Shepherds of Good Hope ally Shawn Hamilton: Tackling homelessness vital for downtown revitalization

Alleviating chronic homelessness by providing adequate housing and support not only helps the city’s ailing downtown core but aligns with the principle of doing “the right thing” for the greater good, said Ottawa business leader Shawn Hamilton during a fundraising reception held at the Rideau Club on Thursday in support of Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation. 

Hamilton, a principal at Proveras Commercial Realty,  spoke before a crowd of business leaders donating to the Shepherds’ campaign to build a new 48-bed supportive housing residence near the ByWard Market. The eight-storey facility, slated to open next winter, will prioritize Indigenous people, women and others struggling with mental health, substance use and other disorders.

It’s widely recognized Ottawa’s downtown is in trouble. “Right now, our downtown is in need of help and revitalization,” said Hamilton. While attempts are being made to breathe new life into the urban core, ongoing efforts require a compassionate approach to helping the homeless population, said Hamilton while calling for strategies that rise above an ‘us versus them’ mindset and that tap into increased empathy. “Today is about making a difference, doing the right thing and providing a path to a solution.”

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Hamilton was joined at the reception by campaign co-chairs, Tamarack Homes and Tartan Homes president Chris Taggart and his wife, Ottawa At Home editor in chief Mary Taggart. The Taggarts are leading the $5-million community campaign to the finish line and, as members of a local business family with deep roots in the region, they have also gifted $1 million through the Taggart Parkes Foundation. The Shepherds’ transitional shelter building at 256 King Edward, which delivers harm reduction and emergency services, was recently renamed Taggart Parkes Family Community Hub in gratitude for their gift.

It’s been the Shepherds’ experience that 99 per cent of individuals placed in supportive housing do not revert to a life on the streets. That means the sad and often complicated journey of chronic homelessness should end for the four dozen people who will move into 216 Murray. Added Hamilton: “Not through adversarial means, but by preserving dignity and humanity with warmth and safety.”

The new multi-purpose space will have a brand new community kitchen, referred to in the past as soup kitchens, and a drop-in program that the Shepherds is especially excited about. “This is the first time Shepherds of Good Hope has had the permanent infrastructure to enable those who are experiencing chronic homelessness to have somewhere to go, up to 16 hours a day,” said David Gourlay, CEO of SGH Foundation.

The campaign will be the beneficiary of an upcoming event, Table for Hope, being hosted by philanthropic restaurateur and chef Joe Thottungal this Oct. 1st at the University of Ottawa.

Gourlay was joined by members of his team, including Amber Brannan, who, as manager of philanthropic relations, helped to organize the event at the Rideau Club. Also there was SGH Foundation board chair Mark Roundell, who’s retired from the financial services industry. 

On hand to welcome guests to the Rideau Club was Ted Wagstaff, president of North45. The room also heard from Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, who came to appreciate the strength of community while growing up in the small Nova Scotia town of New Glasgow. “In order to support people through social services, it was actually neighbours who helped neighbours.”

As well, MacLeod touched on the history of Shepherds of Good Hope, which began 41 years ago as a soup kitchen in the basement of St. Brigid’s Church.

The room was full of Ottawa business leaders, from Paradigm Commercial Group of Companies president and CEO Ashley Hopkins to Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall co-chair Aaron Rubinoff to Ottawa Board of Trade board chair Brendan McGuinty to Earnscliffe Strategies principal Mary Anne Carter to Lundy Construction president and CEO Sean Lundy, to name a few. Also in the crowd were Ottawa architect and visionary city builder Toon Dreessen and Dan Gray, the latter of whom is just weeks into his job as the new president of Arnon Development Corp. 

While the reception was on the intimate side of things, that won’t be the case next month when more than 500 people meet at the Shaw Centre for the Shepherds’ signature Taste for Hope fundraiser featuring the best in local food and drinks. Tickets for the May 15 event are 80 per cent sold out.

caroline@obj.ca