, your unwavering dedication. Each of you make a difference, and that’s why we wanted to honour you today.”

The post Belong Ottawa day program toasts its volunteers appeared first on Perspective.

Hobin Architecture will match donations from new donors made before July 1, 2026, up to a total of $45,000. Belong Ottawa will share donations received through the program with two other charities — the Youville Centre, which supports young mothers and their children, and the Ottawa Humane Society.

Belong Ottawa operates day programs in three locations in downtown Ottawa —Centre 454, St. Luke’s Table and The Well — serving vulnerable people who may be experiencing poverty, homelessness, mental illness and addictions. The day programs address basic needs such as food, laundry and shower facilities as well as offering other supports that foster dignity, wellness and hope.

“At Belong Ottawa, we are honoured our organization has been featured in this year’s campaign,” said executive director Shauna-marie Young. “This spotlight gives new supporters the chance to discover our essential, lifesaving work, and it reinforces how powerful it is when charities and socially responsible companies come together. Partnerships like these strengthen our communities and create lasting, positive impact. Thank you for this meaningful recognition.”

Steve Clifford, Hobin’s director of marketing and communications, explained that the company started the You Give, We Give program in 2021 in response to the hard times the community was going through during COVID. “We’ve always had a strong philanthropic mandate here, giving a portion of our own revenues, but we wanted to leverage our peers. So that’s what kind of drove this new matching program.”

Architect Barry Hobin founded the Ottawa-based firm in 1979 as a two-person office that has now grown to a team of more than 40 designers, technologists and administrators. It is now the longest operating architecture firm in Ottawa. Woven into the firm’s DNA is a strong belief in and commitment to giving back to the community.

In an interview with Perspective, Hobin explained, “We hold ourselves accountable…. We don’t come to the end of the year and ask ‘Have we got some money left over that we can throw into charitable giving?’ Our regular accounting and profit and loss sheet has built into it an expectation of charitable giving.” He added, “We philosophically want to give to agencies that are small, who are grassroots…. Our first major gifts were to things like the Ottawa Mission and around social justice and compassion. As causes, those things ring true to us.”

Hobin noted that the firm is a secular company, so its charitable giving is described in terms of recognizing “that we exist because of the strength of community, and we want to make our community stronger.

However, he added that the firm “ascribes to the Judeo Christian framework of tithing…. we’re in a time when talking about personal faith is challenging. Demonstrating your beliefs through action resonates with your community.”

You Give, We Give 2026

Ottawa architect Barry Hobin and his firm believe in giving back to the community year in and year out.

photo: metropolis studio

The post Belong Ottawa to benefit from a matching fundraising campaign appeared first on Perspective.

A modest crowd braved the cold night to attend a benefit concert for Centre 454 performed by the Paul Weber Band, and they were rewarded with great music and songs full of stories and the local history of eastern Ontario.

Mary Martha Hale, a retired former executive director of Centre 454, welcomed the audience and thanked the band for their generosity in doing the concert.

Shauna-marie Young, the current executive director of Belong Ottawa, thanked everyone for coming. “Your presence is an act of solidarity, and it means more now than you may ever know and more than ever before.” Centre 454 faces opposition from businesses and residents in the area who want it closed or relocated. “This evening would not be possible without the ongoing support of St. Albans, and the leadership of the Rev. Michael Garner, and the legacy of Mary Martha Hale,” Young said.

“Every day, the people who walk through the doors of Centre 454 and all of the sites for Belong Ottawa face bitter cold, hunger, loneliness, and the uncertainty of simply making it to tomorrow. In fact, today, on King Edward Street, three of my team who work at 454 offered lifesaving overdose support and revived a gentleman who had stopped breathing and had turned blue overdosing.” By the time paramedics arrived, the man was up walking and refused the ambulance.

“The work we do saves lives,” Young said. Since June 2025, “our team has responded to more 2 ,000 incidents on the streets in this neighbourhood, and with today’s intervention, 27 lives have been saved from overdose,” she reported.

“For more than 70 years, Centre 454 has been a place of refuge, offering warmth, nourishment, dignity, and human connection, said Young. “And the need continues to grow…. Since June of 2025, Belong Ottawa has served more than 56,000 meals from this site here, and 110 ,000 meals at all three drop -in day programs. …Beyond meals, we offer warm, clean, and safe places to rest, along with showers, laundry services, and a real sense of connection. Centre 454 is a doorway to support, and for many, a pathway to recovery. to healing, to employment, to income, and ultimately, it is sanctuary to all.

“Some of our participants recently shared with me at a town hall meeting what 454 means to them: ‘It’s like a second home.’ And another young man said, ‘I feel human again when I’m here.’ Another person responded, “You save lives.”

Young thanked everyone “for believing in Centre 454 and Belong Ottawa, and most importantly, for believing in the people who rely on us. Everyone deserves safety, care, and belonging.”

