There were 664 families living in the City of Ottawa’s family shelter system this winter, including one family that has been in the system for more than three years.
In February, the city purchased a former hotel at 377 O’Connor Street for $45 million to turn it into transitional housing. The building has 128 apartment suites.
Coun. Marty Carr asked staff for information on the number of families currently in the city’s family shelter system, along with the average length of stay.
In response to the inquiry for the June 23 community services committee meeting, Community and Social Services general manager Clara Freire said there were 664 families (2,212 individuals) being served in the city’s Family Transitional Housing System as of March 1.
“This represents a 76 per cent increase since January 2023, when 377 families were being served,” Freire said.
The average length of stay for a family as 327 days as of April 1, up from an average length of stay of 139 days in April 2024.