by Gail McGuire
For many of us, our COVID-19 problems have been limited to distancing, handwashing, and disinfecting surfaces in our homes.
The Cornerstone Shelter For Women in Centretown is for women without homes, due to mental, financial, or physical challenges. The all-woman staff provides counselling, programming, and assistance towards independence. They have 61 residents, who may wait two to three years for permanent homes. Agencies such as Cornerstone, Options Bytown, and Salus provide supportive housing (Cornerstone has three supportive housing locations), while Ottawa Community Housing and a portion of Centretown Citizens Housing Corporation provide subsidized places for independent living.
Kia Rainbow, Cornerstone’s executive director, has met regularly online with shelter agencies such as the Shepherds of Good Hope, the Mission, and the Salvation Army. As part of an Inner City Health coalition, they have explored how shelter life is challenged by COVID-19. Issues identified include the need to increase cleaning and extension of cleaning contracts to seven days per week and social distancing in communal areas such as dining rooms. Cornerstone has placed one chair only per table and has limited dining to 20 minutes. They’re using paper plates and disposable utensils.
Residents’ reactions have ranged from anxious to nervous to not recognizing the problem, Rainbow said.
Cornerstone has applied for additional federal funds and requested personal protective equipment and extra funding for staffing costs such as time away from work, overtime, and taxis when reduced transit prevents staff from getting to work. Without these funds they cannot protect either staff or residents.
During the pandemic we in Centretown have focused on community solidarity; many of us have volunteered to support the more vulnerable. Beyond the pandemic we will be faced with financial reckonings, personally and as a nation.
We will remember our vulnerability, and that those of us without homes were made especially vulnerable. We will need to recommit ourselves to resolving our housing emergency, as declared by the City of Ottawa in January.