Initiated by Ottawa Police Service, the Integrated Community Situation Table (ICST) is a coalition of community service agencies that is spearheading a coordinated effort to tackle an unprecedented crisis affecting vulnerable members of our community as well as businesses, residents, and visitors in the Byward Market and Rideau Street area. This crisis stems from a combination of a toxic drug supply, inadequate affordable housing, and unmet health and social service needs. Consequently, vulnerable individuals in Ottawa face a heightened risk of involvement with the criminal justice system, further compounding their challenges.
Over 30 partner organizations participate in the ICST, offering a wide range of support services including mental and substance use care, medical care, legal assistance, and housing support. By bringing together diverse agencies and services, the ICST ensures that individuals receive holistic support tailored to their specific needs. Co-chaired by non-profit community agencies, the table operates independently of the Ottawa Police Service.
Development of Neighbourhood Resource Guide
Ottawa, like many cities, faces significant challenges in providing comprehensive mental health and substance use services to its diverse population. Recent years have highlighted critical gaps in the system that have not only led to inadequate support for those in need but have also contributed to tragic incidents, underscoring the urgent need to improve how we respond to mental health and substance use health crises.
The impact of these service gaps is not felt equally across Ottawa's population. Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities are disproportionately affected, often facing more negative outcomes due to systemic racism, discrimination and a lack of culturally appropriate resources.
The Guiding Council has developed a comprehensive resource guide to help address these gaps in four specific neighbourhoods. Vanier, Overbrook, Ledbury-Herongate and Bayshore were selected due to their higher populations of racialized residents, highlighting the intersection of racial inequity and mental health and substance use health service accessibility. The resource guide highlights one hundred and twenty-seven organizations and programs that offer services to city residents including in these neighbourhoods. The guide serves multiple purposes by allowing healthcare providers such as family doctors, and other frontline worker to share resources with their patients and clients and make informed referrals to specialized services. Individuals and families may also use the guide to seek appropriate help.
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