The City of Ottawa is confronting a growing crisis of family homelessness, with over 600 families currently housed in motels, placing a significant strain on city resources.

Record Numbers and Rising Costs

As of March 2026, more than 1,200 children are among the families relying on temporary motel accommodations. In 2025 alone, the city spent nearly $30 million on these motel stays.

Families remain in these accommodations for an average of 11 months, costing the city approximately $5,800 per month for a family of four. This escalating cost has prompted the development of a new, comprehensive strategy.

New Strategy Focuses on Prevention

The proposed strategy, to be presented to the community services committee next week, centers on preventative measures and long-term housing solutions. The city plans to prioritize emergency financial assistance and short-term bridge funding to help families avoid eviction.

Expanding Housing Options

Efforts will also focus on accelerating the transition of families from motels into permanent housing. This includes expanding transitional housing options and streamlining access to available resources.

The recent acquisition of 377 O’Connor Street, a former hotel being converted into transitional housing, is a step towards addressing the housing shortage.

Challenges and Funding Concerns

Despite 277 families moving into permanent housing in 2025, the number of households successfully exiting homelessness decreased by 41 percent compared to the previous year. Factors contributing to this include high rental costs, inadequate income assistance, and a lack of support services.

Funding for the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit has been significantly reduced, from $4.3 million in 2023-2024 supporting 382 households, to $2.08 million in 2025-2026, supporting only 205 households.

As of the end of 2025, over 16,000 households were on the social housing waitlist, including nearly 6,000 with dependents. The city invested $40 million in nearly 1,000 affordable housing units in 2025, but recognizes the need for more targeted options.

The strategy will be implemented within existing budgetary constraints, with no additional funding currently allocated.