Volunteer Opportunities

Hello,



My topic for today is social housing from my point of view so people can see the good points and all it has to offer for people like me on ODSP.

I am 42 and I waited patiently on the social housing registry for 11 years to get a 1-bedroom apartment.

Every Christmas was my due date to call into the Social Registry and update my file once a year. My mom and I picked Christmas/December because it was an easy time to remember for both of us. I would also ask the Social Registry to send me a list so I could choose more options of housing in Ottawa each year.

After 11 years of waiting and choosing, they finally called me in 2021. I still remember the lady in the office of Social Registry when I first applied who gave me a hint, a huge one, don’t limit yourself to one area of the city, choose more options from the list.

And so, I did, and that’s what got me in faster to social housing.

So, I moved into social housing, and got the keys, and signed the lease, and made lots of friends. I now volunteer in our programs for Veggie Friday that happens every Friday, and Breakfast Tuesday and I benefit from these two programs, and also the foot lady from southeast Ottawa comes to take care of my feet every six weeks.

My rent is a lot cheaper, under $200 for a 1 bedroom providing my income does not change for ODSP.

We have to submit our notice of assessment along with our ODSP papers, and a pink slip we get from Ottawa housing to tell Ottawa housing we are doing our income taxes each year. It lets them know we are still at the same income level to keep our houses. If we do not comply with this or fail to send that information we lose our housing and our apartment goes back up to market rent and they kick us out.

Since moving here, I have made more friends. I love volunteering. I am thriving and saving more money. And that is the benefits of social housing. I do not have to worry anymore about paying market rent, or worrying about rising food cost, or having to put clothes on my back, because I can afford all theses things.



Thank you very much for listening to me today and I hope it gives you all a great knowledge of social housing and provides you with better feedback and gives you some more idea that social housing is better life.

Merci and thank you.

Julie Cashman

Rob’s Journey

Rob was matched with Ted twelve years ago and they soon became part of each others’ families, attending dinners, BBQs, weddings, and welcoming Rob’s children into the world. Rob found himself connecting with Ted’s roommate, Fred and was soon matched with him as well. Before long Uncle Ted and Uncle Fred were woven into Rob’s family.



“This program is the biggest gift I have ever been given, the ability to form a series of life-changing relationships,” says Rob. “You could never walk away from interacting with Ted without a smile on your face. He was a selfless individual and only wanted the best for you. That was a gift he would give me each and every time I saw him.”

Sadly, Ted passed away. During Ted’s final days, Rob sat with him every day and held his hand so he always knew he had someone who loved him and that he was not alone.

In March of 2022, Rob ran the Goggins Challenge where for 48 hours, he ran 4 miles every 4 hours. Rob raised over $6,000 dollars for ABLE2 in memory of Ted!

Robert is a recipient of the Senate of Canada’s 150^th-anniversary medal for his community involvement, working with families that are dealing with disabilities and coaching youth in financial literacy. He has also been awarded the RBC Global Citizen.

Rob is finishing his term as ABLE2’s Board Chair. During his term, he has guided ABLE2 through many changes and challenges including the pandemic. Rob has shown unwavering support for the Executive Director and staff at ABLE2 during his tenure as President. Rob is a passionate community builder and has ABLE2’s profound gratitude and heartfelt thanks for all the energy and love he has dedicated to those around him. We look forward to the strategic guidance he will continue to provide as he moves to the role of Past Chair on the board.

Rachel and Viji: The Christmas party super dancers

“They are the Christmas party super dancers!” I enthusiastically pronounced to my wife as we rolled out of the parking lot on an overcast but otherwise pleasant June afternoon. 

I had just finished having a hot beverage with Viji and Rachel, two friends that first met through ABLE2’s matching program.

I was the first to arrive for our coffee-chat at the Starbucks in College Square, bristling full of young students and afternoon shoppers. The purpose of this informal interview was to profile a successful, long-term match to include in an article in ABLE2’s monthly newsletter. 

As I waited a few moments for Viji and Rachel to arrive, I suddenly wondered how I would know who they were? I instantly recognized them however as they walked through the door – I remembered seeing them at previous events, notably ABLE2’s annual Christmas party.

