Ottawa Salus 2021-2022 Annual Report

Thanks to our donor community, Ottawa Salus was there for our clients and tenants through unprecedented times and unprecedented circumstances.

Introduction

Letter From The Board Chair And Executive Director

Our organization has learned a lot this past year. Our frontline staff continued to go above and beyond to help our clients and tenants. They were there for them, day in and day out, regardless of lockdowns. Our staff worked in-person wearing full PPE and they worked virtually – via phone and video calls – to maintain their client relationships, some that have been fostered over several years.

We were faced with more lockdowns, higher rates of COVID-19, and a steep decline in the mental health of our clients and tenants, exacerbated by isolation.

But somehow, together, we came out on the other side stronger and more resilient than ever before.

This past year reminded us that having a place to call home – a safe space, a solace to retreat to during what has been a tremendously tumultuous time in everyone’s lives, has meant the world to our tenants.

We say it all the time, but the sentiment cannot be understated: Salus’ core conviction is that a home is a critical step to a successful life.

Thanks to you, our generous donors and funders, Salus was able to provide our clients and tenants with a fulfilling life that many never thought was possible. I want you to know that we do not take you for granted, and we aren’t too proud to acknowledge that you are instrumental in this important work. We could not serve our most vulnerable population without you.

Thank you for standing by our side during what has been another challenging year.

In January 2022, we embarked on a new strategic planning process. We have taken the time to recognize how much Salus has grown over the last four decades and reflect on what will be the necessary organizational structure to support the continued and sustainable growth of the organization into the future.

On this journey of discovery and renewal, we have engaged our dedicated employees, our talented Board of Directors and committee members, and our donor community and partner agencies. We have listened more than we have spoken and together, we have laid significant groundwork for the future of Salus.

We continue to work tirelessly towards a stronger, more meaningful and focused way of serving our clients, tenants, partners and community.

As we look ahead, we have challenging but necessary work to do to embody our commitment to the people that we serve – some of the most marginalized persons in our community. With the vision and support of our Board of Directors and our incredible staff and volunteers, we look forward to building the foundation for a life filled with possibility, a future filled with hope and a safe place to call home.

With gratitude,

Mark MacAulay and Camille Therriault-Power

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Mission

We create opportunities for adults with mental illness to live in the community by providing housing and support services.
Vision

The well-being and full participation in the community of adults living with mental illness.
Core Values

The well-being and full participation in the community of adults living with mental illness.

Quality

We strive for excellence in all that we do.

Respect

We create a culture of inclusion based on trust, openness and dignity for all.

Collaboration

We work with others in cooperation and partnership, always looking for better ways to serve our clients.

Integrity

We work with uncompromising fairness and honesty.

Compassion

Our common purpose to serve and support brings meaning to our work.

Mark Macaulay

Executive Director

Camille Therriault-Power

Chair, Board of Directors

Bernard Etzinger

Fiona Murray

Lindsay Taub

Tim Moran

Sarah Bertrand

Melanie Vadeboncoeur

Janet Yale

Sanjay Srivastava

Michel Boulay

Myles Kirvan

Not pictured:

Harpreet Grewal

Phillipe Lachapelle

Accomplishments

Highlights of 2021-2022

Peer Support Pilot Program launches, thanks to the Bell Let’s Talk Grant

In the Fall of 2021, Salus partnered with Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa (PSO) to develop a Peer Support Pilot Project.

Accomplishments

Peer Support Pilot Program launches, thanks to the Bell Let’s Talk Grant

In the Fall of 2021, Salus partnered with Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa (PSO) to develop a Peer Support Pilot Project. Then in October, Salus received a generous $20,000 grant from Bell Let’s Talk that helped get this new initiative off the ground.

PSO Peer Support Workers began to meet with tenants from three Salus buildings in the winter of 2021/2022. They meet in both one-on-one and group settings to share their expertise from their own personal experience with recovery from serious mental health challenges, concurrent challenges including substance use, homelessness, and cycles of hospitalization and/or living in supportive housing.

The Peer Support Workers use a model of Intentional Peer Support (IPS), having conversations to engage clients, provide support and mentorship through supportive listening, share knowledge of peer support and empower Salus clients within their communities.

The idea for this peer support pilot project came from clients themselves. We know from tenant satisfaction surveys and from conversations that many tenants are looking for more involvement in their communities. But, they also face significant barriers to participation. We know from our work with clients that it can be easier to connect with someone who has been through the same or similar events in life and who has experienced the same challenges.

By February, we had 37 referrals for peer support and then in March, our referral numbers more than doubled with 86 tenants requesting our peer support service. Self-report evaluations are provided to tenants who take part in one-on-one support, group support, and lunch and learn sessions and the preliminary results will be available Fall 2022.

