Ottawa’s ByWard Market Faces Challenge of Social Service Density

The ByWard Market in Ottawa is grappling with the implications of having the highest concentration of social services in the city. City Councillor Stéphanie Plante is advocating for a shift in how these services are distributed, arguing that the current setup is unsustainable and detrimental to both the community and those in need.

Plante has expressed concern regarding comparisons made by politicians from other cities, which liken the ByWard Market to heritage districts such as Vancouver’s Granville Island and Toronto’s Kensington Market. She emphasizes that the ByWard Market is unique due to its dual role as a major tourist destination and a hub for social services, shelters, and addiction treatment centers. The presence of these services has led to issues such as social disorder, homelessness, and public safety concerns within the area.

In her push for a more equitable distribution of social services, Plante advocates for a housing-first approach to address homelessness and addiction. This strategy aims to decentralize services from the Rideau-Vanier ward, which encompasses the ByWard Market, and ensure resources are available throughout the city. She highlights the need to spread essential services, similar to how libraries and community centers are distributed to benefit all neighborhoods.

Plante points out that homelessness and drug use are not confined to downtown areas. According to data from Ottawa Public Health, while downtown neighborhoods report the highest rates of overdose emergency department visits, other areas such as Hintonburg, Carlington, and Overbrook also experience significant challenges related to substance use.

Drawing from her experiences, Plante cites a visit to Montreal’s Old Brewery Mission, which provides emergency services and community housing across its metropolitan area. She notes that while social disorder persists in Montreal, the concentration of social services in the ByWard Market—three shelters, three injection sites, two safe-supply pharmacies, four soup kitchens, and seven day programs within a 400- to 600-meter radius—creates an illogical environment.

In support of Plante’s perspective, Omer Livvarcin, a professor at the University of Ottawa, emphasizes the necessity of maintaining critical services in downtown areas due to the proximity of hospitals and transit. However, he also stresses that no single neighborhood should bear the entire burden of these services. He suggests that Ottawa could phase out some lower-intensity supports from downtown and establish community hubs throughout the city, ensuring that essential services remain accessible.

Livvarcin advocates for a data-driven approach to assess the effectiveness of decentralization. Tracking metrics such as access to help, housing stability, and overdose numbers will be critical in determining the success of this strategy. He warns that the system must remain adaptable and inclusive, involving health providers, Indigenous leaders, and community representatives in the decision-making process.

While decentralizing social services may not provide immediate relief, Kaite Burkholder Harris, the executive director of the Alliance to End Homelessness, highlights that such services already exist in various communities across Ottawa. She notes the importance of addressing youth homelessness by preventing individuals from entering shelters in the first place, thereby alleviating pressure on the existing shelter system.

Burkholder Harris emphasizes the need for permanent supportive housing with comprehensive support services for those with complex needs. She believes that a holistic approach to housing will reduce reliance on crisis services and allow individuals to choose where they live, ultimately leading to a more stable situation.

Both Plante and Burkholder Harris acknowledge the existing need for core services downtown while advocating for a more balanced distribution of resources. Plante points to the upcoming Matthew Perry House, a supportive housing project for individuals with substance use disorders, as an example of the type of initiatives that can be expanded outside the downtown core.

In a recent interview, Ottawa Police Service Chief Eric Stubbs noted the collateral effects that arise from the concentration of social services in the Rideau-Vanier ward. He emphasized that the police often have to intervene when the needs of the community are not adequately addressed, highlighting the importance of implementing mitigation strategies.

Plante calls for a refresh in the model of shelters and community housing to better accommodate the evolving challenges related to homelessness. She argues that the outdated approach of traditional shelters must give way to innovative solutions, such as the “tiny homes” model, which provides individual living spaces while reducing overall shelter capacity.

In conclusion, Plante stresses that a comprehensive strategy is necessary to address the multifaceted issues surrounding homelessness, asserting that merely concentrating services downtown is no longer viable. The goal is to create a more humane and effective system that prioritizes the dignity of those in need while ensuring that the burden of social services is shared across the city.

As Ottawa moves forward, stakeholders hope to foster a more coordinated and equitable approach to social services that not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for long-term solutions.