How could I forget? Each year, Viji and Rachel tend to be one of the first ones on the dance floor, and to say they move with joy and enthusiasm would be great understatement. I clearly remember my wife (unsuccessfully) trying to get me to bust a move at ABLE’s marquis annual event, nodding towards Viji and Rachel: “But look how much fun they are having!”

It was a great start to the interview because I felt like I already kind of knew them. 

My initial impression as we greeted each other was how natural and comfortable they seemed with each other. They gave off the vibe of two old friends meeting for a coffee to chat and catch-up – a casual, nothing-to-see here type of Saturday afternoon hang out. And my initial instincts proved to be correct. In fact, when asked, like a lot of old friends, they could not quite remember how long exactly it had been since they first met.

“17, 18 years….2004 maybe” Viji responded to my first inquiry about the length of their friendship.

As I came to uncover, their relationship has grown substantially over the almost two decades since they first met. Going to coffee shops, seeing movies, hanging out, chatting over Facebook……they do all of the things you would think of that are typical of strong, mutually beneficial relationship.

They went on to describe what they meant to each other and that, like any other solid friendship, they can tell each other anything and play a big part in each other’s lives.

“What is your most memorable moment together?” I asked as I perused a list of pre-selected interview questions I had on hand. There was a bit of pause, no one single moment immediately jumped to either of them.

Rachel then just got to crux of it all with one answer: “Viji is really easy to talk to, we just have fun together, it is great to have a friend that understands you.”

I asked Viji: “Could you point to one thing you have learned from Rachel?”

“She forces me out of my comfort zone somethings……..like dancing!!” Viji responded with a smile.

As we spoke, I found out that not only is Rachel one ABLE2’s best Christmas partiers, she has previously taken Jazz dancing lessons and used to be a regular at the Dovercourt dances. She reiterated, while Viji nodded her head, that dancing was a great to release energy and just have fun.

It was at this point where this interviewer may have made a big mistake. Perhaps out of nervous politeness, I ever so casually mentioned that maybe I would hit the floor at the next Christmas party. Upon telling my wife about this off-hand commitment I made, she smiled and said she could not wait. My goodness what have I done, I (half?) jokingly thought to myself.

As we finished up our conversation, I posed my last and ultimate question: “What would you say to someone who is interested in becoming involved in ABLE2’s matching program? The response came quick: “Just do it! You can expand your social network, do interesting things and it is a great way to make a new friend!”

In fact, as we spoke, it was pointed out that there would be no impact on their friendship at all if ABLE2 stopped existing tomorrow, which is the ultimate nod to the effectiveness of the matching program. While ABLE2 brought them together, it is their commonalities and genuine connection that has nurtured their relationship over the years.

Rachel and Viji’s friendship is something not everyone in the world is lucky to have. In a modern life, tied to our screens, always playing catch up – we could all benefit from having a connection like theirs. And that, dear reader, brings us to the heart of it all: who among us could not use another good friend?



I look forward to seeing Viji and Rachel at the next ABLE2 event. And I am left wondering if they will hold me to my mention of dancing at the next Christmas party? We shall see…..

By Rick Burns

ABLE2 Board Director

Daniel's Story

Daniel Anderson, 35, is one of many ABLE2 Ottawa clients of the Build Community Program. Anderson has been a program client since 2020 and a client of ABLE2 for roughly 30 years. 

Ottawa’s Build Community Program continues to provide services for clients like Anderson, who can rely on knowing his future is planned for by the program’s collaborative family-driven model and his lifetime network. 

For Anderson, the Build Community Program has enriched his life with a sense of social community. 

“[My lifetime network of family and friends] call me every week. And we go for walks together, and we have a nice chat on the telephone,” Anderson said. 

In addition to weekly phone calls with his lifetime network, Anderson also enjoys the fact that the program has provided him with the opportunity to meet new people at Build Community Program social gatherings. 

“[The Build Community Program] has helped me meet a lot more people. Like we go bowling together with the Build Community program. Last year we did a four-hour bowl-a-thon!” Anderson said. 

At the bowl-a-thon, Anderson was thrilled to participate in the activities while meeting the program’s facilitators and other clients. 

Upon reflection on the most significant impact ABLE2’s Build Community Program has had on Anderson, he says it is the many relationships he has cultivated through friendships and his lifetime network.