Newcomer Reception Centres

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City updating housing strategy for newcomers in response to changing needs

The City of Ottawa is adapting its plans to support asylum claimants arriving in our community.

Over the past few weeks, influencing factors pertaining to the newcomer reception system have changed. These include:

  • a downward trend in the number of asylum claimants coming to Ottawa
  • new opportunities for spaces to support newcomers
  • changes in the timelines to complete the construction

As a result, the City will not pursue the construction of newcomer reception centres at 1645 Woodroffe Avenue and 40 Hearst Way. The work to expand the newcomer reception system will continue, however it will transition to focus on newly available, new and existing locations.

Downward trend in asylum seekers

An unprecedented irregular migration has been straining City resources since June 2023. But over the past six months, the number of asylum claimants needing City housing support has steadily declined, a trend seen across Ontario and coinciding with federal immigration policy changes introduced in the fall of 2024.

Currently, approximately 820 asylum seekers are in the shelter system, down from more than 1,000 at the peak.

New opportunities for spaces for newcomers

The YMCA of the National Capital Region announced this month that it will not sell its property and will continue providing transitional housing services for newcomers at 180 Argyle Avenue. With these spaces now available, the City will collaborate with the YMCA to convert two additional unused floors for newcomer transitional housing on site.

In addition, the Federal government confirmed that the prospective purchaser of 250 Lanark Avenue will not be proceeding with the sale of that property. As a result, the City is able to pursue opportunities to extend the interim use of the space.

Construction timeline changes

The City has been working confirm the time it will take to construct a prefabricated structure for the newcomer reception centre. The timeline to finish the construction is longer than initially expected, partly because of the requirement to undertake a competitive procurement process, as well as site-servicing requirements. As such, the new extended timeline gives staff the opportunity to seek and implement other viable options in the same timeframe.

Continuing the existing solutions to meet the needs

We recognize this change may require the need to maintain or secure additional overflow space. The City continues to explore additional overflow options to support the anticipated need through winter 2025-2026 or in response to changes in trends and demand.

The City remains dedicated to supporting newcomers in their settlement journey towards permanent housing. We continue to invest in a comprehensive shelter system, including the Queen Street Transitional Housing Program, the conversion of a former nunnery at 1754 St. Joseph Boulevard into transitional housing, and the acquisition of up to 20 homes across Ottawa to be operated by newcomer settlement agencies.

To create more long-term affordable housing, a critical step in reducing reliance on temporary shelters, the City has committed over $149 million in capital funding for 686 new affordable homes, among other initiatives aimed to help more people find safe, stable and affordable homes. The city’s efforts are focused on long-term strategies that will create more permanent affordable housing options across the city.


City updating housing strategy for newcomers in response to changing needs

The City of Ottawa is adapting its plans to support asylum claimants arriving in our community.

Over the past few weeks, influencing factors pertaining to the newcomer reception system have changed. These include:

  • a downward trend in the number of asylum claimants coming to Ottawa
  • new opportunities for spaces to support newcomers
  • changes in the timelines to complete the construction

As a result, the City will not pursue the construction of newcomer reception centres at 1645 Woodroffe Avenue and 40 Hearst Way. The work to expand the newcomer reception system will continue, however it will transition to focus on newly available, new and existing locations.

Downward trend in asylum seekers

An unprecedented irregular migration has been straining City resources since June 2023. But over the past six months, the number of asylum claimants needing City housing support has steadily declined, a trend seen across Ontario and coinciding with federal immigration policy changes introduced in the fall of 2024.

Currently, approximately 820 asylum seekers are in the shelter system, down from more than 1,000 at the peak.

New opportunities for spaces for newcomers

The YMCA of the National Capital Region announced this month that it will not sell its property and will continue providing transitional housing services for newcomers at 180 Argyle Avenue. With these spaces now available, the City will collaborate with the YMCA to convert two additional unused floors for newcomer transitional housing on site.

In addition, the Federal government confirmed that the prospective purchaser of 250 Lanark Avenue will not be proceeding with the sale of that property. As a result, the City is able to pursue opportunities to extend the interim use of the space.

