The Shepherds of Good Hope

The Shepherds of Good Hope is a social-service organization based in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 1983, it developed from a small emergency shelter and grocery initiative into a multi-service provider serving people experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental-health challenges, substance-use issues, and housing instability. Its work is organized around three broad areas: support services, shelter services, and supportive living. The organization began at St. Brigid’s in Ottawa’s Lower Town, initially operating emergency accommodation for men and women together with a grocery program. It later opened a men’s shelter and clothing service in the former Guigues School. On October 1, 1985, its shelter, soup kitchen, clothing program, and grocery activities moved to 233 Murray Street, a former St. Brigid’s School building that became the organization’s principal downtown base. Its support services address immediate material needs. These include a soup kitchen, emergency groceries, clothing and footwear, an evening drop-in program, a Christmas Hamper program, and transportation or outreach support through the Shepherds of Good Hope van. The soup kitchen provides meals throughout the year, while the grocery and clothing programs extend assistance to people who may not be residents of the shelters. The Christmas Hamper program, established in 1986, became an annual effort supporting more than 1,000 families according to historical organizational material. Shelter services include emergency accommodation for men, emergency accommodation for women and transgender people over 18, and specialized recovery and health-oriented programs. The organization has also participated in inner-city health initiatives that connect shelter residents with medical, psychiatric, and substance-use services. Its Managed Alcohol Program uses a harm-reduction approach for people whose severe alcohol dependence has not been effectively addressed through abstinence-based models. Rather than requiring immediate abstinence, the program provides controlled beverage alcohol within a structured care environment and monitors participants’ health and service use. Supportive living is intended for people who need housing together with varying levels of supervision, health support, or help developing independent-living skills. The organization has operated residences for people living with serious mental-health conditions, residents able to live more independently, and people transitioning from emergency shelters. In 2009, it acquired a former hotel property in Ottawa’s Carlington area and converted it into The Oaks, a staffed supportive-housing and wellness site. In September 2021, it opened the 42-unit Richcraft Hope Residence on Montreal Road, described as its fifth supportive-housing residence. The Shepherds of Good Hope is governed by a board of directors and supported by employees, volunteers, donors, partner agencies, and corporate and community organizations. Its institutional identity is rooted in practical service rather than consumer products: food access, emergency shelter, housing stabilization, harm reduction, health connections, and pathways toward greater independence. The organization serves people across faiths, beliefs, and genders. It remains an Ottawa-focused nonprofit service provider, and its public profile has also been shaped by debates about homelessness policy, supportive housing, and harm-reduction practice.

