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More than 100 homeless families in Ottawa will spend their holidays in motel rooms.
The City of Ottawa has often turned to motels when its emergency homeless shelters are full, but this year they have become a refuge for 114 families.
Samantha Juste and her two teenage sons are staying at the Concorde Motel in Ottawa's Vanier neighbourhood for two months. She said she's happy to be spending the holidays there.
"It's Christmas, why not?" Juste said, laughing. "It's a lot better here. You get more room, more privacy." The other families at the motel said they're happy to be there as well.
Steven Arbuckle, the city's social housing manager, said the demand is high.
"Since 2007 the numbers of families seeking shelter have certainly grown, somewhat consistent with the economic downturn," Arbuckle said.
In 2007m the city's family shelters on Forward and Carling avenues both had vacancies, Arbuckle said. This year, all of those 64 units are taken, and the motels are hosting their highest number of families ever.
Affordable housing is the solution to the problem, but Ontario's current system for housing homeless people perpetuates the use of emergency shelters, Arbuckle said.
He said he's hopeful legislation being discussed at Queen's Park could change that in the future, but for now, a motel is the best the city can do this Christmas.
The City of Ottawa has often turned to motels when its emergency homeless shelters are full, but this year they have become a refuge for 114 families.
Samantha Juste and her two teenage sons are staying at the Concorde Motel in Ottawa's Vanier neighbourhood for two months. She said she's happy to be spending the holidays there.
"It's Christmas, why not?" Juste said, laughing. "It's a lot better here. You get more room, more privacy." The other families at the motel said they're happy to be there as well.
Steven Arbuckle, the city's social housing manager, said the demand is high.
"Since 2007 the numbers of families seeking shelter have certainly grown, somewhat consistent with the economic downturn," Arbuckle said.
In 2007m the city's family shelters on Forward and Carling avenues both had vacancies, Arbuckle said. This year, all of those 64 units are taken, and the motels are hosting their highest number of families ever.
Affordable housing is the solution to the problem, but Ontario's current system for housing homeless people perpetuates the use of emergency shelters, Arbuckle said.
He said he's hopeful legislation being discussed at Queen's Park could change that in the future, but for now, a motel is the best the city can do this Christmas.
