all roads should lead to home

all roads should lead to home ANNUAL REPORT 2011

A Message from the Executive Director All Roads Should Lead to Home In 1906, a group of local business people decided that it was their Christian duty to offer food, shelter and hope to homeless men on the streets. This was the beginning of The Ottawa Mission. Now, 106 years later, The Mission still provides basic needs and also offers addiction services, education and job training. As well, a primary health care clinic, a dental clinic and a hospice provide care for homeless and marginally housed people On the wish list of every homeless person who comes into the shelter are two things, a home and a job. Even though the community is making progress in providing safe, affordable housing, there is still a long waiting list, and many of the people who complete programs at The Mission have difficulty finding appropriate housing. Housing for people with a mental illness is even harder to find. There are 50 people with mental illness who have lived in The Mission for an average of 4 years. They need housing that offers privacy and community. The optimum model has private rooms, a communal dining room, and 24 hour on site support staff. For a mentally ill person, moving from a crowded dorm to their own space would be life changing. This past year we have begun to focus our efforts on creating this kind of housing for those who have become trapped in the shelter system. We are grateful to you, our volunteers and donors, for the hope you have given through your continuing support. We look forward to working with you to make this new housing a reality because we believe that all roads should lead to appropriate housing. Thank you, and God bless you. Diane Morrison, Executive Director, The Ottawa Mission

A Message from the President of the Board of Directors Thanks for your Generosity In the Gospel of Matthew 25:37-40, Jesus tells us that we must feed the poor and give drink to the thirsty. He says that what we do for the least of His people, we do for Him. That is exactly the philosophy at The Ottawa Mission. For many people who come through the doors at The Mission, what begins as a good meal served by friendly staff and volunteers often turns into a life-changing experience. The many programs and services at The Mission are there to provide people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless with the opportunity to achieve their goal of having a home and a job things that most of us take for granted. From food and shelter to addiction treatment, education, job training and spiritual support, The Mission is there to help every step of the way. The most pressing issue we continue to face is that of finding appropriate housing so that people can move on safely from the shelter when they are able to, and that those who need continuing support are taken care of. All of us involved in working at The Mission believe that everyone deserves a good home, and we are focused on finding the right solutions. It has been my privilege to serve as Board Chair during a period when new programs have been introduced and existing ones strengthened and I will continue to do whatever I can to help. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our donors, volunteers and community partners for making the vital work at The Ottawa Mission possible. Hon. Jack Murta President, Board of Directors, The Ottawa Mission

With your support we are... HELPING EVERY DAY FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER In 2011, a total of 459,594 meals were served that s an average of 1,259 meals each day. 1,629 individuals were provided with shelter, and our 235 beds had a 96% occupancy rate. The average length of stay was 51 days. Thousands of donated items of clothing and shoes were distributed. SPIRITUAL SUPPORT The door is always open to the Chaplain s office at The Ottawa Mission. Some people drop in daily to see a friendly face and others come in looking for guidance in a time of crisis. As well, about 45 people attend the chapel service held daily at The Mission HEALTHCARE Caring for people who are homeless doesn t stop with providing food and shelter. Because The Ottawa Mission is always looking for ways to improve our services, we re pleased to be able to offer health care services to our residents and others living in shelters or on the street. In 2011, there were 5872 patient visits to The Ottawa Mission s Primary Care Clinic, 975 patient visits to the Dental Clinic and 12 people spent their final days at our Hospice with compassion and dignity. Volunteers From preparing and serving meals to organizing clothing donations and even tutoring students in The Mission s Stepping Stones Learning Centre, volunteers are vital to The Ottawa Mission. Close to 250 people help us every month. Our volunteers come from all walks of life some are retired, others are students. They volunteer as individuals, families, or workplace teams. The Mission could not help as many people as we do every year without their generous gift of time.

JEAN s Story i m getting the help i need, thank you! Jean stayed in the shelter at The Ottawa Mission when he became ill and had nowhere else to go after leaving the hospital. His goal has always been to do something meaning ful with his life in his case to return to university and pursue a career in biochemistry. Jean takes courses on-line every day at The Mission s Stepping Stones Learning Centre as part of the provinciallysupported ACE (Academic and Career Entrance) program, and is achieving great results in Technical Math which will help get his schooling back on course. Jean is also now living in his own apartment. Although he sometimes struggles to make ends meet (his apartment is not subsidized) and still depends on The Mission for his meals, he is determined to remain as independent as possible, and we will continue to support him in any way we can. Jean is getting the help he needs.

Andrew s Story i have hope, thank you! When Andrew arrived at The Ottawa Mission in the fall of 2010 at the age of 49 he was suffering from a long-term addiction and was without hope. Andrew attended the Day Program, and also took a 10-week program with others who had the same struggles. For the first time he knew he was not alone. This gave him the strength to commit to more than six months of addiction treatment and counselling, and he graduated from the LifeHouse program last year. With the counselling he received at LifeHouse Andrew began to look forward to the future. He took up photography and joined a naturalist club. Andrew is now working part time and living in one of The Mission s transitional Second Stage houses. Andrew has hope.