Anticipating a successful evaluation, this pilot project could become an ongoing source of support for our clients and tenants on their recovery journey.

This program is amazing! Peer support worker, Souleyman, is bringing his creative flare to the tenants and they are shining their creative sides! This is a very meaningful, beautiful and super creative program.

— Sophie Leclair-Roberge, Community Developer, Ottawa Salus

Overcoming internal systemic barriers through the launch of our I.D.E.A. committee

In September 2021, Salus launched our inaugural Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Anti-Racism (I.D.E.A.) Advisory Committee and offered training to all staff to lay the groundwork for this organizational priority.

Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund (CIRF) Grants offset capital expenditures by over $300,000

In September 2021, Salus was successful in acquiring Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund (CIRF) Grants to offset the cost of planned capital repairs at three Salus supportive housing buildings.

A bold new vision for the future of Salus

In collaboration with PGF Consultants, Salus’ Executive Director, Mark MacAulay and the Senior Leadership Team have been working on the development of a new strategic plan.

“

It can be kind of obscure what a case manager does. With every client it's different. They have different needs. But in the end, the most important part is that we're not willing to abandon somebody in a bad situation. We're not willing to give up. I do not give up on my clients when they give up on themselves.

”

— Isabelle Arnedo, Case Manager, Ottawa Salus

Donor Recognition

Thank you to our donors

With the Tannis family by our side, our world is a better place.

An extraordinary legacy and record-breaking donation, thanks to local philanthropist.

Our maintenance team were armed and ready to tackle germs during the pandemic, thanks to Bunzl and Clorox.

Helping women affected by homelessness through a shoebox filled with supplies and hope

Hand-knit scarves and hats arrived at our doorstep, thanks to a caring donor

OSEG gives the gift of hockey to Salus tenants

Funders

Ottawa Salus is grateful for the generous support of the following funders:

HOUSING

One Size does not fit all – Addressing the needs of our clients.

Salus is known in the community as a mental health supportive housing agency. Salus serves over 700 clients, many of whom benefit from affordable housing opportunities offered directly by Salus or facilitated through various partnership arrangements.

Salus recognizes that for individuals recovering from mental illness “one size does not fit all” in terms of housing needs. The different types of housing models delivered by Salus include transitional, supportive, and supported housing. Operating multiple housing models enables Salus to offer clients “a continuum” or flexible range of support services and housing depending on their needs.

Supportive housing

“Supportive housing” typically signifies a permanent housing situation where supports are linked to a specific building or community.

Salus offers a number of programs that fit this model both within its own housing stock and in buildings owned by Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) and Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI).

In Salus’ owned buildings, our programs are offered by clinically trained community developers or rehabilitation workers (onsite support staff), and housing coordinators who fulfill the supportive landlord function. At the time of housing offer all Salus clients receive intensive individual support services through Assertive Community Treatment teams or case management services, some of whom are Salus staff.

In buildings owned by OCH and MHI, onsite and individual support staff work collaboratively with the landlord to stabilize tenancies.

This collaborative, support service trifecta, determines individual and larger community needs and provides the ability to scale services up and down as necessary.

Learn more about supported housing

Supported housing

“Supported housing” involves portable support tied to the individual not the housing site.

Salus offers a number of programs that fit this model both within its own housing stock and for clients living in the larger community.

Salus provides affordable housing opportunities through its own stock (no onsite staff) or through rent subsidies coordinated in the community, to clients receiving intensive individual support services through Assertive Community Treatment teams or case management services, some of whom are Salus staff.

In addition, Salus offers case management services to individuals whose housing in not connected to Salus or a Salus partnership. This portable and flexible service, that is not tied to housing, is an essential element of supporting clients through their recovery. It also builds in organizational capacity to support graduates moving into the community from Salus’ supportive and transitional housing.

Learn more about supported housing

Transitional housing

“Transitional housing” is considered to be a short-term intensive program accommodation for people who are leaving hospital and require a high level of rehabilitation support to develop skills and links to supports required to live a satisfying life in the community.

Salus offers two 24/7 staffed programs that fit this model:

The Fisher Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Program, is operated by a multi-disciplinary team comprised of rehabilitation and residential workers, residential coordinator, occupational therapist, recreologist, social worker, and a psycho educator.

The Grove Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Program is designed to serve individuals transitioning from the Forensic system. Working closely with hospital treatment teams, it is staffed by a residential coordinator, rehabilitation and residential workers.

Learn more about supportive housing

FSHP and TRHP: One home at a time - Salus' new supported housing condo program gets underway

Salus strives to maintain a balanced portfolio of housing types to provide our clients with options that best suit their needs.

Pandemic recovery through an integrated collaborative approach

Salus continues to strengthen our internal and partnership collaborations to improve outcomes for our clients.

