Q&A about the Veterans' House build
Q. Why is MHI putting 40 people into one 3-storey building?
A. The number of homes proposed for this development is based on MHI’s years of experience with responsible management of our properties. For this project we looked for a property sized and zoned to accommodate a three-storey building to house 40 bachelor apartments. Below are two drawings of a typical self-contained bachelor apartment:
A. The number of homes proposed for this development is based on MHI’s years of experience with responsible management of our properties. For this project we looked for a property sized and zoned to accommodate a three-storey building to house 40 bachelor apartments. Below are two drawings of a typical self-contained bachelor apartment:
Q. Why did MHI choose this neighbourhood?
A. MHI selected this location with the same considerations that many of our neighbours have: Water Ridge Village will have good access to transportation, shopping, and community support services. Further, it is a former Canadian Military Base. In our view, there is no better way to commemorate the military heritage of this land than by retaining a small piece of it to continue to serve our men in women who are in need of supports after their service to their country.
Q. How do you screen people to live in MHI buildings?
A. MHI tenants fill out an application and then are interviewed by our Housing Department. All applicants to MHI must meet the following criteria:
Q. What if someone damages their apartment, or threatens neighbours? Do you evict them or do you put up with it?
A. MHI permanent housing operates under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). When tenant responsibilities are not met, MHI uses the remedies available to all landlords, including eviction. Tenants must repair or pay for repair of any damage to the rental property caused by them or their guest. This includes common areas. It does not matter if the damage was on purpose or by accident. If a tenant loses their key, they pay for the locksmith. Tenants must also pay the rent in full. They must not engage in illegal activity. They cannot affect the safety or disturb the enjoyment of others. Sometimes a tenant needs more care than they can receive because of a physical illness or age and they are no longer considered to be living independently. In this case we work with the tenant to find suitable alternative living arrangements.
Q. Do people living at MHI have a history of violence?
A. Veterans, homeless people or people with mental illness are not more violent than any other group in society. However, they are up to 4 times more likely to be the victim of violence than any other group in society. Homeless veterans, specifically, are 2 times more likely to be the victims of violence than any other homeless population.
Q. What if something bad happens in the neighbourhood and a tenant of MHI is the reason or the cause?
A. In the event of a serious incident we take immediate action. Criminal activity is a matter to be dealt with by Ottawa Police Services. MHI is dedicated to working with police, tenants, and our neighbours to promote safe communities.
Q. How many and what kinds of complaints have you had?
A. Out of our 139 housing units, MHI received 3 formal complaints from external neighbours in the last year. One was about garbage dumping on our property, one was about smoking near public pathways, and one was about the unilingual nature of a BBQ poster for a tenants’ BBQ at our Barrhaven community. Each situation was addressed separately as appropriate. In instances where tenants’ behaviour was concerned, the tenants were addressed and they corrected their behaviour.
Q. What staff will be working in the Veterans House?
A. Veterans House will have 1 full-time on site support staff who will work days, Monday to Friday. In addition, Veterans House is blessed with a strong supporting base of many partner organizations. An example of the benefits of these relationships is our partnership with Soldier Helping Soldiers, an in uniform organization, who will be in the building offering Peer Mentoring services to our tenant. In addition there will be a maintenance person on site 3 mornings a week to clean the building and maintain the property.
Q. You say you provide housing for homeless veterans. What does that mean?
A. Veterans House will provide housing and services to specifically and solely to veterans whose lives have been disrupted by mental illness, homelessness, PTSD, or a number of other factors.The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) describes mental illness this way:
"Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. "
The Canadian Homelessness Research Network describes homelessness this way: "Homelessness describes the situation of someone who is without stable, permanent and appropriate housing."
PTSD, homelessness, mental illness or substance use can affect a person’s ability to complete their education or manage full time employment. MHI supports people in managing their illness and regaining full participation in the broader community.
Q. What are MHI ‘support services’?
A. MHI’s support model has two parts: on-site supports provided by a community developer from a partner agency, and individualized and intensive supports provided by case managers. Community developers and case managers work hand in hand to ensure a team approach.
The Community Developer will be on-site 5 days a week, 7 hours a day. Veterans House will have on-site support staff who will work days Monday to Friday. Community developers focus on problem solving with tenants if housing problems come up. Community developers also offer programs to tenants in a building like movie groups or arts programs.
Case managers work with individuals on specific goals in their life such as housing, education, physical health and many others.
Other support services we provide include (examples: OT, Recreational, nursing) services.
Q. What kind of housing does MHI provide?
A. MHI provides permanent rental housing.
Q. How do people afford an apartment if they are unable to work because they are mentally ill?
A. MHI rents are subsidized be affordable to the tenant’s income. Many veterans receive a pension from the federal government. Some veterans receive assistance through the Ontario Disability Support Program, which includes a Shelter Allowance amount to pay their rent.
Q. How long is the wait list for Supportive Housing in Ottawa?
A. The average wait for a first offer of an apartment for an individual in Ottawa who wants to live in Supportive Housing is 5 to 8 years.
Q. How can I donate and support the development of Veterans House?
A. The easiest way is to donate is online on our donate page. Alternatively, you can send a cheque payable to Multifaith Housing Initiative, specifying that you wish to support Veterans House. Please mail your cheque to 206 - 404 McArthur Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1K 1G8.
