Options Bytown

Since the first Options Bytown building opened its doors in 1989, our organization’s work has been grounded in the simple belief that we all deserve a home. By providing safe and permanent housing with support to people living in homelessness, we work in service of one goal: creating sustainable, permanent solutions to homelessness.

With your assistance, we are able to provide ongoing support to those experiencing chronic homelessness through our resource centres, supportive housing sites and our housing first program. Our goal is to get people out of shelters, off the streets and into safe and stable homes.

TOP FUNDING SOURCES

• Government funding: 96%
• Individual donations: 2%
• Other charities: 1%
• Other: 1%

Funding priorities

As a supportive housing provider, we are aware of the disproportionate number of Indigenous people that experience homelessness, both across Canada and in Ottawa specifically. Options Bytown is committed to reconciliation in every aspect of our organization, which has led to the launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan on September 29, 2022.

The Options Bytown Reconciliation Action Plan is a framework for our organization to build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples, and to contribute to the work of reconciliation.

This Reconciliation Action Plan will guide Options Bytown in taking respectful, appropriate and effective actions to support the specific needs of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis members of our community.

How you can help

DONATE

When people move into Options Bytown, the apartments are clean, secure, and private. But four walls and a roof are not always enough to make a home.

Tenants typically move in with what they can carry and nothing else. Funding for welcome kits helps us to provide them with the supplies they need to turn their apartment into a home.

Fundraising also allows us to provide food programs and other activities to build quality of life.

VOLUNTEER

Housing over 130 people in our supportive housing sites can be a lot of work, we are always in need of volunteers to help get our apartments move-in ready. If you have any painting or trade skills, donate your time to help us make sure our tenants have a safe and clean apartment to move into.

An important part of our work is building relationships and creating community at Options Bytown. To help bring our tenants together, we host various programs and workshops. Whether you want to teach a cooking class, lead a walking group or an art workshop, we are looking for volunteers to help lead all types of activities with our tenants.

EVENTS + FUNDRAISING

Miracle on 34th Street

Join us on November 27, 2022 at the Ottawa Little Theatre for a performance of Miracle on 34th Street in support of Options Bytown. To purchase tickets, please contact adinsmore@optionsbytown.com.