The Shepherds of Good Hope was established in 1983 in Ottawa’s Lower Town. Its earliest work combined emergency shelter for men and women with a grocery program operating from St. Brigid’s. In 1984, the organization added a men’s shelter and clothing program in the former Guigues School. On October 1, 1985, its principal shelter, soup-kitchen, clothing, and grocery activities moved to 233 Murray Street, a former St. Brigid’s School building that became the organization’s long-standing downtown location. A Christmas Hamper program was introduced in November 1986. It continued as an annual seasonal-support initiative for Ottawa families. In 1988, the organization created Hope Outreach, Hope Community, and the Hope Centre to expand its housing response from emergency shelter toward longer-term accommodation. Further programs, including Hope School, Hope Recovery, House of Lambs, and Hope Discovery Supportive Housing, were added in 1990, although organizational reorganization led to the closure or reduction of some programs two years later. In December 1998, Sophie's Hope began operating inside 233 Murray Street as a separate initiative intended to provide a safer, accepting environment for women who were excluded from other services because of active drug use or other circumstances. It was founded by Francine Pelletier and later moved to an independent location. Although not directly affiliated with the Shepherds of Good Hope, its presence reflected the organization’s role as a host and partner within Ottawa’s inner-city service network. In 1999, Hope Community and Hope Discovery were combined into a supportive-housing system of care. That year, additional units were created for people with severe mental illnesses and for residents requiring less intensive support. In May 2000, the organization introduced its Managed Alcohol Program in partnership with inner-city health services. The program was controversial because it used controlled alcohol provision as a harm-reduction intervention rather than requiring abstinence. Subsequent University of Ottawa-related research described reductions in emergency-department visits, police interactions, and alcohol consumption among participants, together with improvements in hygiene and engagement with medical care. During the early 2000s, the organization expanded its housing and case-management capacity. Funding in 2002 supported a housing worker to help residents locate and retain accommodation. In 2003, the organization marked its twentieth anniversary and added beds to the Managed Alcohol Program. In May 2004, it acquired a building on St. Andrew Street with Ministry of Health funding. The property became a 35-unit supportive-living residence for people with mental-health diagnoses who could live with greater independence. Hope Community subsequently closed in 2005. After several years of searching for a suitable location, the Shepherds of Good Hope purchased a former hotel property in Ottawa’s Carlington area in 2009. Renamed The Oaks, the site was converted into supportive housing for people who qualified for housing support but remained in downtown shelters. The project attracted neighborhood opposition during its planning, including concerns about crime, drugs, alcohol, and the effect of relocating 55 formerly homeless residents. The residence ultimately opened with round-the-clock staffing, surveillance, and controlled access. The organization continued expanding its supportive-housing network. In September 2021, it opened the 42-unit Richcraft Hope Residence on Montreal Road. The project received support from the Singhal family and from the City of Ottawa through fee waivers and grants. In January 2022, the organization became a focus of national attention after reporting that staff and volunteers had been harassed during the Ottawa convoy protest and pressured to provide soup-kitchen food. The public response generated approximately $750,000 from more than 13,000 donors by February 10. The organization indicated that most of the funds would be directed to two supportive-housing residences under construction, expected at that time to provide 105 places. The organization’s operations depend on board governance, paid staff, volunteers, individual donors, public funding, charitable partners, and service collaborations. Historical material describes volunteers contributing tens of thousands of hours and clients also assisting with shelter, kitchen, clothing, and seasonal programs. Across its development, the Shepherds of Good Hope has retained a focus on low-barrier access while broadening from emergency food and shelter into supportive housing, health services, mental-health support, and harm reduction.

• 2022

  Convoy-protest donation response

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  After the organization reported harassment during the Ottawa convoy protest, public donations reached approximately $750,000.

• 2021

  Richcraft Hope Residence opens

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  The 42-unit Richcraft Hope Residence opened on Montreal Road as the organization’s fifth supportive-housing residence.

• 2009

  The Oaks supportive-housing project

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  A former Carlington hotel was acquired and converted into The Oaks, a staffed supportive-housing and wellness residence.

• 2000

  Managed Alcohol Program introduced

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  The organization launched a controlled-alcohol harm-reduction program for people with severe alcohol dependence.

• 1999

  Supportive-housing system consolidated

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  Hope Community and Hope Discovery were combined into a supportive-housing system of care, with additional units for residents with different levels of need.

• 1986

  Christmas Hamper program begins

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  The organization established its annual Christmas Hamper program for families in need.

• 1985

  Services move to 233 Murray Street

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  The shelter, soup kitchen, clothing program, and grocery activities moved into the former St. Brigid’s School building at 233 Murray Street.

• 1983

  Organization established

  [1]Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org

  The Shepherds of Good Hope began in Ottawa’s Lower Town as an emergency shelter and grocery initiative operating from St. Brigid’s.

A community-based, low-barrier social-service provider focused on immediate relief, shelter, supportive housing, health connections, and harm reduction for people experiencing homelessness or severe housing insecurity.

• Shelter services · 1983

  Emergency shelter services

  The organization operates emergency accommodation and related practical services for adults experiencing homelessness. Historical descriptions include separate men’s and women’s shelter programs, meals, showers, laundry access, hygiene supplies, clothing, and medicine storage. The women’s program also served transgender adults and offered access to health and harm-reduction resources.

• Housing · 1988

  Supportive housing

  Supportive housing combines permanent or longer-term accommodation with staffing, supervision, health connections, and life-skills assistance. Residences have served people with serious mental-health conditions, residents requiring lighter-touch support, and people moving out of emergency shelters. Examples include Hope Living, St. Andrew’s Residence, The Oaks, and Richcraft Hope Residence.

