Article content

The heated debate on the Salvation Army’s proposed Vanier project reminds me of Henry Ford’s quote, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

The Salvation Army has been a leader in social services since it first arrived in Canada in 1882. Today, it plays a leading role in nearly every homeless system in Canada, including Ottawa.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Richter: Here's how the Salvation Army can truly help transform homelessness policy Back to video

As an early adopter of “Housing First,” homelessness data systems, prioritization and coordinated access, the city of Ottawa has been breaking new ground in the drive to end homelessness in Canada. The Salvation Army has also been a key partner with the city in the delivery of Housing First.

IN-DEPTH: Salvation Army’s relocation plan tests the city on the future of Vanier

Both the city and the Salvation Army have shown a willingness to collaborate and drive innovation, which is one reason the project the Salvation Army proposes in Vanier seems so out of place. By keeping a focus on shelter and transitional housing, the Vanier project is more of what we’ve always done.