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Based on annual counts of emergency shelter use, it is clear that Ottawa has not made progress in ending homelessness. Whereas in 2004 almost 6,600 individuals used shelters, in 2016 that number grew to more than 7,100. This increase, combined with longer shelter stays, has resulted in a dramatically higher demand for shelter beds.

Ottawa finds itself at a crossroads in combatting homelessness. Down one road, it can commit to business as usual by continuing to fund residential treatment programs that will be a centrepiece of the controversial 350-bed shelter proposed for Vanier, one of the city’s poorest neighbourhoods.

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Down the other road, it could join a growing number of other cities by adopting a full-fledged Housing First approach with the goal of quickly moving people from emergency shelter beds into permanent housing.

The lack of success in reducing homelessness in Ottawa makes it difficult to justify business as usual. Moreover, the evidence is indisputable that Housing First is significantly more effective than “treatment first” programs for individuals with a history of chronic homelessness.