The post Paul Weber Band performs benefit concert for Centre 454 appeared first on Perspective.

Young welcomed and thanked everyone for their support. “What a beautiful day and what a beautiful group. This is Belong Ottawa’s very first formal fundraising event, and we could not be more grateful or excited to share it with you….We have 56 participants registered and 49 of you here today. We have 14 teams and 23 volunteers.

“As of a few moments ago, Belong Ottawa has exceeded our first fundraising event goal, and we are at 101%. We have raised $20,300,” she announced to cheers. She noted that donations were being accepted until the end of October, so there was still potential to raise more funds.

Young added that the event was also about raising awareness of the vital work that happens at Belong Ottawa’s three sites, where they welcome about 600 people every day.

“At a recent townhall meeting with our participants, those who use our centres, I met a gentleman [who gave Young permission to share his story]…His name is Red. He’s a regular visitor to at least two of our three sites. He shared how Belong Ottawa has made a difference in his life, and that having a place to get clean, to wash his clothes, to rest, to eat, and to work with our team and meet with other participants and our staff and our most valuable volunteers is very important to him. ‘If it weren’t for places like Belong Ottawa, I would have starved a long time ago,’ he said.”

Young added that Red’s story’s not unique. Between early June and the end of September, Belong Ottawa’s three locations served 67,000 meals. “Those meals are for people, our neighbours, our brothers and sisters experiencing poverty, homelessness, substance abuse and mental health challenges. The need is urgent … and the need is growing. And that’s why today matters, because every dollar raised today is going directly to programming that provides life-giving support for our most vulnerable community members,” Young said. “Thank you for walking, for riding, for fundraising, for volunteering, for standing with us together.”

City councillor Marty Carr, who serves on the Public Health Board, the Community and Social Services Committee, and is also the vice-chair of the Police Service Board, thanked Belong Ottawa for supporting vulnerable individuals. ‘In many cases, [they] are not only experiencing addiction and crises, inability to afford housing and homelessness but are also often some of the people that are the most vulnerable and being put in positions such as human trafficking and abuse on the streets. That is something that we talk about often in the Police Services Board is ,.. seeing that rise and how these people are being victimized further,” she said. “It’s just wonderful to have a place where people can go to a safe place, where they can get their wound care, where they can get food, where they can get their clothes washed and I just really want to thank everyone who helps support the most vulnerable.”

The Rev. Jarrett Carty, a deacon who serves as a chaplain for the Anglican Community Ministries to support participants in the programs and staff, said that Belong Ottawa is always in the thoughts and prayers of people in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. Parishes want to lend their support and care for their neighbours, he said. He offered special praise for the staff at Belong Ottawa, who clearly care deeply for the people they serve. “I just want to do a shout out to them and to say what a great success this is. Hopefully, we keep this up and make it bigger,” he said.

And with that, everyone set off on foot or by bike to do laps in the neighbourhood surrounding St. Aidan’s before returning to the church to eat a celebratory lunch together.

By the end of October, Belong Ottawa’s Ride for Refuge had raised more than $23,000.  Those who wish to support Belong Ottawa can make donations any time at belongottawa.ca

The post Belong Ottawa’s first Ride for Refuge surpasses its goal appeared first on Perspective.

Belong Ottawa is proud to be joining dozens of charities across Canada for this family-friendly event that brings the community together to walk, pedal, push strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers, or pull wagons—all in support of people seeking hope, safety, and freedom.

Organizers hope parishes across the diocese will participate but also that they will spread the word in their communities.

There are lots of ways to get involved and help. Individuals can step up as team captains, form and register a team; invite friends, families, and co-workers to rally to fundraise, and then walk, ride or roll in the event from 10 am to 1 pm on Oct. 4. Those who don’t want to form their own team can join another team or donate funds to support a team.

“Ride for Refuge is a powerful expression of our community’s compassion—people walking, riding, rolling, and pulling together to offer hope, safety, and belonging to those who need it most,” Belong Ottawa’s executive director Shauna-marie Young says. “As the number of people turning to Belong Ottawa continues to grow, so too does the importance of this event. We are thrilled to welcome our Anglican parish partners on October 4—their heart and energy are a gift to this movement,” she added.

St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, Elmvale Acres (934 Hamlet Rd.) has volunteered to be  the start and finish point. Participants can choose the length of course that suits them — 2.5 or 5 km or bike 10 or 20 km. It is a great way to provide vital support for vulnerable people in Ottawa, but it can also be a fun opportunity for team building.

“If you haven’t joined yet, there’s still time—come be part of something that truly makes a difference,” says Young.

Register at: https://en.rideforrefuge.org/location/ottawaelmvaleacres

The post Belong Ottawa launches Ride for Refuge fall fundraiser appeared first on Perspective.