MINDFULNESS STORY

A mindful approach to recovery, thanks to you

Thanks to the support of Salus donors, our clients benefited from mindfulness sessions in 2021-22. One of our Community Developers, Sophie Leclair-Roberge, brought in Jesse, a trauma-informed yoga instructor, who is trained to teach vulnerable populations.

“My goal with the mindfulness sessions is to have our clients feel healthier – both physically and mentally,” says Sophie. “I wanted to offer this to our clients,so that they could learn concrete tools and coping strategies for when they’re feeling anxious and depressed.

The feedback has been incredible! One Salus client, Eric, talks about the various techniques he has learned such as visualization, grounding, body scanning, breath work, meditation, and the tremendous impact on his own well-being.

“Jesse (the instructor) treats everyone as valuable,” says Eric. “Mindfulness helps my mental health, it helps me focus, it’s entertaining, and it helps with socialization and resilience. And even after Jesse leaves, we still have the skills to be able to do the techniques ourselves at home.”

“Thanks to Jesse and what she’s bringing weekly with her mindfulness sessions, my clients are calmer, they feel more connected to themselves and one another,” says Sophie.

Wellness programs such as mindfulness and yoga are helpful for people who are on their journey of recovery. Salus relies on support from people like you to go above and beyond for our clients in providing resources like Jesse’s sessions.

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Capital expenditures in 2021 - 2022 were just over $570,000.
Although not recorded directly through the work order system, the support that maintenance provides to tenants is directly reflected in the decrease of emergency after hours call outs. Of the 852 work orders, 22 of those were no-heat/ thermostat issues, blocked toilets and no lighting/power in a unit.

336 Total calls received after hours through our on-call service. 292 calls were for Salus (204 were true property emergencies) and 44 calls were received for Youth Services Bureau, for whom Salus provides after hours property emergency support (16 were true property emergencies).
In 2021-22 Salus Maintenance Staff responded to 852 tenant generated maintenance requests in addition to regularly schedule maintenance and janitorial work.

Maintenance Story

Our maintenance team goes above and beyond for tenants and staff

Nights, weekends, holidays, and all through the Pandemic — no matter the time or circumstance, our Ottawa Salus maintenance staff are always available to help, going above and beyond for our tenants. As an example, our maintenance staff often work with tenants to teach them skills such as how to properly plunge a toilet, how to work and set their thermostat and how to turn breakers back on when necessary.

These personalized services are balanced with the maintenance of Salus’ properties. The 14 buildings are maintained by a team of maintenance and cleaning staff, and overseen by a Property Manager, with third party contractors engaged as needed.

Continue reading maintenance story

“

The staff are my heroes and every day I have such respect for what they do and for our clients who are working hard to get better.

”

— Camille Therriault-Power, Board Chair

Community Partners

Grateful for the generous support

Providing care to veterans, thanks to an important partnership

The stepping stone for a life filled with meaning and hope

Community Partners

The stepping stone for a life filled with meaning and hope

When Dana was just 26 years old, she lost her mom – her best friend, to cancer. She was devastated. The traumatic loss triggered depression, suicidal thoughts and disorganized and paranoid thinking over the next three years. At 29, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and admitted to the hospital for two weeks.

A social worker from another organization introduced Dana to Salus and Rehabilitation Worker, Leanne. Dana moved into one of Salus’ shared living homes where she began her recovery journey. Thanks to the guidance and support she received from Leanne and the other tenants, she learned life skills again that she had lost – skills like cooking, cleaning and working.

My journey at Salus has been one of hope, it’s been one of connecting with other peers and never being alone, and being surrounded by a supportive environment and supportive staff.

While recounting her journey of recovery, she commented on the large pine table in the kitchen at Salus’ shared living home. “We sat around the table every time for breakfast, lunch and supper and we took the opportunity to socialize around it. I made quite a few friends here. I love the comradery and the atmosphere and the support and the feeling of togetherness that this place offered me.”

Dana says her time at Salus was the stepping stone between living dependently and independently. Today, Dana lives in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate and she works full-time as a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) facilitator.

"Salus gave me the opportunity to learn about WRAP. I’m independent now and I have a job thanks to everything I learned at Salus," Dana says. Dana uses her own experience to help empathize with clients in her job as a peer support worker. “And that’s why I’m here, that’s why I’m a peer supporter now, because I don’t want others to go through the same experience, not having somebody to tell them, ‘Hey it’s okay’. I want them to know that recovery is real, and it’s possible, it’s always possible.”

Improving mental health one activity at a time, thanks to the generosity of our community and the Irene Despard Fund

Partners

Ottawa Salus is grateful for the generous support of the following partners:

View all partners

Covid-19 message

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Ottawa Salus never closed. Many frontline staff continued to provide essential in-person support to tenants and clients, while others were able to pivot to providing online support.

