Jane's Walks in Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward - May 4 and 5
Councillor Rawlson King spoke at the official opening of Shepherds of Good Hope's new Richcraft Hope Residence, a 42-unit supportive housing facility on Montreal Road on September 29, 2021.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests.
I'm Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe and today I'm excited to welcome the Richcraft Hope Residence to our community, which we acknowledge is located on unceded Algonquin Anishinabe territory.
Every day, the Shepherds of Good Hope work to provide permanent homes to people experiencing homelessness. The creation of the Richcraft Hope Residence will have a positive impact on my Ward and this City due to the compassion and care that it will bring to residents through supportive housing.
Supportive housing is a combination of housing assistance and supports that enable people to live as independently as possible in their community. Increasingly in our City, supportive housing is seen as a key element in enabling people with complex needs find stable housing, lead fulfilling lives, and live as independently as possible.
That why the Mayor and Council is pleased that it could directly support the creation of this residence through $7 million in waived fees and grants from the City of Ottawa.
Providing people with appropriate housing and supports helps to reduce and prevent chronic homelessness, unnecessary hospital admissions and involvement with the criminal justice system.
This new 42-unit residence will help to stabilize people in crisis, though innovative harm reduction services that include a managed alcohol program, along with sophisticated supports to assist individuals with complex mental health challenges, substance use disorders, and trauma.
I am so pleased and proud to see this residence come to fruition just 27 months after we broke ground shortly after my election. Watching this site take shape over that time reassures us that better is possible as we begin to emerge from this global pandemic that has made life hard for so many.
This residence will work to improve many of those lives. It will work to improve health. And most importantly, it will work to reconnect people to their families and to their communities.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Shepherds for their tireless hard work which for nearly 40 years has fostered long- lasting and positive change in the lives of many.
I would also like to acknowledge the kind and amazing generosity of the Singhal family, founder and owner of the Richcraft Group of Companies, who have given the largest gift in Shepherds of Good Hope’s history to help make this residence a reality.
Thank you all for your incredible work and the support that you provide to our community.
