By Kelly Butler
The 510 Rideau Drop-In Centre(between Augusta . and Cobourg streets)is also known as Shawnejeagamik, which means ‘House of Compassion’ in the Algonquin language. It provides support services to our community’s Indigenous homeless, or those at imminent risk of homelessness. The 510 Rideau Drop-In Centre is a program under the not-for-profit charity Odawa Native Friendship Centre, funded through the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and individual donations.
Indigenous homeless clients from across the city are referred to 510 Rideau for culturally appropriate support based on trust, friendship and mutual respect. The Centre has partnerships with frontline workers, outreach workers, housing placement, visiting nurses, Elders, trainers and the Bannock Bus.
In an article in the Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) “Pekiwewin (‘coming home’): Advancing good relations with Indigenous people experiencing homelessness”, Jesse Thistle and Janet Smylie stated;
Offering a welcoming reprieve, 510 Rideau helps with basic needs such as food, clothing, a shower, laundry, computer access, shelter from the cold for a few hours, and peer-to-peer support. During the pandemic, services have been reduced to allow one person inside at a time. With the cold weather upon us, measures are being put in place so that the Centre can hopefully move to allowing a few people inside to warm up and eat together while safely maintaining COVID protocols. Approximately 16,000 meals, including food boxes or food cards, are served to about 1,400 clients a year.
“In Canada, Indigenous people are 8 times more likely to be homeless than non-Indigenous people and represent 10%–80% of the total homeless population in large urban centres.”
In addition to basic necessities, the Centre offers women’s support, men’s traditional healing and support, Wellbriety meetings to support healing from alcohol, substance abuse and intergenerational trauma due to the transmission of historical oppression and its negative consequences across generations. Traditional teachings and healing circles, conversations with Elders and peer support groups are available, as well as connections to income supports, computer training and employment assistance.
Referrals for mental health support, crisis assistance, addictions treatment and residential-school counselling are also offered. More information about programs and support can be found on their website (http://www.odawa.on.ca/programs/uahi.html) or by calling 613-789-3077.
The services that can be accessed through the Centre demonstrate how wellness is interconnected and provide an essential lifeline, especially in these uncertain times.
Under ordinary circumstances, the Centre would be preparing for an annual Indigenous art auction, a veterans’ feast, and a fall feast. However, restrictions have resulted in cancellations for most of their events. The Odawa Native Friendship Centre offers virtual youth programming, recently hosting a Halloween event online, and will be doing a soft opening of their Early Years program for children online in the coming weeks. Lowertown residents can check out @OdawaNFC on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Lowertown residents can best help the 510 Rideau Drop-in Centre in the important work that they do through online donations @ https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-odawa-native-friendship-centre/ (select 510 Centre from the menu), and/or by bringing clean clothing, towels, backpacks, lunchboxes and any other items that could be used to support our homeless community members.
Solutions for homelessness remain one of our greatest societal challenges, but each of us can make a difference in the lives of many by supporting our neighbourhood “House of Compassion”.