News & Events
The Affordable Housing Strategy July 17, 2010
Recently, Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation and the Housing Network of Ontario Ottawa Branch organized a Social Housing Tour with MPP Yasir Naqvi. Yasir had an opportunity to tour CCOC buildings in the Centretown area and find out why it was important to support the affordable housing agenda in Ontario.
Our very own John Julian ( Board Member and Advocacy and Communications Action Team (ACAT) member ) with Centretown Community Health Centre, wrote an article in the Buzz this month linking housing as a key social determinant of health. In the article, John highlights why it is important for the Province to adopt the Ontario Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy. please open the attachment
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Two Health Centres in One Centretown Community June 2010
The Buzz, a local community newspaper that operates in the catchment area, will be featuring a monthly column from Somerset West CHC (SWCHC) and Centretown CHC (CCHC) which will talk about health/advocacy issues that are important to us. For more information, please open the attachment.
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Housing Network of Ontario May 2010
Eugene Williams, our Health Promotion Coordinator is taking a lead role as Co-Chair of the Housing Network of Ontario – Ottawa Branch to organize a 6 Stop Affordable Housing Tour in Ottawa. The goal is to encourage Ottawa area MPPs to become local champions to support long term investments in affordable housing. For more information, please open the attachment.
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Community Health Day April 30, 2010
Ottawa's fourteen Community Health and Resource Centres celebrated Community Health Day on Friday April 30, 2010. The theme of this year's Community Health Day was Health Equity, and our provincial association will be calling on all levels of government to ensure that Ontario's most vulnerable citizens have fair and equitable access to health care. On hand to help celebrate Community Health Day were Mayor Larry O'Brien who officially proclaimed April 30, 2010 Community Health Day in the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi, who's ongoing support of CHCs is always appreciated and Somerset Ward Counsellor Diane Holmes, who works tirelessly for the residents of her ward.
A special thank you to SWCHC client Jonathan H. for sharing his powerful story with the audience. His strength and courage will be remembered by many. To read Jonathan's story please see the link below.
Somerset West CHC would like to thank all those on hand for helping make Community Health Day 2010 an event to remember!
Proclamation by Mayor Larry O'Brien on Community Health Day
April 30, 2010
Paul Dewar's Statement in the House of Commons
Personal statement read by SWCHC client, Jonathan H. on Community Health Day April 30, 2010.
Tragically three days later Jonathan passed away as a result of a sports related injury.
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Special Diet Allowance Program April 26, 2010
SWCHC wrote a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty calling on his Government to reinstate the Special Diet Allowance Program.
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Housing Fact Sheet April 19, 2010
Eugene Williams, our Health Promotion Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Housing Network of Ontario - Ottawa Branch developed this housing fact sheet which was mailed to Ottawa area MPPs. The fact sheet explains how building and maintaining affordable housing is good for our local economy.
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Safe Consumption Sites in Toronto and Ottawa
The Ottawa Sun ran an article on research that is being conducted by CAMH in Toronto on the feasability of Safe Consumption Sites in Toronto and Ottawa. SWCHC has been participating in this research. Please also read the comment below that was sent to the Sun in response to the article. It is from someone who speaks very highly of the harm reduction services in Ottawa (ours included!)
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2009/08/12/10443076.html
Comments Quoted from: Geoff
"Cost to build a safe drug house: approx 5-10million dollars
Cost to treat ONE person who has HIV/AIDS over their lifetime 15 million dollars..."
It is proven these facilities reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. They also would be providing addicts with the resources they need to get into rehabs/methadone/etc, and any emergency medical help as well.
There would be less flow of drug addicts into the city's hospitals, as well, due to abscesses, overdoses and other health complications caused by unsafe injection drug use.
I'm willing to admit that I am an opiate addict who already makes use of the harm reduction vans and clinics that Ottawa already has and have received so much compassion and help from the staff working with them.
I've recently gotten connected with the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre with help from the harm reduction van and have started my addiction treatment. I hope to be finally done with my addiction in the near future!
Without the help I've gotten from the harm reduction staff, I would not have been convinced to seek treatment for my opiate dependence.
I know many others who are in recovery, who are recovered, or who are just beginning to find an interest in seeking help who would agree with me.
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Ottawa housing advocates ready to work
Immediate Release July 30, ,2009
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Battle for affordable housing
Huge waiting list shows government not doing enough: Advocates
