Housing First program at CMHA Ottawa featured in The 25th Hour mini-doc

Apr 26, 2024

The 25th Hour is a current affairs news program created by senior undergraduate students at the Carleton University School of Journalism and Communication. Journalists Nathan Fung and Simon Hopkins recently put together a mini-documentary about Housing First at CMHA Ottawa for the show.

In the Housing First model, people experiencing chronic homelessness in addition to mental health and addictions issues are provided with independent and permanent housing of their choosing—without conditions—prior to additional supports and services. At CMHA Ottawa, we use a Housing First approach to serve eligible individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorder who are experiencing chronic homelessness or are vulnerably housed.

Check out Nathan and Simon’s doc about Housing First, featuring Mike Murphy, Housing Coordinator, and Lisa Medd, Housing Program Manager; as well as Tim Aubry, PhD, from the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services – CRECS-CRECS at the University of Ottawa. It includes the first look at CMHA Ottawa’s newest condominium purchase, which will soon be home to a client of the branch experiencing chronic homelessness!