Menu
Restoring Hope Ministries
  • About us
    • Our Story
    • Executive Director
    • The Board
    • Media coverage
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Get involved
  • Services
    • Drop-In
    • Emergency Shelters
    • C.O.R.E.
  • Get involved
    • Volunteer application
  • Give
    • Give
    • Gifts in kind
  • Events page
  • Contact us
Close Menu
February 1, 2013

New shelter opens for homeless Ottawa youth

Photo credit: Hallie Cotnam/CBC
Photo credit:Hallie Cotnam/CBC

A new shelter for homeless Ottawa youth opens tonight in the basement of First Baptist Church at the intersection of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue West.

Jason Pino, who has worked for a decade as a street outreach worker, spearheaded the six-bed shelter that will open one night per week.

Pino said he wanted to create a space for homeless men who were either too old for youth shelters, such as Operation Come Home, or too young for adult shelters, such as The Mission or the Shepherds of Good Hope.

“We wanted them to feel like they’re in a home environment as much as possible,” he told the CBC’s Hallie Cotnam.

“We want to help bring hope to them so that they feel inspired to make some of the bigger changes that they want to make in their life.”

The shelter will only be available on Friday nights and it will open on a first-come, first-served basis with six twin beds and matching blue plaid comforters.

First Baptist Church Rev. Scott Kindred-Barnes said he fully supported Pino’s idea, offering the space for one night a week.

“Part of our faith is to take our faith out in the world and this fits well with what the church is about,” said Kindred-Barnes.

Pino will supervise the shelter with other volunteers and he said the beds will be rolled away in the morning for weekend church activities.

But for one night, Pino said he hopes the young men will have a temporary home before they eventually find their own.

This article was originally published by CBC, and appeared on Yahoo News
February 1, 2013
By Hallie Cotnam

View original article

Downtown church to turn into a shelter for homeless youth The Jesus Experience

Related Posts

OttawaCitizen-02-07-2014

Media

City surveys churches to build on emergency shelter program for homeless youth

Photo credit: Clayton Andres and Thomas Hall, The Winter Times Photo credit: Clayton Andres and Thomas Hall, The Winter Times

Media

Ottawa shelters already at capacity as cold sets in

Media

The Jesus Experience

Facebook updates

2 months ago

November update: Thank you to everyone who has been reaching out to us during this time, we appreciate your ongoing support. We are currently in need of Spray Nine cleaning solution for sanitizing tables etc, Polisporin and hydrogen peroxide for our First Aid Kit. In addition, we have been informed that some stores will no longer carry plastic cutlery/cups etc starting early 2021 so we are currently looking to increase our backstock of these items as we will need to continue using them while the pandemic in ongoing.
Last but not least, we are still looking for meals (10-12 portions) for Nov. 13, 17, 21 and 24. Please comment below, send a DM or email nicole@restoringhope.ca if you are able to help.
... See more

View on facebook
2 months ago

Hi everyone, with United Way campaigns underway at many different offices across Ottawa, just a reminder that currently the only way we can receive funding through the United Way is if donors follow a very specific process for their payroll deduction. If giving by automatic deduction via United Way is your preferred way of giving, please follow the process outlined here (see third option): https://restoringhope.ca/main/give/. Thank you for your consideration and generosity. Please share with others who might be willing to help in this way. ... See more

View on facebook
2 months ago
Timeline Photos

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 107:1

Today we are grateful for First Baptist Church. Not only do they continue to provide the space for our ministry, but they also hosted a special Thanksgiving collection of food and food-related items for the youth.
... See more

View on facebook
2 months ago

Real conversation with a youth: Last night we had some recently housed youth come by to pick up some stuff they left behind and we also gave them one of the handmade blankets. As they discussed with another youth they learned he too had found housing. The first youth turned to me and said: "Soon you'll have no one here". I thought to myself if only that were true and told him there are always some new kids who will come. I went to open the door. He took one look at the youth who walked in and told me I'm right. I then explained that we usually see waves of youth come through. He responded: "Like Covid?" 🤣 ... See more

View on facebook
3 months ago
Timeline Photos

Thank you, Trish B. for making this special Thanksgiving meal happen. One of the youth said it was just like his mom used to make and another had at least three servings. Staff did some taste testing too. Everyone went to bed well-fed. ... See more

View on facebook
« ‹ 1 of 44 › »
Restoring Hope
© Restoring Hope 2021
Charitable Registration #: 847605847RR0001

About

Guided by the Biblical principle of “loving our neighbours”, the mission is to provide physical, spiritual, emotional and mental supports for the complex needs of youth experiencing homelessness in Ottawa.

Stay connected

Sign up to receive our periodic newsletter about what is happening at Restoring Hope.