• Harm reduction · 2000

  Managed Alcohol Program

  Introduced in 2000, the Managed Alcohol Program provides scheduled, controlled beverage alcohol to selected participants whose alcohol dependence has not been effectively addressed through abstinence-only approaches. Its objectives include reducing binge drinking and consumption of non-beverage alcohol, improving health and safety, and connecting participants with care.

• Food assistance · 1985

  Soup Kitchen

  The soup kitchen provides meals throughout the year to people in need, including shelter residents and members of the wider community. Historical organizational descriptions also mention takeaway sandwiches and the Hope Garden, a community-supported garden created to improve access to fresh vegetables for meal preparation.

• Material assistance · 1983

  Grocery and Clothing Programs

  The grocery program distributes emergency food support, while the clothing program provides clothing and footwear to shelter guests and other low-income people. Both services extend the organization’s reach beyond overnight accommodation and respond to immediate household needs.

• Recovery and stabilization · 1990

  Hope Recovery

  Hope Recovery provides short-term stabilization for men and women under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Historical descriptions include beds, food, hygiene and laundry access, medicine storage, and connections with shelters, police, detoxification services, and hospitals. Residents are encouraged to pursue support for substance-use concerns.

• Seasonal assistance · 1986

  Christmas Hamper Program

  Established in 1986, the Christmas Hamper program assembles and distributes seasonal food assistance for families experiencing hardship. Historical material states that the program has supported more than 1,000 families during the Christmas period.

• 2022Public donation appeal following convoy-protest incident

  Canada

  After reporting harassment of staff and volunteers during the Ottawa convoy protest, the organization’s public communications prompted widespread public support.

  Outcome. More than 13,000 donors contributed approximately $750,000 by February 10. The organization said the bulk would support two supportive-housing residences under construction.

  Source
• 2009Annual AmEx Golf Tournament

  Ottawa, Canada

  An annual fundraising golf tournament supported the organization’s housing work. Historical material identifies American Express as a sponsor and states that the 2009 event raised funds toward supportive-housing homes in Carlington.

  Outcome. The 2009 tournament raised $14,638, according to the cited historical material.

  Source
• 2009Annual Hunger Banquet

  Ottawa, Canada

  The Hunger Banquet combined fundraising, volunteer recognition, music, and support from corporate and institutional partners.

  Outcome. The 2009 event reportedly attracted 445 attendees and received sponsorship from CHUM Ottawa, Telus, Deloitte, Ottawa Police Services, and the Ottawa Catholic School Board.

  Source

• 2021

  Opened Richcraft Hope ResidenceProduct launch

  Background

  The organization continued to expand its supportive-housing capacity in Ottawa.

  Action taken

  It opened the 42-unit Richcraft Hope Residence on Montreal Road.

  Aftermath

  The residence became the organization’s fifth supportive-housing site, with project support from the Singhal family and the City of Ottawa.

  Source

• 2009

  Purchased and converted a former hotel into supportive housingStrategy

  Background

  People eligible for supportive housing were remaining in downtown emergency shelters, and the organization sought a larger setting outside Lower Town.

  Action taken

  The organization purchased a former Cardinal Suites Motel property in Carlington and converted it into The Oaks, a staffed supportive-housing and wellness residence.

  Aftermath

  The project faced local opposition, but 55 residents subsequently moved into the facility, which included round-the-clock staffing, video surveillance, and controlled access.

  Source

• 2000

  Adopted a Managed Alcohol ProgramStrategy

  Background

  The organization introduced the program for people with severe alcohol dependence for whom abstinence-based approaches had not worked effectively.

  Action taken

  It implemented a harm-reduction model involving scheduled, controlled amounts of beverage alcohol alongside monitoring and access to health and support services.

  Aftermath

  The approach attracted controversy, while later research described improvements in several health, safety, and service-use measures among participants.

  Source

1. 1Shepherds of Good Hopeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Shepherds of Good Hope official websiteshepherdsofgoodhope.com