What we do
Shepherds of Good Hope is one of the largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to meeting the needs of those experiencing homelessness and vulnerably-housed people of all genders in the city of Ottawa. Our vision is to provide homes for all, community for all, hope for all. We foster hope and reduce harm in Ottawa by providing around-the-clock specialized services, programs, and partnerships. Many of the people who access Shepherds of Good Hope’s programs and services face challenges with mental health, substance use disorder, and trauma.
Shepherds of Good Hope operates five, soon to be seven, supportive housing residences in four locations across our city. We also operate a community soup kitchen and drop-in program, health and wellness services, police and paramedic diversion programming, and an emergency shelter for people of all genders. By the end of 2023, we will house more people in permanent supportive housing than we shelter each night for the first time in Shepherds of Good Hope’s history.
Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation is dedicated to ethical fundraising and sustainable financial management. We support the work of Shepherds of Good Hope through ethical, donor-centred fundraising and to ensure sustainable financial management of the organization. The Foundation is responsible for all of Shepherds’ fundraising activities, including individual giving, direct mail appeals, online donations, events, and grant submissions.
TOP FUNDING SOURCES
- City of Ottawa: 59%
- Rent: 12%
- Community Donations: 11%
- Champlain LHIN: 10%
- Ottawa Inner City Health: 3%
- Other: 5%
How you can help
Give
By supporting Shepherds of Good Hope, you are transforming the lives of people of all genders who are experiencing homelessness, many of whom live with mental health challenges, substance use disorder, and trauma. Your investment in our community will help people experiencing homelessness and people who are at risk of homelessness by directly supporting much-needed programs and services that make a difference every day. Programs like our internationally-renowned Managed Alcohol Program and Supervised Consumption and Treatment Service save lives in our community by reversing overdoses and helping people with substance use disorders find hope again. Our Transitional Emergency Shelter Program serves individuals who need specialized health care in a non-judgmental and caring environment. This reduces hospital emergency room wait times, frees up first responder personnel’s time, and provides more tailored care for the individual. By supporting Shepherds of Good Hope, you are helping to make chronic homelessness a thing of the past as we build permanent supportive housing and move people out of shelters and into homes of their own. Without your support, none of these innovative programs would be possible. Please donate today!
Volunteer
Every day, Shepherds of Good Hope volunteers make positive contributions across our city, showing people experiencing homelessness and vulnerably-housed adults in our community that people care. Find the right spot for you. We offer volunteering opportunities across our city at supportive housing residences in Kanata, Carlington, Lowertown, and Rideau-Rockcliffe. We also offer volunteer opportunities in our community soup kitchen on Murray Street. You can explore our year-round and seasonal volunteering by going to our website to apply and learn more.
EVENTS + FUNDRAISING
There are many ways to support Shepherds of Good Hope throughout the year via our community events! After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, we were excited for the return of our signature event, Taste for Hope, this past spring. Gathering community leaders from across the City, Taste for Hope has returned to its place as one of Ottawa’s premier foodie events. Bringing together Ottawa’s top chefs, guests were treated to exquisite dishes that delighted their tastebuds through this fun culinary experience. The food paired beautifully with local offerings of craft beer, wine, and cocktails. Topping off the evening, Ottawa’s own Dueling Pianos took the stage and provided a fun ambience throughout the evening. 2022 saw the event raise a record-setting $270,000 – with funds going directly to Shepherds of Good Hopes’ life-changing programs and with the aim to create more supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness in our community. Stay tuned for details on the 2023 events – we hope you can join us in 2023!
Want to host your own event and support those currently experiencing homelessness? Our team is here to help make it easy. Whether at home or in the office, we have the materials and tools you need to make a big impact on the lives of individuals today! Contact us at donate@sghottawa.ca to learn more.
LOCATION
233 Murray St., Ottawa, Ont., K1N 5M9
sghottawa.com
donate@sghottawa.com
613-789-8210
Year founded: 1983
Twitter: @sghottawa
Facebook: /sghottawa
Instagram: @sghottawa
Mark Roundell, Chair
Deirdre Freiheit, President and CEO
BOARD MEMBERS
Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation
Mark Roundell, Chair
Carrol Pitters
David Rattray
John Peters
Kaveh Rikhtegar
Ryan Kilger
Wendy Hope
Shepherds of Good Hope
Dave Donaldson,, Chair
Ahmer Gulzar
Catherine Danbrook
Chantal Desmarais Barton
Darryl Squires
Donna Lougheed
Julie Terrien
Julie Gagnon
Louisa Ibhaze
Robin Sellar
Steve Ball
Tom Burrow
GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS
Ottawa
