[2] Shepherds of Good Hope also operates a soup kitchen, and serves breakfast, lunch and evening meals.
Established in 1983, the Shepherds of Good Hope started as an emergency men's and women's shelter and grocery program out of St Brigid's in Lower Town.
It allowed for 35 housing units to be built for clients who were diagnosed with a mental disorder, but independent enough to live on their own.
[3] In 2009, after several years of searching for a place to relocate the Supportive Housing, the Shepherds of Good Hope purchased an old hotel to move its residents that could be living in Supportive Housing but were still in the shelters, in an effort to remove people from the drugs so readily available in Lower Town Ottawa.
Funding was provided by the Singhal family, which owns the Richcraft Group of Companies as well as $7 million in fee waivers and grants by the City of Ottawa.
[6] On January 29, 2022, during the Canada convoy protest in Ottawa, some protestors harassed staff and volunteers from the Shepherds of Good Hope into giving them food from the soup kitchen.
[8] Volunteer tasks are performed around the premises and include working in the Clothing Room, Drop-In Centre, Soup Kitchen, shelters and residences, and Women Stabilization Program as well as helping to put together Christmas Hampers.
[8] The Shepherds of Good Hope are also partnered with many high-profile companies, such as Bell Canada, Am Ex, CHUM Media and the Knights of Columbus, among others, who provide volunteer hours, awareness, and donations[9] In 2008, Shepherds of Good Hope received 49% of its funding from the City of Ottawa, 14% from rent income from residents, 22% in donated food value, 20% in individual donation, 10% of volunteer contributions, 9% from Champlain Local Integrated Health Network, who also provided a grant, 4% in rent income and 3% from other miscellaneous sources.
Features of this year's banquet include the recognition of outstanding volunteers, musical entertainment, and the presenting of cheques for the Shepherds of Good Hope from Corporate Partners.
[13] Started more than 20 years ago, the Hope Garden was created to reduce the constant shortage of fresh vegetable in the Soup Kitchen.
Hope Garden receives countless donations from providers such as Lee Valley tools, Home Hardware, Greely Sand & Gravel Inc. and seed suppliers.
The foods provided in the baskets are reflective of community donations as well as seasonal availability for fruits and vegetables.
Soup and hot drinks are provided, and guests can participate in card games, bingo, tutorials, AA meetings, or simply enjoy the flat screen T.V.
The Shepherds of Good Hope have several shelter programs, to maximize the help they can provide to people from all different walks of life.
Additionally, Hope Outreach has on-site psychiatric nurses, medical help, and addiction assessment and support.
Hope Outreach also hosts a pilot project targeting homeless people who are unable to access services for their severe health problems due to their lifestyle.
[15] Hope Recovery provides 21 beds, food, access to hygiene, laundry and medicine storage for women and men under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
[18] Questionnaires were handed out to the MAP participants as well, to record and properly study their past alcohol use, daily activities and health.
Hope Living is made possible through the help of the following partnering agencies: Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, the Sandy Hill Community Centre, the John Howard Society, C.M.H.A., and A.C.T.T.
Clients of the Hope Living residence are encouraged to develop life skills in order to reintegrate into the community.
Pelletier started this shelter as a homage to a woman she had been working with in the past, an IV drug user who had developed AIDS and was also pregnant.
[22] Despite this controversy, 55 people have moved into The Oaks, a gated facility with 24-hour staffing and surveillance to control access to the grounds and minimize trouble that could occur.