OttaTalk How can we resolve homelessness?
Aug 21, 2025
Kale Brown, Director of Housing and Homelessness at the City of Ottawa, tackles the complexity of homelessness and housing crises in the city. He shares insights on the collaborative efforts needed to address personal and systemic challenges, advocating for a housing-first approach. The conversation highlights innovative solutions like the ANCHOR program, which aids mental health crises with impressive success rates. Kale emphasizes the importance of adapting housing strategies to meet evolving community needs, particularly for vulnerable populations.
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Personal Path Through The System
- Sébastien shared that he and his family started in a women's shelter and moved through social housing to market rent by age 15.
- His story illustrates how housing supports can change life trajectories across childhood.
Affordability Is A Core Driver
- Kale explained homelessness has many causes, with affordability and rising living costs as central drivers since the pandemic.
- He noted mental health and addiction intersect with affordability to create diverse pathways into homelessness.
City As Funding Coordinator
- Kale described the city as the service manager that allocates federal and provincial funding via a local housing and homelessness plan.
- That plan prioritizes affordability, supports for mental health/addictions, and upstream prevention like housing loss prevention.