FAQ
Questions
OW $733 frozen since 2018. ODSP $1,436. The numbers are the indictment.
Is this official City or provincial software?
No. It is an advocacy simulator. It will not file your application. It models why the application is designed to take months before it is even a file number.
What does unsheltered mean here?
Tent, doorway, pathway, encampment. Ottawa counted 561 people unsheltered in the 2025 Point-in-Time count. 3-1-1 can try for a bunk. By-law can dismantle the site. ID is not stored.
Is a shelter “housed”?
No. A mat at Shepherds, the Mission, the Booth Centre, Cornerstone, YSB, or a motel is emergency management. Coordinated Access can see you. You still do not have a lease. Eight to a room is not a bedroom.
Where did supervised consumption go?
The Trailer at Shepherds closed 12 June 2026. Oasis / Sandy Hill the next day. The province pointed to HART Hubs. Supplies, OAT, and RAAM remain. Supervision does not.
How is mental health modelled?
Mood, medication, AccessMHA waits, CMHA intensive case management, Psychiatric Outreach, ER boarding. Hospital is a clinical event. This tool does not depict self-harm. Real help: AccessMHA, CMHA Ottawa, The Royal, crisis line below.
Why is my cheque smaller because I am unhoused?
Ontario does not pay the shelter portion of OW or ODSP unless you already have a physical home. OW shelter max $390; ODSP $611. Without a lease you receive basic needs only.
What are the real transit prices?
OC Transpo 2026: cash $4.15, card $4.10, DayPass $12.25, adult monthly $138.50, EquiPass $58.25, Community (ODSP) $43.25.
Can a single person rent a one-bedroom on benefits?
ODSP max $1,436 + CDB $204.20 = $1,640.20. Asking 1-bed ~$1,900+. You need a roommate and/or a subsidy.
Wallet stolen. What first?
Birth certificate (waiver if homeless via an agency) → SIN (free, Service Canada) → OHIP → photo ID. Then OW/ODSP/Registry. Skipping the stack produces “come back with documents.”
I am on a cousin’s couch. Why am I not “homeless”?
Ottawa’s 2026 local RGI rules: homelessness priority is for people in a City-funded shelter or transitional program, or living unsheltered. Staying with friends or family does not qualify.
How do I “win”?
An RGI lease in your name, a private lease made livable by a portable benefit, or a Housing First / supportive placement with a lease. Opt-in supports either way.
I need actual help in Ottawa.
This is not a service. Housing or income: 2-1-1, City 3-1-1, or 9-1-1 in an emergency. Mental health crisis line: 613-722-6914. AccessMHA.ca for intake. Shelter intake and community health centres (Centretown, Somerset, Oasis, Wabano) are real doors. Community Legal Services of Ottawa (CLSO) for OW/ODSP appeals and SBT representation.
Benefits suspended pending audit. What now?
Respond with the requested documents or request a meeting. Ask for interim/discretionary assistance while the file is open. Book Community Legal Services of Ottawa. A case manager or housing advocate can strengthen the package. Silence extends the gap; the month still costs money.
ODSP denied. What is the appeal path?
Internal review first (short clock). Then Social Benefits Tribunal (months). HRTO is a rights docket, not a second cheque. Community Legal Services or duty counsel can represent. Representation improves odds; it does not guarantee a win or a unit.
What is an intensive housing case manager?
Housing First–style intensive case management. High caseloads, but they complete packages, accompany appointments, and navigate Coordinated Access / By-Name. Usually needs a shelter, outreach, or HIFIS referral first. Still not a key.
Where is my progress stored? Can I export it?
Everything stays in this browser (localStorage). v17 adds three manual save slots plus auto-save, and Export / Import JSON so you can move a resident file between devices or keep a backup. No resident data is sent to the server.
Can I contact my councillor, MPP or MP from this tool?
Yes. The Representatives page maps simulation neighbourhoods to Ottawa wards, provincial ridings and federal ridings with current (September 2026) contact details. It is a snapshot before the October 2026 municipal election. Always verify on ottawa.ca, ola.org or ourcommons.ca.