Justice | Community | Hope
OIM has been serving people on the streets of Ottawa with empathy, dignity and respect, regardless of personal situation or history, for over 30 years.
Many of those reached identify as being, or having been, some combination of sex worker, ex-offender, addict, and/or from marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ2A or indigenous communities. Many struggle with mental health issues, some with physical disabilities.
Putting Down Our Roots
Since OIM was founded in 1988, operations have always been delivered from leased facilities. This was a good option in the early period, but over the last number of years, it has proven to be a challenge. In September 2020, OIM was given notice that our home at 391 Gladstone Avenue was going to be put on the market. In what can only be described as the provision of God, OIM was presented with the opportunity to purchase the property. Like the Israelites who had to step into the sea before the water parted, OIM acted in faith to secure the building to enable us to continue to love and serve the most vulnerable without uncertainty as to how or where we would serve them from.
