We are facing a substance use disorder and mental illness crisis in Ottawa. Mental illness is one of the greatest challenges we face as a community. And I think we can all agree we need a new approach to responding to mental health calls. A new compassionate and caring approach. We are launching a pilot program in 2024 that will create an alternative number to 911 that residents can call, have access to a team specially trained to offer compassionate support to those in a mental health or substance abuse crisis. 

I have renewed my commitment to the goal of ending chronic homelessness in Ottawa. This objective requires the collective efforts of the City of Ottawa, other levels of government, community organizations and the community as a whole. I have met with many different groups who are working hard in this area, including the Alliance to End Homelessness, Salus Ottawa, Shepherds of Good Hope, the John Howard Society, and many others. These are all people who dedicate themselves to addressing and solving this crisis. The first piece of our comprehensive strategy is a framework to transition single adults experiencing homelessness out of Physical Distancing Centres and shelters and into transitional and supportive housing. The City has developed a responsive and effective plan to provide support to people in need as they transition to a more permanent home. And we continue to work together on other solutions to help us reach the goal of ending chronic homelessness in Ottawa.

We have achieved a remarkable milestone in our city. We now have more supportive housing units than shelter beds. This milestone is significant in that is highlights our approach to homelessness by prioritizing supportive housing, which focuses on providing stable, long-term solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness. With more supportive housing units than shelter beds, we are reducing our reliance on temporary solutions to homelessness. By investing in supportive housing, we are addressing the root causes of homelessness and working towards sustainable solutions that lead to lasting positive change.