With your support we are REBUILDING HOPE ADDICTION SERVICES For many people, drug and alcohol addiction has led to the loss of their homes, and they turn to The Ottawa Mission for help. The Mission offers three levels of addiction treatment programming, depending on the need the Day Program, a daily drop-in session; Stabilization, a 30-day program to help men prepare for long term treatment; and LifeHouse, a 5-month residential treatment program. In 2011, 146 new people came to the Day Program, 66 completed the Stabilization Program, and 19 graduated from LifeHouse. CASE MANAGEMENT Many people who come to The Ottawa Mission have mental health issues, addictions, or other personal crises. Our Case Management team provides one-on-one support for as long as it is needed, and guides people towards available treatment options and support systems. EDUCATION & JOB TRAINING The Ottawa Mission provides many options for people who are trying to gain marketable skills or upgrade their education. The Food Services Training program at The Mission gives people the opportunity to learn how to work in a large, busy kitchen. The Stepping Stones Learning Centre has a full-time teacher to guide students through a variety of on-line education programs. Discovery University gives homeless and low-income people the opportunity to take non-credit university courses in the humanities at no cost. In 2011, The Ottawa Mission helped hundreds of people with education, practical job training, and case management support.

With your support we are SHOWING THE WAY HOME AFTERCARE Studies have shown that the longer an individual remains in treatment, the greater the likelihood that they will be able to achieve long term sobriety and stability. At The Ottawa Mission, our Aftercare programs play a key role in the success of people receiving treatment. For men who complete the five-month LifeHouse program, we offer ongoing individual and group counselling and continuing education programs for up to 12 months. HOUSING Our housing support staff works with residents to find safe, affordable housing by researching what is available throughout the community and finding the best fit. If subsidized housing is required, we assist with all of the necessary paperwork. In 2011, The Ottawa Mission helped 275 people find housing in the community. We also provided Second Stage transitional housing at two homes operated by The Mission for 11 men who have completed an addiction treatment program. As part of our focus on the need for housing, in 2009 The Ottawa Mission helped create a new non-profit housing agency called Holland Properties Association (HPA). HPA purchased a 36-unit apartment building in the community. At the end of 2011, there were 15 tenants in the apartment building who had completed life changing programs at The Mission and now have a place to call home.

DAN s Story i m Home, thank you! Walking through the front door of The Ottawa Mission to ask for help was something Dan never imagined he would have to do. After working all his adult life he found himself unemployed, homeless and in despair. Dan was depressed and suffering from a social anxiety disorder. The treatment he received at The Mission allowed him to look forward to life for the first time in a long time. He enrolled in our Food Services Training Program, then went to Algonquin College for more culinary training, and even received his provincial Red Seal standard of excellence designation. Now Dan is working, and has found his own apartment in the community thanks to help from The Ottawa Mission s housing support services. Dan is home.

FINANCIALS Statement of Revenue and Expense For the year ended April 30, 2012 RevenuE 2011/12 2010/11 City of Ottawa 3,809,532 3,630,938 Transferred from Foundation 1,626,843 4,219,500 Restricted transferred from Foundation 229,153 75,424 Donations 52,021 366,752 Donations restricted 194,225 448,685 Donations in kind 574,020 541,243 Bequests - 199,323 Investment income 15,191 290,708 Other Income 334,488 260,892 TOTAL 6,835,473 10,033,465 Expense Payroll 5,010,311 4,955,363 Administration 275,117 475,094 Rent, insurance and utilities 361,747 450,334 Property maintenance 252,410 311,625 Client programs 1,183,206 1,148,764 Fundraising - 814,091 Public relations 128,597 216,055 Client support 342,149 317,489 Transportation 16,841 14,277 Amortization 291,312 316,824 TOTAL 7,861,690 9,019,916 Revenue (expense) before the undernoted (1,026,217) 1,013,549 Gain on sale of capital assets 196,643 - Net revenue (expense) for the year (829,574*) 1,013,549 *Note: The deficit of $829,574 was covered by funds that were on hand at the beginning of the year. Note: The 2011/12 financial statements reflect the creation of The Ottawa Mission Foundation.

A Message from the Executive Director of the Ottawa Mission Foundation FINDING HOME How long does someone live in one location before it becomes their home? A few months? A year? Jim is a friend who visits me in my office every day. He has been living at The Ottawa Mission for more than ten years. He calls it his home, but I know it isn t really. How can it be? How can a shelter for the homeless turn into someone s home? Together, we as staff and you as donors have worked hard to make sure that everyone has somewhere to go and something to eat. But we never meant for the shelter to become home. It s supposed to be temporary, not a place where people live for more than ten years. My friend Jim has a mental illness. Not severe, but it keeps him from being able to live on his own without some support. I can t help but feel disappointed that there is no place he can call home except a homeless shelter. Fortunately, the staff and Board of The Mission feel the same way. Guided by their faith they have resolved to create a place where people like Jim can live on their own. Finally, for them, a place to call home! It is our hope that you our donors will want to help us. Perhaps as you sit reading this, you will take a moment to think about your own home and how important a place it is for you. For my friend Jim, the road to that important place we call home leads straight to you and me. I pray that together, guided by faith and generosity of spirit, we can make it possible for Jim and all who are like him to find their way home. Rev. Laird Eddy Executive Director, The Ottawa Mission Foundation

Give a gift change a life! Donate online at www.ottawamission.com 35 Waller Ottawa, ON K1N 7G4 p: (613) 234-1144 f: 613-234-2813 e: mission@ottawamission.com www.ottawamission.com facebook.com/ottawamission twitter.com/ottawamission Charitable Registration Number 10815 0509 RR0001