ASH statement in support of the relocation of Centre 454. 

November 13, 2026

Attn: City of Ottawa officials and Belong Ottawa

For years, residents and businesses surrounding Centre 454 have raised concerns about the cumulative impacts associated with the concentration of homelessness and social services in residential areas of Sandy Hill. These concerns include ever-increasing public drug use, overdosing on sidewalks adjacent to residents’ homes, almost daily calls to emergency services, improperly discarded drug paraphernalia (including broken crack pipes and needles), waste, disruptive behaviour, public mischief, physical brawls, uttering of death threats, trespassing, break-ins, thefts, threats, assaults, harassment of and predatory/grooming behaviour toward children, squatting and toileting on sidewalks and residential property, and other safety concerns and negative impacts on neighbouring residential and commercial properties. Centre 454 has a long-standing history of minimizing and/or ignoring the detrimental impacts of its operations on residents. The result is that residents are left traumatized and unheard.

These challenges are part of a much broader homelessness and addictions crisis and cannot be attributed to any single organization. Their negative impact, however, on the surrounding community, including families with children, is real and must be acknowledged.

In an August 1, 2025 email, Belong Ottawa confirmed their intent to relocate Centre 454, with a timeline to be provided in Fall 2025. It was not until July 23, 2026 that the City and Belong Ottawa signed an agreement recognizing the need for Centre 454 to relocate. Yet, two months later Centre 454 petitioned ASH to support its request for an extension whilst admitting it had taken no meaningful steps in over six months to secure an alternate location. Residents were blindsided by this inaction, believing that there was to be a clear, imminent end in sight to the deleterious impacts of Centre 454’s operations. ASH believes the remaining transition period must now be approached with urgency. Centre 454 has not been given short-notice to relocate. Rather, it has chosen to not actively pursue alternate locations and continue to stick its head in the sand and ignore residents’ concerns. The priority should be to secure an appropriate alternative location while ensuring there is no interruption in essential services.

ASH supports a clear and accountable transition plan that identifies the steps, timelines and resources required to establish a new location and maintain services throughout the move.

The relocation of Centre 454, however, addresses only one part of a much larger problem.

Ottawa’s homelessness and addictions crises require a comprehensive, long-term response. ASH supports significantly greater investment in affordable and supportive housing, transitional housing, mental health care, addiction treatment, recovery programs and harm-reduction services throughout the city.

People experiencing homelessness need realistic pathways into stable housing and access to the supports required to remain housed and improve their well-being.

Responsibility for this system cannot rest with the City of Ottawa alone. Meaningful progress will require sustained funding and coordination from the municipal, provincial and federal governments.

ASH also believes Ottawa must address the geographic concentration of homelessness and social services. Essential services must remain accessible, but accessibility should not require concentrating a disproportionate share of facilities and associated impacts within a small number of downtown neighbourhoods where families with children live. Future supportive housing and services should be distributed more broadly across the city, particularly in areas well served by public transit and community amenities.

Sandy Hill has a long history of hosting and supporting social-service organizations. Recognizing the needs of vulnerable residents does not require ignoring the legitimate concerns of the communities in which these services operate.

ASH supports more funding for housing and the delivery of essential services for those in need across our city. However, ASH does not support extending Centre 454’s operation at its current St. Alban’s location beyond the established transition timeline.

Signed, 

Betsy Schuurman, Chair, Action Sandy Hill, on behalf of the ASH Board of Directors