Innovative Shelter Diversion Program Transforms Ottawa's Approach to Homelessness
A groundbreaking pilot program at Ottawa's Shepherds of Good Hope is challenging decades of conventional wisdom about homelessness services by implementing a simple yet revolutionary concept: keep people from entering the shelter system whenever possible. This shelter diversion initiative, developed through collaboration between the Shepherds, the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, and the City of Ottawa, represents a significant shift in how communities address housing insecurity.
Rethinking Shelter Assumptions
For years, shelters operated under the assumption that anyone arriving at their doors had exhausted all other options. "We assumed that if you were coming to shelter, it was your last choice," explains Michael Lethby, executive director of RAFT (the Niagara-based Resource Service for Youth), who helped establish the Shepherds' program. "But that assumption has shown not to be true."
The program's philosophy recognizes that many individuals arrive at shelters during moments of crisis not because they have absolutely nowhere else to go, but because they perceive shelters as the safest immediate option. This perception has been reinforced by how the system has been structured and presented to the public for generations.
How Shelter Diversion Works
Shelter diversion doesn't mean denying assistance to those in need. Instead, it transforms the nature of that assistance. When someone arrives seeking shelter, trained intake workers:
- Slow down the intake process to create space for meaningful conversation
- Assure individuals of their immediate safety and security
- Listen carefully to each person's unique circumstances and story
- Explore whether safe alternatives exist that could prevent shelter entry altogether
Beni Rutimirwa, who manages the shelter diversion program at Shepherds of Good Hope, initially approached the concept with skepticism but has become one of its strongest advocates. "Now, I believe it should be mandatory at shelters everywhere," Rutimirwa states, reflecting on the program's demonstrated effectiveness.
Real-World Success Stories
The program's impact became vividly clear during a recent case involving a young woman who had experienced sex trafficking and was attempting to escape an abusive relationship. When she arrived at the Ottawa shelter asking for a bed, Rutimirwa posed a different question: was there anywhere else she could safely go?
The inquiry revealed that the woman had a mother in Quebec with whom she hadn't spoken in years. Shelter staff contacted the mother, who initially feared the worst when receiving an unexpected call about her daughter. Instead of tragic news, she received an opportunity for reconciliation and was asked if she could provide her daughter with a safe home. Within days, the young woman was on a bus back to Quebec and her family.
This case represents just one of numerous positive outcomes from the six-month pilot program, demonstrating how early intervention can redirect lives before individuals become entrenched in the shelter system.
The Critical Importance of Early Intervention
Lethby emphasizes why preventing shelter entry matters profoundly: "Once someone enters shelter, patterns form. Disconnection deepens. Street life becomes entrenched. And the longer a stay lasts, the harder it becomes to leave."
The program addresses several barriers that might prevent people from seeking alternative housing:
- Geographical distance from potential support networks
- Personal pride or shame about asking for help
- Perceived failure associated with requesting assistance from family or friends
- Lack of awareness about available alternatives to shelter systems
"I call it assuming a homeless identity," Lethby observes. "There's a way of living that is homeless. Homelessness, fundamentally, is what happens when someone can't leverage a social relationship for housing."
Looking Toward the Future
This innovative approach represents more than just a program adjustment—it signifies a fundamental reimagining of homelessness prevention. By focusing on maintaining social connections and exploring all possible alternatives before shelter admission, the Shepherds of Good Hope pilot offers a promising model that could transform how communities across Canada address housing insecurity.
The program's success challenges other shelters to reconsider their intake processes and explore how diversion strategies might reduce long-term homelessness in their communities. As Ottawa continues to refine this approach, it provides valuable insights into more humane and effective ways to support vulnerable populations before they become trapped in systems that prove difficult to escape.
