| Recipient: | Ottawa Innercity Ministries |
|---|---|
| Project: | The Innercity Veterans “Operation Inclusion” Project (Op. Inclusion) |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Period: | 1 March 2022 - 18 January 2023 |
| Funding: | $175,000 |
Overview:
Ottawa Innercity Ministries, with funding from the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund, operated a program called The Innercity Veterans “Operation Inclusion” Project. Operation Inclusion was an initiative geared towards reaching out to all Ottawa-based Veterans including ill and injured Veterans and engaging them in weekly social activities and regular excursions.
Project goals:
To help Veterans and their families with the following goals:
- Reduce isolationism and improve overall mental health;
- Offer individualized assistance through advocacy, referrals, and emergency supplies;
- Provide referrals to professional services; and
- Distribute information to Veterans on the services, benefits and programs available to them and their families during the COVID-19 recovery.
Project activities:
The Operation Inclusion Project was delivered through three main supporting areas:
- Awareness: Trained staff reached out to Veterans across Ottawa to make them aware of events and activities in the Ottawa area in which they have interest.
- Social Support: Trained staff and trained Veteran volunteers organized weekly and monthly events in the Ottawa area, providing transportation, costs for entry to the monthly event, and a nutritious meal.
- Shelter Support: Veteran staff completed weekly on-site visits to male and female shelters in Ottawa to reach socially isolated Veterans staying in shelters and extend invitations to project activities.
Project results:
The project succeeded at reducing isolationism among Veterans by providing one regularly scheduled weekly event and up to two regularly scheduled monthly events for a total of 54 events. In all, 898 Veterans attended these weekly and monthly events.
The project staff provided support, advocacy and referrals 220 times to 120 unique Veterans of which 50% were new clients. They also provided emergency support to street-engaged Veterans 45 times during Street Outreach services and 48 times during Door Outreach services. Seventy percent of individuals seen during scheduled appointments were referred to either housing or other support services. As well, they developed a database/email list of 74 Veterans allowing ongoing engagement with Veteran community.