The City of Ottawa is actively working with stakeholder groups to identify the needs of the community during the COVID-19 outbreak and to support those residents who are the most vulnerable.

To that end the City has established a Human Services Task Force to ensure they are responsive to the emerging needs of the community. In addition to representatives from City departments and Ottawa Public Health, the task force includes partners from all sectors, including:

- United Way East Ontario
- Ottawa Food Bank
- Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres of Ottawa
- Ottawa Community Housing
- Canadian Red Cross
- Salvation Army
- Ottawa Inner City Health

The task force is currently working on;

Food Security
- 23 of Ottawa’s 26 food banks are currently open and additional locations are expected to close in the coming weeks due to a lack of volunteer;
- information about how to access the food bank is regularly updated on ottawafoodbank.ca;
- The Ottawa Food Bank is working on alternative pick up locations and increasing the number of volunteers.

Isolated Seniors
- The Good Companions is closed. Staff have been redirected to essential programs
- The Good Companions’ Senior Centres Without Walls program is ramping up to provide transportation to emergency services, medical appointments and shopping, and to deliver groceries and Meals on Wheels.
- The City is working to identify further support required for seniors

Transportation of vulnerable residents to COVID-19 assessment centres and medical appointments.
- Community partners are assessing the need.

Volunteer management to support community efforts during a pandemied.
- The City is not currently seeking volunteers to help with the response to COVID-19. However, this is a priority for the City and they are looking at ways to provide opportunities for those who want to support their community. As Ottawa Public Health has suggested, residents can help by checking in with neighbours and friends who may be vulnerable, overwhelmed, lonely or in need of help.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)