Romeo’s journey with Ottawa Salus began in 1993 when he and his mom sought help when he was struggling with his mental health.

They found hope at Salus, where the team reassured Romeo that although recovery may take some time, they would be here to help him.

Salus quickly became home for Romeo –  he made friends, took on household responsibilities, and found joy in activities with his neighbours. With the guidance from Salus staff and support from our caring donors, Romeo navigated the ups and downs of his recovery journey. He is pictured with Deb, one of the rehabilitation workers who had a significant impact in his journey.

Today, over 30 years later, Romeo reflects with gratitude on how far he has come. Watch Romeo tell his story in the video below.

Thanks to the generosity of the Matt Foundation, your holiday gift will be matched up to $10,000 to support clients like Romeo as they navigate their journey to recovery, independence and a hope-filled future!

About Salus

In 1977, Ottawa Salus opened the first supportive housing residence in Ontario—pioneering the model on which supportive housing is built in our region. Since then, thousands of people have come through our doors, and we’ve learned from decades of experience that housing on its own is not enough. Support is also essential. Housing plus support equals recovery.

Today, people living with mental health and substance use health challenges in our community are struggling to find affordable and stable housing. For our city as a whole, it’s a challenge. For each individual, it’s a crisis. With access to supportive housing, these individuals can open the door to a new and better future.

Salus owns and operates 14 buildings in Ottawa and offers both transitional and permanent affordable housing opportunities in a variety of settings, as well as property management including 24/7 after hours services. Our mental health programs and services work collaboratively, using an integrated service model to meet the individualized needs of our clients.