Ottawa Inner City Health

Ottawa Inner City Health https://www.linktr.ee/ottawainnercityhealth

Our Block Leaders have been meeting to define shared street values and what it means to live them every day. From these ...
04/29/2026

Our Block Leaders have been meeting to define shared street values and what it means to live them every day. From these conversations emerged simple messages that were turned into a new line of T-shirts they call Well Worn Values! Printed on plain white shirts, they are designed to wear over time, just like the values they represent. Together, they reflect a commitment to community, leadership and connection. These are not just slogans, but values meant to be seen, practiced, and well worn!

12 year old Jacob chose to use his birthday money to support people staying in shelters by donating supplies. Jacob aske...
04/27/2026

12 year old Jacob chose to use his birthday money to support people staying in shelters by donating supplies. Jacob asked if he could deliver the items himself, tour the space, and learn more about the impact of his gift. When he visited, he met our staff and asked thoughtful questions about who the supplies were for and why our work is important. We are grateful not only for the donation, but for the kindness behind it. A great reminder that community care can come from anyone, at any age!

Yesterday we celebrated Administrative Professionals Day by getting our dream team together for some creative fun 🎨🪨. Pa...
04/23/2026

Yesterday we celebrated Administrative Professionals Day by getting our dream team together for some creative fun 🎨🪨. Painting mandala rocks was the perfect way to relax, connect, and say THANK YOU to the incredible admins who keep everything running behind the scenes. Couldn’t do it without them!

Jenn is a mental health nurse who works in our TED program. Sometimes she comes in during the evening to connect with cl...
04/22/2026

Jenn is a mental health nurse who works in our TED program. Sometimes she comes in during the evening to connect with clients who are not around during the day or who she has not seen in a while.

This evening, one client simply wanted to be heard and needed a light for her cigarette.

Jenn provided both!

At OICH, we recognize that recovery goes beyond abstinence and includes hope, connection, purpose, and a sense of belong...
04/21/2026

At OICH, we recognize that recovery goes beyond abstinence and includes hope, connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging. This understanding continues to shape how we support individuals and communities. It also guided our recent crime prevention pilot, grounded in the belief that social disorder is best addressed by creating connection and purpose rather than relying on punitive responses.

From January to March, the program delivered 149 recreational activities, creating over 1,500 moments of participation. Residents engaged in games, art, outings, and shared meals. On one outing, a resident shared it had been decades since they last had salmon, a simple moment that highlights how limited access to everyday experiences can become over time.

By creating access to meaningful experiences, we are addressing root causes and supporting safer and more connected communities. Recreation is not a luxury. It is an essential part of dignity and recovery.

04/17/2026

“They don’t see their lives getting any better, so the drugs are going to win every time.”

At the 2026 Health and Housing Symposium, CEO Rob Boyd warned about the impacts of closing supervised consumption sites and urged that the funding be kept and repurposed to continue supporting those most affected. He spoke about the importance of outreach treatment models that meet people where they are, and about recovery as something that also depends on hope, connection, recreation, and meaningful ways to spend time. Without those foundations, substance use will persist, which is why harm reduction and novel, creative approaches remain necessary.

04/15/2026

453 overdoses occurred on Shepherds of Good Hope property in less than a year, and our TED Overdose Response Team responded every time. With changes to harm reduction services and our SCS, The Trailer, facing closure following the Ontario government’s decision to pull funding, more people will be left without access to supervised consumption. As a result, we are deeply concerned that overdoses will continue to increase.

04/14/2026

Ontario introduced HART Hubs as a $550 million replacement for supervised consumption sites.

Since then, many hubs have never opened, while others exist in name only or operate on a limited basis.

Six months after site closures displaced folks, there have been no reported improvements in access to treatment or housing. Many affected had not even heard of HART Hubs.

Shifting away from overdose prevention services toward an abstinence-only approach has increased immediate risk for people who use drugs, particularly at a time when the drug supply is increasingly toxic.

Careful, evidence-informed public health decisions are essential.

🎧 A new Street Side episode is out, and we’re proud to share it because it features OICH’s very own Kim Van Herk and Sim...
04/13/2026

🎧 A new Street Side episode is out, and we’re proud to share it because it features OICH’s very own Kim Van Herk and Simon Hatcher!

A few months back, they took part in a webinar for The Street Mental Health Handbook. This episode is a special recording from that book launch in January 2026.

Along with co‑author Liz Frye, they answer audience questions about providing mental health care on the street, what works in day‑to‑day practice, and how to approach trauma and addiction in this work.

We’re proud to see OICH staff contributing their expertise and lived experience to conversations like these!

🎧 Listen here:

https://pod.link/1689423165/episode/MGM5YWJjNDktYjZhOC00MDY2LTljN2MtOTg0ZmY4MjkwYWY1

04/10/2026

Research demonstrates that supervised consumption services are associated with lower levels of public injection drug use and reduced amounts of discarded equipment in shared spaces. These findings reflect a growing body of evidence observed across many communities. By offering safer indoor spaces and access to proper disposal, these services help lessen impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods. When supervised consumption is removed, drug use does not stop, but is more likely to shift into public spaces, leading to increased public drug use and discarded equipment.

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550 Old St. Patrick Street
Ottawa, ON
K1N5L5

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