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Ottawa Citizen

City officials unveil converted office building as 'major milestone' in transitional housing

Article content 'This also represents a fundamental transformation of our shelter system… it is fundamentally different from the traditional shelter system,' Troster said. Article content Article content 'We know that homelessness is a problem that all of us need to solve, and I hope this will be a lesson to the rest of the community that these kinds of facilities help build community, they can integrate seamlessly into our community, and that they are a good thing and we need more of them. Article content 'We want enough permanent affordable housing for everyone, but in the meantime, people need a safe place to land when they come to Ottawa to start a new life,' Troster said. Article content Troster called it an 'ideal location' on Queen Street near the corner of Bank Street, close to the LRT, transit, downtown amenities and 'literally across street' from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada offices, which are located at 235 Queen St. Article content Article content The project transformed 30,000 square feet of vacant office space into a transitional housing facility with four levels, including a lobby. Article content The top three floors of the building feature 'sleeping pods' equipped with a bed, four partial-height walls, a curtain for the entrance, a personal locker and an individual reading light. Article content Programming will be operated by CCI Ottawa, which also manages the St-Joseph Transitional Housing Program, and the organization will offer 'a supportive environment at the facility, including essentials such as meals and direct on-site services.' Article content The facility will also provide social and skill development services that 'facilitate the transition to permanent housing,' according to a news release. Article content Article content Myriam Mekhi, CEO of CCI Ottawa, said the facility will have 35 staff members onsite, including crisis counselling and employment counselling. Most of the temporary residents will be asylum seekers, Mekhi said. Article content Article content 'We're doing everything we can to support newcomers as they arrive in our city,' Sutcliffe said. 'Ottawa is and continues to be a welcoming city. We're going to do everything we can to support new people as they arrive in our city, to contribute to our community, to seek refuge from other places — that's what we've always done, that's we'll always do.' Article content Dudas said the Queen Street conversion 'is just one part of the puzzle.' Article content 'The city and city staff have been working at all ends to make sure we are acquiring and opening up new opportunities,' Dudas said. 'There's a new transitional housing facility on St-Joseph Blvd. that will eventually see about 150 individuals there. There is a facility on Corkstown Road that has welcomed families into the community. We have (a supportive housing proposal for) Kilborn Place, which is a work in progress, and those are just a couple examples of the work the city is doing to put words into action and making sure everyone in our city who needs a place to stay has a safe place to be.' Article content