Construction timeline changes

The City has been working confirm the time it will take to construct a prefabricated structure for the newcomer reception centre. The timeline to finish the construction is longer than initially expected, partly because of the requirement to undertake a competitive procurement process, as well as site-servicing requirements. As such, the new extended timeline gives staff the opportunity to seek and implement other viable options in the same timeframe.

Continuing the existing solutions to meet the needs

We recognize this change may require the need to maintain or secure additional overflow space. The City continues to explore additional overflow options to support the anticipated need through winter 2025-2026 or in response to changes in trends and demand.

The City remains dedicated to supporting newcomers in their settlement journey towards permanent housing. We continue to invest in a comprehensive shelter system, including the Queen Street Transitional Housing Program, the conversion of a former nunnery at 1754 St. Joseph Boulevard into transitional housing, and the acquisition of up to 20 homes across Ottawa to be operated by newcomer settlement agencies.

To create more long-term affordable housing, a critical step in reducing reliance on temporary shelters, the City has committed over $149 million in capital funding for 686 new affordable homes, among other initiatives aimed to help more people find safe, stable and affordable homes. The city’s efforts are focused on long-term strategies that will create more permanent affordable housing options across the city.


  • City updating housing strategy for newcomers in response to changing needs

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    The City of Ottawa is adapting its plans to support asylum claimants arriving in our community.

    Over the past few weeks, influencing factors pertaining to the newcomer reception system have changed. These include:

    • a downward trend in the number of asylum claimants coming to Ottawa
    • new opportunities for spaces to support newcomers
    • changes in the timelines to complete the construction

    As a result, the City will not pursue the construction of newcomer reception centres at 1645 Woodroffe Avenue and 40 Hearst Way. The work to expand the newcomer reception system will continue, however it will transition to focus on newly available, new and existing locations.

  • Project Update: ACAN Results and Next Steps

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    On January 14, City staff kicked off the procurement process to find a vendor to construct a Newcomer Reception Centre.

    The City identified a single vendor with the ability and experience to meet the specific requirements to build the structures within the desired timeframe. However; recognizing the need to be fair and transparent, staff proceeded with an Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN).

    This standard procurement tool is used when a project requires specialized services that are not widely available. More importantly, it allows alternate vendors that were not previously identified to submit a brief statement of capabilities to show they have the ability and experience to meet the project’s requirements.

    ACAN Outcome

    The ACAN was the quickest way for the City to determine if there are other qualified vendors for the proposed project. The process closed on January 31.

    Since then, an independent evaluation team reviewed three submissions that we received, in accordance with the process outlined in the ACAN. The evaluation concluded that another vendor met the criteria required by the project’s scope of work and a competitive process is required.

    Next Steps

    The City will now proceed with an open competitive procurement process to award a contract for the Newcomer Reception Centre. This process will outline the minimum project requirements and seek responses from qualified vendors. Due to the urgency of the need, staff are prioritizing the competitive procurement process. It will be issued on MERX as soon as possible and follow standard procurement protocols.

    The City will continue to provide the public with updates on the project as it progresses.

  • Backgrounder: Exploring the procurement process for Newcomer Reception Centres

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    We are in the midst of a housing crisis in Ottawa and many people can’t find a home, be it market housing or an affordable unit.

    The housing and homelessness system in our city is facing a surge in demand. Many who are precariously housed need a place to stay, especially during these colder months. Concurrently, asylum claimants account for 60 per cent of clients in the single adult shelter system.

    With this ongoing crisis, an urgent need to build more housing exists and solutions are needed to alleviate the pressures on the different aspects of the housing system.

    In response to the increase in asylum claimants, the City is building a sustainable, federally funded newcomer reception system, a decision that has been in the making since November 2023(link is external). This model will include reception centres, which are a crucial link in the system, allowing claimants a dignified place to begin their journey in Ottawa while removing the added pressure on our emergency shelter system.

    Transparent, fair and efficient procurement approach

    Recognizing that there is an urgent need, staff have studied the best path forward in establishing reception centres since early 2024. Following an extensive review, and a report from an independent consultant, pre-fabricated buildings (or tensile membrane structures) were the building type identified which would best suit the project’s needs.

    These structures were selected because they are:

    • High quality, providing safe and dignified temporary living accommodations.
    • Cost effective and easily converted, disassembled or relocated.
    • Proven to be built within 12 months, addressing the urgent need to free up space in community centres and the shelter system.

