Task Force on Homelessness and the Safe Streets Act

On October 13, 2004, Ottawa City Council approved the creation of the Task Force on Homelessness and the Safe Streets Act to address the issues facing homeless people in Ottawa. The mandate of the Task Force is to review current practises and recommend solutions to improve the options available to people who are homeless. The Task Force is to report its recommendations to City Council by June 2005. Issues that the Task Force will address include:       ·        The Safe Streets Act, a regulation prohibiting the sale of newspapers and goods on the sidewalk       ·        Income earning opportunities (e.g., Rideau Street Youth Initiative, Centre 507)       ·        External legal services provided on a pro-bono basis       ·        A multi-agency street outreach program       ·        Mediation techniques and best practices in other cities              Starting in January, the Task Force will meet on the second Tuesday of each month. Members of public are encouraged to attend the meetings to share their concerns, experiences and solutions on matters related to being homeless in Ottawa. The Task Force will also hold regular meetings with the Mayor to provide updates on their findings.              The Task Force will meet on:                      Date        Location        Time               Tuesday, January 11        City Hall, Honeywell Room        5 to 7:30 p.m.                       Tuesday, February 8        To be determined         5 to 7:30 p.m.               Tuesday, March 8        To be determined        5 to 7:30 p.m.               Tuesday, April 12        To be determined        5 to 7:30 p.m.               Tuesday, May 10        To be determined        5 to 7:30 p.m.               Tuesday, June 14        To be determined        5 to 7:30 p.m.                      The Task Force members are:              Sean McKenny, Chair of the Task Force, Ottawa and District Labour Council       Diane Holmes, City Councillor, Chair of the Health, Social Services Committee       Peter Hume, City Councillor, Association of Municipalities of Ontario Task Force on Homelessness       Denise Vallely, Alliance to End Homelessness \ Youth Services Bureau       Castille Troy, Minwaashin Lodge       Mary Martha Hale, Centre 454       Karen Dawe, Homeless Advocate       Jim MacEwen, Ottawa Police Service Board       Gilles Larochelle, Ottawa Police Service       Phil Wasserman, Downtown Business Community       Andy Kusi-Appiah, Representative from the Office of Mayor Bob Chiarelli       Perry Rowe, Director of Programs for Outreach Services, Salvation Army       Russell Mawby, City of Ottawa, Community and Protective Services Department, Housing Branch              To review the Homelessness and the Safe Streets Act Report approved by City Council on October 13, 2004, visit Ottawa.ca. For more information on the Task Force, please contact David Saint, phone # 580-2424 extension 25567, e-mail David.Saint @ottawa.ca or Carol Greene, phone # 580-2424 extension 44191, e-mail Carol.Greene@ottawa.ca.