Q. How can people get involved?
A. MHI offers many opportunities for people to get involved. Volunteers can sign up to serve on various committees to support the Veterans’ House project. Visit our volunteer page for more information.
A. MHI selected this location with the same considerations that many of our neighbours have: Water Ridge Village will have good access to transportation, shopping, and community support services. Further, it is a former Canadian Military Base. In our view, there is no better way to commemorate the military heritage of this land than by retaining a small piece of it to continue to serve our men in women who are in need of supports after their service to their country.
Q. How do you screen people to live in MHI buildings?
A. MHI tenants fill out an application and then are interviewed by our Housing Department. All applicants to MHI must meet the following criteria:
- be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or have refugee status
- be a veteran (as defined by Veteran Affairs Canada)
- have a support worker or case manager who will provide services
- be able to meet tenant obligations
- be willing to work collaboratively with other tenants and support workers
Q. What if someone damages their apartment, or threatens neighbours? Do you evict them or do you put up with it?
A. MHI permanent housing operates under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). When tenant responsibilities are not met, MHI uses the remedies available to all landlords, including eviction. Tenants must repair or pay for repair of any damage to the rental property caused by them or their guest. This includes common areas. It does not matter if the damage was on purpose or by accident. If a tenant loses their key, they pay for the locksmith. Tenants must also pay the rent in full. They must not engage in illegal activity. They cannot affect the safety or disturb the enjoyment of others. Sometimes a tenant needs more care than they can receive because of a physical illness or age and they are no longer considered to be living independently. In this case we work with the tenant to find suitable alternative living arrangements.
Q. Do people living at MHI have a history of violence?
A. Veterans, homeless people or people with mental illness are not more violent than any other group in society. However, they are up to 4 times more likely to be the victim of violence than any other group in society. Homeless veterans, specifically, are 2 times more likely to be the victims of violence than any other homeless population.
Q. What if something bad happens in the neighbourhood and a tenant of MHI is the reason or the cause?
A. In the event of a serious incident we take immediate action. Criminal activity is a matter to be dealt with by Ottawa Police Services. MHI is dedicated to working with police, tenants, and our neighbours to promote safe communities.
Q. How many and what kinds of complaints have you had?
A. Out of our 139 housing units, MHI received 3 formal complaints from external neighbours in the last year. One was about garbage dumping on our property, one was about smoking near public pathways, and one was about the unilingual nature of a BBQ poster for a tenants’ BBQ at our Barrhaven community. Each situation was addressed separately as appropriate. In instances where tenants’ behaviour was concerned, the tenants were addressed and they corrected their behaviour.
Q. What staff will be working in the Veterans House?
A. Veterans House will have 1 full-time on site support staff who will work days, Monday to Friday. In addition, Veterans House is blessed with a strong supporting base of many partner organizations. An example of the benefits of these relationships is our partnership with Soldier Helping Soldiers, an in uniform organization, who will be in the building offering Peer Mentoring services to our tenant. In addition there will be a maintenance person on site 3 mornings a week to clean the building and maintain the property.
Q. You say you provide housing for homeless veterans. What does that mean?
A. Veterans House will provide housing and services to specifically and solely to veterans whose lives have been disrupted by mental illness, homelessness, PTSD, or a number of other factors.The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) describes mental illness this way:
"Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. "
The Canadian Homelessness Research Network describes homelessness this way: "Homelessness describes the situation of someone who is without stable, permanent and appropriate housing."
PTSD, homelessness, mental illness or substance use can affect a person’s ability to complete their education or manage full time employment. MHI supports people in managing their illness and regaining full participation in the broader community.
Q. What are MHI ‘support services’?
A. MHI’s support model has two parts: on-site supports provided by a community developer from a partner agency, and individualized and intensive supports provided by case managers. Community developers and case managers work hand in hand to ensure a team approach.
The Community Developer will be on-site 5 days a week, 7 hours a day. Veterans House will have on-site support staff who will work days Monday to Friday. Community developers focus on problem solving with tenants if housing problems come up. Community developers also offer programs to tenants in a building like movie groups or arts programs.
Case managers work with individuals on specific goals in their life such as housing, education, physical health and many others.
Other support services we provide include (examples: OT, Recreational, nursing) services.
Q. What kind of housing does MHI provide?
A. MHI provides permanent rental housing.
Q. How do people afford an apartment if they are unable to work because they are mentally ill?
A. MHI rents are subsidized be affordable to the tenant’s income. Many veterans receive a pension from the federal government. Some veterans receive assistance through the Ontario Disability Support Program, which includes a Shelter Allowance amount to pay their rent.
Q. How long is the wait list for Supportive Housing in Ottawa?
A. The average wait for a first offer of an apartment for an individual in Ottawa who wants to live in Supportive Housing is 5 to 8 years.
Q. How can I donate and support the development of Veterans House?
A. The easiest way is to donate is online on our donate page. Alternatively, you can send a cheque payable to Multifaith Housing Initiative, specifying that you wish to support Veterans House. Please mail your cheque to 206 - 404 McArthur Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1K 1G8.
Q. How can people get involved?
A. MHI offers many opportunities for people to get involved. Volunteers can sign up to serve on various committees to support the Veterans’ House project. Visit our volunteer page for more information.