    The City identified a single vendor that had the ability and experience to meet the specialized and detailed needs to build the structures within the City’s desired timeframe. Recognizing this, and the need to be transparent, a procurement process that could be both efficient and fair was chosen, the Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN).

    This process is the quickest way for the City to determine if other vendors are available and to engage with them on the proposed project.

    An ACAN is a standard procurement tool used by governments in Canada when it’s determined that a project requires specialized services that aren’t widely available in the given industry. It also allows a supplier to submit a brief statement of capabilities to show they have the ability and experience to meet the specialized and detailed skills to build the structures within the desired timeframe.

    A vendor’s submission does not need to include details such as financial offers, their proposed level of effort, work plans, methodologies, or approaches, which expedites the open, fair and transparent procurement process.

    Interested vendors have until Friday, January 31 to submit their statement of capabilities. After the deadline, a team of qualified evaluators will carefully review any submissions received to determine the next steps. An update on the process will be posted to the Engage Ottawa project page once the review is complete and a decision has been made.

    The need is urgent, and the City needs to act now to build much-needed capacity in the housing system as soon as possible. Everyone in Ottawa deserves to find a place where they can find shelter, be it on a permanent, temporary, or emergency basis.

    Together, we can continue the tradition of being a welcoming city.

  • How we got here: Understanding the process behind Ottawa’s Newcomer Reception Centres

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    The City of Ottawa is building newcomer reception centres in response to the significant increase in asylum claimants to our city, which consists of refugee claimants and migrants who arrive in Ottawa.

    Building this additional capacity in Ottawa’s housing system is an important step for the city. Not only will it respond to the needs of asylum claimants, but it will divert them away from the shelter system and open those much-needed spaces for others who need them.

    In this story, we explore how we got here and why the City decided building reception centres was the right path forward.

    Federal government responsibility

    Migration to our city, including that of asylum claimants, is entirely managed by the federal government.

    For asylum claimants, they follow a federally established step-by-step process during their application. Various federal agencies are involved and conduct an initial screening, which includes security and a medical examination. While the City has no control or input on the migration process, we are working to respond to the current situation in Ottawa and to ensure people have a safe place to stay.

    Impact on City resources

    There are currently around 600 single adult asylum claimants in the shelter system. This accounts for 60 per cent of clients, placing considerable strain on resources.

    Asylum claimants are currently staying in recreation and community centres, including on arena floors or in bleachers, or sleeping overnight in shelters.

    Dedicated reception centres will provide asylum claimants with a more comfortable and dignified welcome to our city. This includes extensive on-site services to help them transition into more permanent housing. Supporting asylum claimants at reception centres will also return recreation and community centres back to the community.

    Choosing the right structure

    In response to the urgent need for more shelter and support services for newcomers, on November 23, 2023, Council unanimously approved a motion directing City staff to actively pursue the option of a semi-permanent facility.

    Starting in 2024, City staff, with input from third-party experts, evaluated several options to determine the best type of structure for the newcomer reception centres. They considered many factors such as cost, construction speed, and effectiveness. Based on this analysis, pre-fabricated buildings, which are tensile membrane structures, were recommended as the best solution.

    These pre-fabricated buildings offer customizable interiors with features like windows, corridors, and vestibules to meet the needs of refugee claimants and service providers. They include amenities similar to conventional buildings, such as heating, cooling, and access to showering, laundry and washroom facilities, that will allow occupants to live comfortably.

    They can be built quickly to relieve pressure on shelters and allow recreation centres to be returned to normal use. They can also be repurposed for a variety of future uses.

    Other building types, such as mass timber and modular construction, were also considered. These options were not selected for reasons including cost, design flexibility and construction timelines.

    Determining the locations

    Following direction from City Council, City staff began reviewing potential sites that could accommodate a future reception centre at the beginning of 2024. They conducted an extensive review of over 90 locations.

    The City considered factors such as engineering, construction needs, transit access, and walkability to narrow the search. Once the shortlist was developed, it was shared with an independent engineering consultant for further analysis. After their review and preliminary feasibility assessment, the consultant concluded the following two sites were best suited to host a newcomer reception centre:

    • 1645 Woodroffe Avenue (on federal lands next to the Confederation Education Centre)
    • 40 Hearst Way (on part of the Eagleson Park and Ride in Kanata)

    Additional details about the site selection process were provided to members of Council in a memo on November 7, 2024.

