Cornerstone Housing for Women publically recognizes the incredible restaurants and suppliers that have cared deeply for our mission, during this pandemic. Twenty-four restaurants supplied meals to our frontline staff, clients in our busy downtown emergency shelter, plus our over women living at four supportive housing residences, and outreach programs.

As an organization, we want to honour George Floyd’s life and so many other marginalized people who have suffered because of an unjust system. We will use this time to learn. We are committed to social justice, to honour Black women, marginalized communities, and positively contribute to the lives of People of Colour.

Cornerstone Housing for Women, emergency shelter and housing for women in Ottawa, has experienced its third confirmed COVID-19 case, in the last four weeks. The week of April 6th, a woman who previously showed symptoms, tested positive, and was then moved to the Routhier Community Isolation Centre. She has since fully recovered. This past week, two additional women showed symptoms, were tested as soon as possible, and placed in off-site isolation care.

In January, Ottawa declared a homelessness emergency. Despite the city’s ten-year plan to end homelessness, homelessness has moved beyond a crisis to levels never seen before. Last year, almost 8,000 people stayed in emergency shelters, which have been operating at over 100% capacity for years.