In fact, we offered virtual sessions a total of 1,338 times this year. Since the pandemic began, our staff have witnessed an increase in destabilized tenancies with three main housing issues emerging due to the negative effects of COVID-19.

These issues include:

Decline in mental health.
Difficulty maintaining their unit to an acceptable standard.
Increase in pest control issues.

Staff continue to work collaboratively with increased focus on recovering people’s health and stabilizing their housing.

"My first day at Salus was May 5th 2021. As I walked into the office, a vaccine clinic was underway. Even though everyone had their masks on, their eyes said everything; so warm and so welcoming. With that, we rolled up our sleeves and got things underway guided by our year of operational focus: Building upon our foundation of people strength."

— Mark MacAulay, Executive Director, Ottawa Salus

Continue reading Covid-19 message

Financials

A comprehensive overview

By the numbers

683

Clients served
1338

Virtual sessions
14

Salus owned and operated buildings
229

Tenants housed as of March 2022
677

Housing Applications received as of March 31, 2022
3.6 years

Average wait time to access permanent housing at Salus
55.57%

of total applicants this fiscal year were women
42.84%

of total applicants this fiscal year were BIPOC
2.11%

of applicants identified as non-binary/other gender
39

total hires this fiscal year (18 internal and 21 external)
98.25%

of staff fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Financial summary

Here’s an overview of our revenue and expenses in 2021-2022

Ottawa Salus 2021-2022 Annual Report

Letter From The Board Chair And Executive Director

Mission

Vision

Core Values

Quality

Respect

Collaboration

Integrity

Compassion

A supportive and dedicated team of volunteers

Mark Macaulay

Camille Therriault-Power

Bernard Etzinger

Fiona Murray

Lindsay Taub

Tim Moran

Sarah Bertrand

Melanie Vadeboncoeur

Janet Yale

Sanjay Srivastava

Michel Boulay

Myles Kirvan

Harpreet Grewal

Phillipe Lachapelle

Accomplishments

Highlights of 2021-2022

Peer Support Pilot Program launches, thanks to the Bell Let’s Talk Grant

Peer Support Pilot Program launches, thanks to the Bell Let’s Talk Grant

Overcoming internal systemic barriers through the launch of our I.D.E.A. committee

Overcoming internal systemic barriers through the launch of our I.D.E.A. committee

Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund (CIRF) Grants offset capital expenditures by over $300,000

Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund (CIRF) Grants offset capital expenditures by over $300,000

A bold new vision for the future of Salus

A bold new vision for the future of Salus

Donor Recognition

Thank you to our donors

With the Tannis family by our side, our world is a better place.

With the Tannis family by our side, our world is a better place.

An extraordinary legacy and record-breaking donation, thanks to local philanthropist.

An extraordinary legacy and record-breaking donation, thanks to local philanthropist

Our maintenance team were armed and ready to tackle germs during the pandemic, thanks to Bunzl and Clorox.

Our maintenance team were armed and ready to tackle germs during the pandemic, thanks to Bunzl and Clorox

Helping women affected by homelessness through a shoebox filled with supplies and hope

Helping women affected by homelessness through a shoebox filled with supplies and hope

Hand-knit scarves and hats arrived at our doorstep, thanks to a caring donor

Hand-knit scarves and hats arrived at our doorstep, thanks to a caring donor

OSEG gives the gift of hockey to Salus tenants

OSEG gives the gift of hockey to Salus tenants

Funders

Supportive housing

Supported housing

Transitional housing

FSHP and TRHP: One home at a time - Salus' new supported housing condo program gets underway

Forensic Supportive Housing Program (FSHP) and Transitional Rehabilitation Housing Program (TRHP): One home at a time - Salus' new supported housing condo program gets underway

Pandemic recovery through an integrated collaborative approach

Pandemic recovery through an integrated collaborative approach

MINDFULNESS STORY

A mindful approach to recovery, thanks to you

Maintenance Story

Our maintenance team goes above and beyond for tenants and staff

The staff are my heroes and every day I have such respect for what they do and for our clients who are working hard to get better.

Community Partners

Grateful for the generous support

Providing care to veterans, thanks to an important partnership

Providing care to veterans, thanks to an important partnership

The stepping stone for a life filled with meaning and hope

The stepping stone for a life filled with meaning and hope

Improving mental health one activity at a time, thanks to the generosity of our community and the Irene Despard Fund

Improving mental health one activity at a time, thanks to the generosity of our community and the Irene Despard Fund

Partners

A comprehensive overview

By the numbers

683

1338

14

229

677

3.6 years

55.57%