PROGRAM BENEFITING FROM HOPE FUNDING

Upstream Ottawa humbly requests funding from H.O.P.E. to support and expand our First Connections program, a vital wellness service addressing food insecurity and social isolation among our clients with mental health and substance-use challenges. This funding would cover the program's costs for 2.5 years, allowing us to maintain and increase its capacity as demand for our services grows exponentially.

First Connections, a monthly luncheon held 10 months/year, costs $6,750 annually. Unlike our government-funded clinical services, our wellness initiatives - totaling $80,000 yearly - rely entirely on donations and grants. Launched over two decades ago, First Connections offers nutritious meals, peer networking, recreational activities, and educational opportunities in a safe, accessible space crucial for clients' rehabilitation and long-term mental health success.

PROGRAM BENEFITING FROM HOPE FUNDING

Funds from H.O.P.E will enhance our trauma-informed group therapy program (online and virtual), allowing the continuation of services to meet the CTSACT waitlist demands, which are currently about 2 years long.

The group therapy program has been active for 7 years and, as a registered charity, the service is dependent upon grants to be delivered. Our evidence-based group therapy protocols fill a gap in Ottawa/Ontario services where individuals are seeking to heal from their trauma through psychoeducation, shared experience, and interactive meaning-making. This setting allows participants to explore their inner resilience, break the silence, learn new coping/grounding techniques, establish new healthy relationships and learn about the impact of trauma.

CTSACT group therapy is offered to participants at no cost, allowing for equitable services to low-income and low-accessibility services within our community. Grant funding is used to compensate staff for the preparation and facilitation of sessions. Group therapy provides an opportunity for students as part of their training. For those who participated in the past, CTSACT quality assurance measures found participants had improved quality of life, decreased symptoms associated with trauma, and created a community for those feeling isolated and alienated.

With funding from H.O.P.E., CTSACT can support five therapy groups, which can include up to 12 participants each. The group sessions occur weekly (two-hour sessions) for a total of 14 weeks (protocol for men, women, and 2SLGTQIA+ communities).

PROGRAM BENEFITING FROM HOPE FUNDING

H.O.P.E. Volleyball’s support would help the Ottawa Humane Society deliver its Summer Camps program, providing Ottawa children and youth with a unique, immersive experience focused on animal welfare, compassion, and community building. In a safe and inclusive environment, children participate in interactive activities, animal-themed lessons, and hands-on interactions with shelter animals, fostering empathy and respect for animals while learning about responsible pet ownership and environmental stewardship.

H.O.P.E.’s grant would provide free summer camp registration to 30 underserved and/or equity-deserving young people for whom cost would be a prohibitive barrier. H.O.P.E.’s support would also enhance programming by introducing new guest speakers and workshops that promote safety, well-being, and play within the community. Additionally, the program would implement further staff training to ensure a safe and welcoming space for all campers, including those with special needs or behavioral challenges.

PROGRAM BENEFITING FROM HOPE FUNDING

The essence of this project is to ensure youth between the ages of 12-18 graduate from The Door, are ready to have the skills and knowledge to live on their own, and have the skill development that will allow them to be independent adults with plans to either enter higher education or secure a job. All the programs offered at The Door are free of charge and many of our youth come from challenging and vulnerable circumstances; many others are newly arrived immigrants where they have little knowledge of the Canadian system.

In our position, we have the means to aid our youth as they attempt to navigate the system and allow them to successfully utilize the many resources available in our community. As both responsible role models and empathetic mentors, we hope to provide the necessary tools to our youth including mental health support as they strive to become successful contributing members of our community.

PROGRAM BENEFITING FROM H.O.P.E. FUNDING

Along with 4 long-term housing buildings for previously homeless youth, YSB operates the only 2 dedicated youth shelters in Ottawa. Each year, YSB’s two youth shelters provide more than 23,000 individual nights of shelter for youth in need of a safe, inclusive and supportive place to stay. 

YSB embraces a housing-first policy, trying to solve a young person’s most immediate crisis — a place to stay — before addressing challenges with mental health, addiction, family and/or other personal issues. Each shelter client has a youth worker they work alongside. These youth workers and shelter staff ensure a youth’s safety, nutrition and immediate needs are addressed, and then focus on helping youth acquire necessary life skills. 

HOPE's support will allow YSB shelter teams to expand the Life Skills Program to include small group workshops on cooking, budgeting, sexual health as well as activities brought to the shelter, including paint nights and wellness activities.