    Once the preferred locations were identified, the City started the engagement process with residents in the impacted communities.

    Continue to learn more and ask your questions

    We encourage everyone to follow our series of articles and continue to ask questions on Engage Ottawa. The feedback received continues to be responded to through the FAQs posted on the page.

    Together, we can continue the tradition of being a welcoming city.

  • Project Update: Procurement

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    The City of Ottawa is advancing the procurement work necessary for the Newcomer Reception Centre. It intends to enter into a contract for the design and construction of a Newcomer Reception Centre at 1645 Woodroffe, for approximately $15 million with an anticipated timeline of 12 months from award of contract to substantial performance. The City of Ottawa, pending funding and as required, intends to proceed with a second structure with similar pricing and construction timeline.

    As stated in previous communications, the Newcomer Reception Centres will be funded by the federal government.

    Procurement process

    The City has conducted a market assessment and determined that BLT Construction Services (providing a Sprung Instant Structure, i.e. pre-fabricated building) is the only available and qualified vendor to perform the scope of work required for this project. To confirm that assessment, the City will complete an Advanced Contract Award Notice (ACAN) process.

    The ACAN is a public notice indicating the intent to award a contract and provides an opportunity for other respondents to demonstrate their ability to meet project requirements. The ACAN will be posted on the MERX.com e-Procurement system. All submissions and inquiries regarding the ACAN must be submitted through the MERX.com system.

    Project components

    The contract for the design and construction of the newcomer reception centre includes:

    • Preparation of plans and studies required for site plan control;
    • Preliminary and detailed design drawings;
    • Preparation and submission of all required permit applications;
    • Construction and interior fit-up of structure;
    • Provision of full FF&E required for the project.
    • Full site development

    Additional project costs will include project delivery and permitting fees.

    The Centre is part of a broader Newcomer Reception System that includes other transitional housing facilities including a former nunnery on St. Joseph Blvd and up to 20 new four-to-five-bedroom homes across Ottawa. The cost of these transitional housing options, as well as other recent transitional housing projects, are in line with what is being proposed for the Newcomer Reception Centres.

    Next steps

    The ACAN has been published on MERX.com and is currently scheduled to close on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

    If no supplier submits a response that demonstrates their potential to meet capabilities of the Specifications, including the Scope of Work, by the closing date of the ACAN then it is the City of Ottawa’s intent to proceed with an award of contract to the supplier identified.

  • Here Are The facts

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    Myth
    Fact

    The centres will be turned into homeless shelters in the future.


    There are no plans to turn the newcomer reception centres into homeless shelters. There will be no change in use of the centres without community engagement.



    The centres will be built and funded through municipal tax dollars.


    The newcomer reception centres will be funded by the federal government.


    Asylum claimants, also known as refugee claimants or migrants, will be housed in tents.



    These structures are not tents. They are similar to conventional buildings with heating, cooling, kitchen amenities, and other supports. They have been used by hospitals.


    The City did not consider using existing infrastructure for these centres.


    Many options were considered in consultation with third-party experts. These structures were chosen due to quick building timelines, costs, and adaptability.


    These centres are a long-term housing solution for asylum claimants, and will turn into “tent cities”.


    Asylum claimants will be supported in the newcomer reception centres for up to 90 days before moving into transitional or permanent housing.


    The centres will be used to house families with young children.


    All asylum claimants being housed in the reception centres will be women and men over 18 years old, including singles, couples or adult family members.


    The City is prioritizing asylum claimants over existing residents.


    The City is ensuring that community centres and recreation facilities currently being used as emergency overflow centres can be returned to their original purpose and used by Ottawa residents.


    The centres are located too far from the services asylum claimants need.


    The newcomer reception centres will allow for employment resources, language training, trauma support, and other on-site resettlement services to suit the unique needs of asylum claimants.


    Asylum claimants are not being screened when arriving in Ottawa.


    The federal agencies conduct an initial screening of all asylum claimants which includes security.


Page last updated: 20 Mar 2025, 10:34 AM