The City of Ottawa has made changes to its strategy to support new immigrants and homeless residents. The planned construction of temporary reception centres for migrants at 1645 Woodroffe Avenue and 40 Hearst Way has been cancelled. Instead, the city will use existing public spaces, such as the YMCA and the facility at 250 Lanark Ave., to house and provide the necessary assistance.

The decision is due to the decrease in the number of migrant arrivals and the opening of new opportunities for their accommodation and adaptation in Ottawa.

“We see that the demand for temporary structures is currently decreasing, and the use of existing facilities is more efficient and cost-effective,” city representatives explained.

Since the launch of the city’s Integrated Transition to Housing Strategy, it has been possible to significantly improve the housing and social adaptation situation for newcomers. Thus, since 2023, 1,365 new temporary accommodation spaces have been opened. Now, assistance to migrants and homeless people will be provided in already functioning social institutions, such as the YMCA.

In the spring of 2024, prefabricated structures were planned to be used as temporary centers, in particular at 1645 Woodroffe Avenue and 40 Hearst Way, but after analyzing the needs and possibilities, the city decided to abandon this plan in favor of more sustainable solutions.

The program also provides support for the integration of migrants into local communities and facilitating their rapid transition to permanent housing.

The city authorities assure that the cancellation of the construction of the centers will not worsen the quality of the assistance provided, but on the contrary, will allow them to focus on long-term support for migrants, more effectively using the resources of the city and local community organizations.