The Veteran Homelessness Program (VHP) aims to prevent and reduce Veteran homelessness in Canada. As a member of this program, our goal is to help prevent and reduce Veteran homelessness in Ottawa through wrap-around services. Veterans have served our country courageously, and they deserve a safe and affordable place to call home. For more information about this program, service providers, and the VHP directives, visit the Government of Canada’s website. Operation Road Home is funded by the Government of Canada.

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Services

We will provide rent supplements and wrap-around services over a four-year period. These services mean we can provide the first and last month’s rent while providing some furniture for the housing. We can also provide bedding, cooking supplies, furniture, and other essential supplies. As a wrap-around service provider, we also offer services such as screening and referral services for counselling, substance use treatment, and clinical health services to Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

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Our Veterans Housing Coordinator, Peter, will meet with Veterans one-on-one to determine their eligibility for the program and verify their status. From there, he will begin helping each Veteran get the support they need. Peter’s role comes as a result of the funding received and will focus primarily on finding a place for homeless or precariously housed Veterans to call home. 

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Homelessness Defined

The Government of Canada defines homelessness as, “the situation of an individual or family who does not have a permanent address or residence and does not have the immediate prospect, means, and ability to acquire it. More specifically, experiences of homelessness can include time spent: 

• In unsheltered locations or places not intended for human habitation (e.g., parks); 

• In emergency shelters (permanent or overflow beds); 

• Staying temporarily with others (e.g., family or friends) without a guarantee of continued residency (“couch surfing”); or, 

• In short-term rentals with no security of tenure (e.g., paying for motels with income or savings).”