Councillors approve land for new Inuit women's shelter in Ottawa's south end
The City of Ottawa is selling a piece of land in Ottawa's south end to the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition to build a new transitional housing building for Inuit women and their children.
The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition wants to build a shelter with 28-34 beds on Forestglade Crescent, supporting women and their children affected by domestic abuse or facing homelessness.
Councillors on the finance and corporate services committee approved a proposal to declare the site as surplus and sell the property to the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition "for nominal consideration" to develop the new facility.
"The site at 250 Forestglade Crescent is ideal for this use because of its proximity to transit and parks," staff said. "As well, it is in a quiet residential neighbourhood, which is beneficial for the women and their children as it allows for privacy and safety."
The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition says the new shelter will provide a "community led, wrap around supportive environment."
"The Shelter will strengthen Inuit families, including supporting Inuit women to function independently with your children, in a healthy way free from violence and the continued effects of intergenerational trauma," the coalition said. "The community-oriented space will be a space to break the cycle of abuse with women supporting women and the community supporting women and children."
Officials say the new facility will be open to community members for up to six months, and there will be programming on site for counselling, employment and training support and child welfare support.
Some residents in the Hunt Club neighbourhood have raised concerns about the plans to build the shelter in the neighbourhood.
One resident told the committee that while transitional housing is important for the city, residents are wondering if the city looked at other options for the land.
"I think what we're just a little bit concerned that what ends up coming there is something that may detract from our neighbourhood as opposed to benefiting the neighbourhood," the resident said, adding residents weren't consulted on the plans.
At a community meeting in April 23, residents wondered if the neighbourhood has enough supports for transitional housing.
"I'm concerned about the women coming into the community that does not have a hospital near them, that does not have a grocery store near them," Marina Bossio said.
"What kind of security are we going to have in the neighbourhood? What kind of supervision is there going to be over the site? How are issues going to be dealt with," Bernard Ouellet asked.
The goal is to have the building ready by 2027.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Shaun Vardon
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
With DNA break, police ID victim in decades-old Newfoundland case
A skull was found along a backroad near St. John's more than 20 years ago. Now, police have finally identified the victim of the homicide.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing plan defeated in House of Commons
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing bill has been defeated in the House of Commons with the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois voting against the legislation.