“They’re fighting depression, loneliness, and isolation—which is more of a problem right now.”

Elizabeth Mabie
Spur Ottawa Writer

Canadians were shocked to learn of the plight of homeless veterans, several years ago. Veterans Affairs Canada estimates that more than 2,250 veterans can’t find stable housing. It is a problem that became personal at Ottawa Innercity Ministries (OIM).

“In 2018 we began noticing the increasing number of veterans on the street, probably because two of our outreach volunteers at the time were veterans,” explains Ken MacLaren, executive director of OIM. “We already lead the city in a number of outreach teams that are on the streets each weeknight, so it wouldn’t be much to include a question we could ask the people we meet to determine if they’re a veteran.”

By January 2020, with a grant from Veteran Affairs, OIM launched a new program called Innercity Veterans Outreach and Support. The program helps homeless and at-risk veterans access the physical and emotional assistance they need. While the program offers emergency support and referrals, one of the team’s primary aims is finding the veterans stable housing. Despite COVID, the team has so far found four homeless veterans a place to live and they are working on finding a home for a fifth.

“We’re building a community and relationships and our numbers are growing from this positive environment.”

“Stable housing has the greatest positive impact on the outcomes of individuals,” explains Walter Semianiw, the program’s lead coordinator. “If you find stable housing for someone, they can start working on the other areas that they need help in, such as health or finances.”

Innercity Veterans Outreach and Support includes three components. Through “Street Outreach”, volunteers give supplies to homeless veterans, while “Door Outreach” invites veterans to line up outside OIM’s main office twice a week to receive care packages containing necessities. On Wednesdays, OIM holds “Drop-in Fellowship”, where veterans come for emotional support and to build relationships with the volunteers, staff, and other veterans.

“They’re fighting depression, loneliness, and isolation—which is more of a problem right now,” MacLaren says. “We’re building a community and relationships and our numbers are growing from this positive environment.”

While “Drop-in Fellowship” has grown, COVID restrictions force the team to limit attendance and rule out certain activities that could enhance the community-building-aspect. Yet, the staff and volunteers are determined to serve the veterans and show them the love of Christ.

“The people who come to us for help know that we’re a Christian ministry and why we’re here.”

“Our primary focus is that we’re servants and in the course of building relationships there will come a time where we’ll share the wonderful message of Easter, the cross, and all that Christ means to us through testimony and example,” says MacLaren.

“The people who come to us for help know that we’re a Christian ministry and why we’re here,” Semianiw adds. “They see what we do and then connect the dots themselves. They begin to think that there might be something to Christianity and they look into it themselves.”

OIM’s volunteers are all Christians and the veteran outreach volunteers are also veterans. All the volunteers are encouraged to discuss their faith, when circumstances allow.

Yet the needs remain great. There are many veterans in Ottawa looking for companionship and a source of comfort and strength. MacLaren and Semianiw hope to connect with more Christian veterans willing answer the call to serve in this area.

“Innercity Veteran Outreach and Support is for veterans, by veterans, through veterans,” MacLaren says. “This is an opportunity for veterans to come together in a safe environment, from all walks of life, those who need help and those who want to serve others. Every veteran should be in a relationship with another veteran.”