Newcomer Reception Centres

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Introduction

The City of Ottawa is working with partners to tackle the housing challenges that many are facing across our city. There are a multitude of actions taking place to help those who are struggling to find a home.

Two community centres are currently being used as emergency overflow centres for people to reside before they move to transitional (temporary) housing. This is not sustainable for those who live there, nor for the residents who have lost their community space.

As a solution, the City is moving towards building more dignified facilities that free up community centres and prevents the need for other community centres to be used in the future. These facilities, called a Newcomer Reception Centres, will focus on supporting asylum claimants, also known as refugee claimants or migrants, with initial welcome and settlement services and then options to move to transitional housing.

The City of Ottawa is proposing up to two potential locations for newcomer reception centres. The facilities will provide the necessary supports that will help people successfully settle in Ottawa.

We understand that residents may have questions about this project, and we are committed to addressing them throughout the process. We are listening carefully and appreciate feedback on the experiences asylum claimants may have at these facilities, as well as any potential impact on the surrounding neighbourhoods.

There has been a lot of information circulating in the community about this initiative. We encourage residents to read our fact sheet and our Frequently Asked Questions.

Project goals

The City of Ottawa is working to address the housing challenges in the city to provide housing for everyone, whether they have been in Ottawa for one day or one decade.

These efforts take different approaches, depending on a person’s unique needs.

In addition, the City is working to return recreation and community centres to community use. Two community centres in the city are currently being used as makeshift accommodations. This is not sustainable for the community.

The City of Ottawa is building reception centres to help asylum claimants by providing them a safe roof over their heads. These centres include 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 and free up necessary space in emergency shelters. 

Newcomer reception system

The City of Ottawa is proposing up to two potential locations for newcomer reception centres, which would house women and men over 18 years old, including couples, singles and adult family members:

  • At 1645 Woodroffe Ave on Federal lands next to the Confederation Education Centre.

  • At 40 Hearst Way on part of the Eagleson Park and Ride. This location is dependent on funding and other factors.

Pending funding, the centres could open by the end of 2025.

Clients will stay up to 90 days at these reception centres. During those 90 days, clients will be offered services to effectively transition into our community. These services will be delivered by experienced settlement agencies involved in the project’s planning and design.

If permanent housing has not been secured after 90 days, clients will move to transitional housing facilities across Ottawa. These transitional facilities include:

  • The Taggart Family YMCA (also known as the National Capital Region YMCA)

  • The former nunnery at 1754 St. Joseph Blvd.

  • Up to 20 four-to-five-bedroom homes across Ottawa that will be purchased or leased by the City

Your feedback

We continue to listen carefully and respond to your questions and feedback. We are committed to working closely with residents and community partners to ensure this project fosters collaboration and supports our shared objective of helping everyone find long-term and permanent housing.

To provide feedback, click on the “suggestion” link below.

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

Introduction

The City of Ottawa is working with partners to tackle the housing challenges that many are facing across our city. There are a multitude of actions taking place to help those who are struggling to find a home.

Two community centres are currently being used as emergency overflow centres for people to reside before they move to transitional (temporary) housing. This is not sustainable for those who live there, nor for the residents who have lost their community space.

As a solution, the City is moving towards building more dignified facilities that free up community centres and prevents the need for other community centres to be used in the future. These facilities, called a Newcomer Reception Centres, will focus on supporting asylum claimants, also known as refugee claimants or migrants, with initial welcome and settlement services and then options to move to transitional housing.

The City of Ottawa is proposing up to two potential locations for newcomer reception centres. The facilities will provide the necessary supports that will help people successfully settle in Ottawa.

We understand that residents may have questions about this project, and we are committed to addressing them throughout the process. We are listening carefully and appreciate feedback on the experiences asylum claimants may have at these facilities, as well as any potential impact on the surrounding neighbourhoods.

There has been a lot of information circulating in the community about this initiative. We encourage residents to read our fact sheet and our Frequently Asked Questions.

Project goals

The City of Ottawa is working to address the housing challenges in the city to provide housing for everyone, whether they have been in Ottawa for one day or one decade.

These efforts take different approaches, depending on a person’s unique needs.

In addition, the City is working to return recreation and community centres to community use. Two community centres in the city are currently being used as makeshift accommodations. This is not sustainable for the community.

The City of Ottawa is building reception centres to help asylum claimants by providing them a safe roof over their heads. These centres include 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 and free up necessary space in emergency shelters. 

Newcomer reception system

The City of Ottawa is proposing up to two potential locations for newcomer reception centres, which would house women and men over 18 years old, including couples, singles and adult family members:

  • At 1645 Woodroffe Ave on Federal lands next to the Confederation Education Centre.

  • At 40 Hearst Way on part of the Eagleson Park and Ride. This location is dependent on funding and other factors.

Pending funding, the centres could open by the end of 2025.

Clients will stay up to 90 days at these reception centres. During those 90 days, clients will be offered services to effectively transition into our community. These services will be delivered by experienced settlement agencies involved in the project’s planning and design.

If permanent housing has not been secured after 90 days, clients will move to transitional housing facilities across Ottawa. These transitional facilities include:

  • The Taggart Family YMCA (also known as the National Capital Region YMCA)

  • The former nunnery at 1754 St. Joseph Blvd.

  • Up to 20 four-to-five-bedroom homes across Ottawa that will be purchased or leased by the City

Your feedback

We continue to listen carefully and respond to your questions and feedback. We are committed to working closely with residents and community partners to ensure this project fosters collaboration and supports our shared objective of helping everyone find long-term and permanent housing.

To provide feedback, click on the “suggestion” link below.

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

  • 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: 09 Dec 2024, 04:38 PM