Ottawa Booth Centre

Four Ottawa-based Homeless Shelters urge Ontario

Government to fund Pandemic Pay for Front Line Workers

Ottawa’s largest shelters informed Ontario Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy Monday in a two-page email that the shelters have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on pandemic-related expenses since last Aug. 14. That was when government funds allocated to the shelters’ essential workers ran out. The four shelters have spent most of the funds on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), increased staffing and enhanced cleaning protocols.

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See the shelters' full letter here to Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy here:

February 4, 2021
Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy
Minister of Finance & President of the Treasury Board
Government of Ontario

Sent via Email: peter.bethlenfalvy@pc.ola.org

Dear Minister:
RE: Pandemic Pay for Front Line Workers

As leaders of Ottawa’s largest homeless shelters, we wrote to you on August 6, 2020 to applaud the decision by your government to fund pandemic pay for essential workers. At the time, we stated our concerns that the support for our essential workers was scheduled to end on August 14.

Homeless shelters in Ottawa have incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional costs for pandemic related expenses such as PPE, enhanced cleaning protocols, increased staffing and other costs to minimize the risks posed by Covid19 in a 24/7 environment. We felt that it was important to continue supporting those who are delivering essential services to many of the most vulnerable people in our community. This is being done by hundreds of staff across our four shelters.

On July 27, the government of Ontario announced almost $4 billion in provincial and federal funding for municipalities to help stabilize their finances in the wake of Covid19. In its funding announcement, the provincial government identified homeless shelters, women's shelters, food banks, public health and transit as potential beneficiaries of the funds that flowed to municipalities. We were grateful for this support.

The Government of Ontario provided pandemic pay for essential workers from the beginning of the health crisis which demonstrated respect and gratitude for these workers who place the health and well-being of those they serve above all else. Workers who occupy a variety of frontline, clinical, cleaning and food service positions at Ottawa’s emergency shelters received that pay. As noted by Premier Ford on April 7: “During these dark days, the Ontario spirit continues to shine through with everyday acts of heroism, courage, and compassion by our frontline workers.

These people put themselves in harm’s way to care for our sick and vulnerable citizens. I am truly grateful, as are the people of Ontario, for their service, and it’s time we give something back to those who sacrifice so much day in and day out.” And as you also noted Minister, “The pandemic payment recognizes the valiant efforts of our frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19. These heroic workers are delivering critical services that support all Ontarians, including the most vulnerable members of our communities, often putting themselves or their loved ones at risk. They are saving lives and we owe them an incredible debt of gratitude.”

The pandemic pay supported by the government of Ontario ceased as of August 14.

Since then, essential workers throughout the province, including those at Ottawa’s homeless shelters, continued to place the needs of their service users above all else and have worked hard to balance that with the needs of their families, friends and community. The risks associated with Covid19 have not disappeared. In fact, there are now significant outbreaks in COVID19 transmissions throughout our shelters and our staff work tirelessly every day to support our community’s vulnerable adults. As such, they deserve our continued respect and support.

On August 6^th, we asked that you assume the costs of paying our essential workers the pandemic pay they so deserve for the remainder of the course of the pandemic. As charitable, not for profit organizations, our shelters cannot afford to offer this on an on-going basis.

Our teams have worked exceptionally hard for the better part of a year to support people experiencing homelessness and those who are precariously housed in the midst of a world-wide pandemic. At the same time, we also have a severe housing crisis and a devastating opioid crisis. Our employees deserve to be recognized and be compensated for their incredible professionalism and dedication to supporting the most marginalized members of our community under unprecedented challenging conditions.

Covid19 continues. Please - we urge your government to continue supporting our frontline champions through the provision of pandemic pay, retroactive to August 14, 2020 and until such time as vaccinations have been administered to our community. They deserve no less.

Sincerely,

Sarah Davis
Executive Director
Cornerstone Housing for Women

Also signed by the senior managers of the three other shelters:

Peter Tilley
The Ottawa Mission

Marc Provost
The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre

Deirdre Freiheit
Chief Executive Officer
Shepherds of Good Hope

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Feb 2, 2021

Dear Shelter and OICH Staff,

As everyone knows, we are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak in our shelter system in Ottawa. The good news is that most people don’t have symptoms. The bad news is that most people don’t have symptoms making it harder to detect and manage.

For the next while, Ottawa Public Health is recommending that all staff who work in a shelter have a weekly COVID test.

We are asking that each staff make their own arrangements to get a test. We want to make this easy for you..

You can book an appointment at an assessment centre. You will need to give the outbreak number from the place you work in order to get tested.

Outbreak numbers Ottawa Mission-2251-2021-28778 Cornerstone 2251-2021-29860 Sheps 2251-2021-29770 Sal 2251-2021-29677.

You can book an appointment online and come to the Inner-City Health parking lot for a test. ottawainnercityhealth.ca/staff/appointments
You can get tested at work.

If you are working at the Mission, please see the clinic for testing.

If you are working at Shepherds, please see the nurses working there for testing

If you work at the Sal, the nurses are only there during the day for testing.

If you work at Cornerstone, please book online and come to the Inner-City Health office (very close) for your test

If you work in a housing program, you don’t have to get a test but, if you also work downtown or want a test please see your nursing team.

