Shelters and homeless organizations in Ottawa, which feared receiving fewer donations due to the recent strike at Canada Post, seem to have avoided the worst. With nearly 3,000 people experiencing homelessness in the federal capital, according to the latest count, the needs remain great. Organizations are also not immune to increasing costs — and demand for their services.
When the Canada Post strike began in mid-November, the Shepherds of Hope Foundation was preparing to send 12,000 letters for its fundraising. The operation alone raises $1 million per year, or a quarter of the organization’s budget. It is only now, almost two months later, that the organization is starting to receive the fruits of this fundraising.
“It is too early to say if the Canada Post strike will have a huge impact, but we think we will have as much help as in past years. People see the needs in the streets,” said David Gourlay, CEO of the Shepherds of Hope Foundation.
Still in Ottawa, this is a reality also experienced by Cornerstone Housing for Women and Center 507, which have increased calls on social networks to lessen the consequences of the postal strike. If the two organizations are concerned about shortfalls, it turns out that, in reality, few repercussions have been quantified.
The largest organization helping people experiencing homelessness in the federal capital, the Ottawa Mission, however, did not have the same luck. The strike “hit hard”, maintains its general director, Peter Tilley. Usually, in December, the Mission raises around $1.2 million. This year, he estimates he raised $400,000 to $500,000 less. “We lost hundreds of thousands of dollars [en dons]. This is our biggest campaign of the year. It’s frustrating, but we have to keep going. »
Mr. Tilley hopes he doesn’t have to make any tough choices. This year, several donors left funds to the organization in their wills. “It may not be the case next year, but we probably won’t have a strike [postale] which will harm our financing,” he believes.
Growing needs
Especially since costs – and the needs of their customers – continue to rise, especially when it comes to meals. This is the case at Cornerstone Housing for Women: the organization served 480 meals per day before the pandemic; it now serves 900 daily. And if they cost $2 to $3 to produce then, today they cost $5.
-Center 507 has doubled its meal offering, from 250 to 500 per day. And this figure is likely to increase, estimates the organization’s general director, Richard LeBlanc.
At the Shepherds of Hope, costs increase by approximately 20% per year, notably due to the price of food, the cost of labor and the price of medical equipment.
“With the post-pandemic economy, we have more demands. People come to eat even if they have a roof over their heads. They face difficult choices: eat or pay for housing. And here, there is no judgment,” notes Mr. Gourlay.
These three organizations receive food from the Ottawa Food Bank. Last year, a report revealed that 40% of Ontario food banks were forced to refuse requests for help due to lack of resources. The organizations also say they feel a drop in the quantity of food received.
“We need to be more and more creative in our fundraising to ensure that the community can eat. And we want protein. People experiencing homelessness deserve nutritious and comforting meals,” says David Gourlay.
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.
