Och foundation for healthy communities Review

About Och foundation for healthy communities

OCH Foundation for Healthy Communities: Empowering Social Housing Residents in Ottawa

Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) is the largest social housing provider in Ottawa, serving over 32,000 residents across 15,000 homes. While OCH provides affordable and safe housing to low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, it also recognizes that social housing is more than just a roof over one's head. It's about building healthy communities where residents can thrive and reach their full potential.

That's where the OCH Foundation for Healthy Communities comes in. Established in 2019 as a charitable organization separate from OCH but closely aligned with its mission and values, the foundation aims to bring together community leaders from various sectors to support social housing residents in Ottawa. Its vision is "to empower every resident of Ottawa Community Housing to live their best life."

The foundation focuses on four key areas of impact: families, children, youth, and seniors. By addressing these priority populations' unique needs through collaborative partnerships and innovative programs and services, the foundation seeks to enhance their quality of life while promoting social inclusion and equity.

Families

For many families living in social housing units managed by OCH or other providers across Ottawa's diverse neighborhoods, access to basic necessities such as food security can be a challenge. The OCH Foundation works with local food banks like the Parkdale Food Centre or Stittsville Food Bank to provide emergency food hampers or vouchers for fresh produce at farmers' markets.

In addition to addressing immediate needs like hunger relief during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns or school closures when children lose access to free breakfast programs at schools they attend; The foundation also supports long-term solutions that promote healthy eating habits through cooking classes or community gardens initiatives.

Children

Children growing up in poverty face numerous challenges that can affect their physical health development as well as academic success later on. The OCH Foundation partners with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa or Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide after-school programs, summer camps, and mentorship opportunities for children living in social housing.

These programs aim to build self-esteem, resilience, and positive relationships with peers and adults while fostering a love of learning. The foundation also supports initiatives that promote physical activity such as sports teams or dance classes that help children develop healthy habits early on.

Youth

Teenagers living in social housing face unique challenges related to mental health, education attainment, employment prospects. The OCH Foundation works with organizations like the Youth Services Bureau or the Ottawa Network for Education to provide youth with access to counseling services, job training programs or scholarships for post-secondary education.

The foundation also supports initiatives that promote civic engagement among youth such as leadership development workshops or community service projects. By empowering young people living in social housing units across Ottawa's neighborhoods; the foundation aims to break down barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Seniors

Seniors living in social housing often face isolation due to mobility issues or lack of access to transportation. The OCH Foundation partners with organizations like the Good Companions Seniors' Centre or the Council on Aging of Ottawa; providing seniors with opportunities for socialization through events like coffee mornings, bingo games, art classes etc.

The foundation also supports initiatives that promote healthy aging such as exercise classes tailored specifically for seniors' needs. By addressing seniors' unique needs through collaborative partnerships and innovative programs; the foundation seeks to enhance their quality of life while promoting social inclusion and equity.

Conclusion

In conclusion; The OCH Foundation is a vital organization working towards building healthy communities where residents can thrive regardless of their income level. Through its focus on families, children youth & seniors; it addresses some of society's most pressing issues related to poverty alleviation & community development by partnering with local organizations across various sectors.
By supporting innovative solutions tailored specifically towards each priority population's unique needs, the foundation aims to empower every resident of Ottawa Community Housing to live their best life.