To Get a Test at an Assessment Centre

COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre and Kids Come First Care Clinic at Brewer Park Arena

Ages:

For testing at the COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre, ages 2 months to 18 years
For care at the COVID-19 CHEO Kids Come First Care Clinic, ages 6 months to 18 years (infants less than 6 months of age must visit the CHEO Emergency Department)

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 8:30 am to 7:30 pm
Friday to Sunday: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Services provided:

For a COVID-19 test for children and youth (2 months to 18 years): book an appointment at the COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre (limited walk-up testing is available).
For an in-person consultation with a physician within 24 hours for children and youth (6 months to 18 years) with acute illnesses which include a new symptom, such as fever, cough, vomiting, belly pain, ear ache or runny nose: book an appointment at the COVID-19 CHEO Kids Come First Care Clinic.

Location: 151 Brewer Way, Ottawa
Download factsheet:

Click here to book an appointment at the COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre
Click here to book an appointment at the COVID-19 CHEO Kids Come First Care Clinic

To cancel your appointment, please email: testinginquiries@cheo.on.ca

View other locations

COVID-19 Care and Testing Centres- Heron, Moodie and Ray Friel locations

Ages: Anyone over 6 months old
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8 am to 3:30 pm
Services provided: By appointment only and very limited walk-up testing, swab only OR physician visit with or without swab
Download factsheet:Important information about the COVID-19 Care and Testing Centres
Locations:

Please note telephone booking is reserved for those who do NOT have internet access. It is NOT an information line.
Heron: 1485 Heron Road, Ottawa - Click here to book an appointment or call 613-288-5353
Moodie: 595 Moodie Drive, Ottawa - Click here to book an appointment or call 613-721-4722
Ray Friel: 1585 Tenth Line, Orléans - Click here to book an appointment or call 613-288-5353

View other locations

COVID-19 Assessment Centre for Adults at Brewer Park Arena

Ages: Anyone 18+ years old
Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 8:30 am to 7:30 pm
Friday to Sunday: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Services provided: Scheduled appointments and very limited walk-up testing
Location: 151 Brewer Way, Ottawa
Download factsheet: Important information about the COVID-19 Assessment Centre for Adults at Brewer Park Arena
Click here to book an appointment or call 613-737-8193

Please note telephone booking is reserved for those who do NOT have internet access. It is NOT an information line.

To cancel your appointment, please email: brewercancel@toh.ca

View other locations

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Assessment Centre at City Hall/National Arts Centre

Ages: 14+ years old
Hours: Seven days a week, 10 am to 6 pm
Services provided: By appointment only, drive-thru testing only with a valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card
Location:

**Please note** Patients must register at City Hall Parking Garage before being tested at the National Arts Centre Parking Garage. Please arrive at City Hall Parking Garage, Elgin St. Entrance at your appointment time.

Enter at City Hall Parking Garage, Elgin St. Entrance

Ottawa City Hall is located at 110 Laurier Ave West, Ottawa

Then go to the National Arts Centre Parking Garage, Albert St. Entrance

The National Arts Centre is located at 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa

Staff will provide instructions on where to go.

Download factsheet: Important information about the COVID-19 Drive-thru Assessment Centre at City hall/the National Arts Centre
Click here to book an appointment or call 613-737-8193

Please note telephone booking is reserved for those who do NOT have internet access. It is NOT an information line.
To cancel your appointment, please email: DTTI@toh.ca

View other locations

COVID-19 Assessment Centre at McNabb Community Centre

Ages: Six months and older
Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Services provided: Scheduled appointments and very limited walk-up testing
Location: McNabb Community Centre. 180 Percy St, Ottawa
Download factsheet:Important information about the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at McNabb Community Centre
Click here to book an appointment or call 613-737-8193

Please note telephone booking is reserved for those who do NOT have internet access. It is NOT an information line.
To cancel your appointment, please email: Brewercancel@toh.ca.

View other locations

COVID-19 testing at three of the Ottawa Community Health Centres

Ages: Testing adults and children above 6 months of age at Centretown and Sandy Hill sites. Testing adults and children aged 13 years and above at the Somerset West site.
Services provided: By appointment only, testing available for those living in Ontario without a health card
Download factsheet: Important information about COVID-19 testing at three of the Ottawa Community Health Centres
Locations:

Centretown Community Health Centre:

Location: 420 Cooper St., Ottawa (Entrance off Somerset Street West, next to 395 Somerset and across the street from the Wine Rack)
Hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
Click here to book an appointment or call 343-553-2661

Please note telephone booking is reserved for those who do NOT have internet access. It is NOT an information line.

Sandy Hill Community Health Centre:

Location: 221 Nelson St., Ottawa
Hours: Open 9 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday
Click here to book an appointment or call 613-789-1500

Somerset West Community Health Centre:

Location: 55 Eccles St., Ottawa
Hours:

9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Wednesday.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Thursday.
9:00 am to 2:30 pm on Friday

Click here to book an appointment or call 613-327-8145

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COVID-19 ACCESS TO SERVICE UPDATE

(October 19, 2020)

CFS (Food Bank)

Service is by appointment ONLY
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am-4pm
To schedule contact 613-241-1573 extension 268/221 · Inquiries (for agencies) diana_javier@saobc.org
Note: Supportive Housing providers who have residents requiring our Food Bank services, can if they are able to, make arrangements to pick up their residents' food on their behalf:

Ø Send Diana Javier an email request for food request identifying:

o Client’s first and last name

o Client DOB

o Any relevant food restriction for any specific client

Ø Email request must be submitted to Diana by Friday each preceding week for order pick up available the following week.

Ø She will send an email confirmation of food order received along with specific time on Tuesday for food pick up.

Ø This is a reminder to clients with a scheduled food pickup: Vehicles are not permitted in our parking lot. You are advised to seek parking across the street.

*Unfortunately we are unable to make deliveries at this time.