Denise Winters was evicted, homeless and struggling to survive on the streets – wandering aimlessly to the point where she had blisters on her feet.
That was until she found Cornerstone Housing for Women – the only female shelter and permanent residence for homeless women in Ottawa.
On Nov. 21, Cornerstone celebrated 30 years of dedication to supporting homeless women in Ottawa with a gala hosted by local CBC radio host Alan Neal.
For Sue Garvey, Cornerstone’s executive director, the 30th anniversary had a bittersweet overtone.
“For me what it says is that the need is so great that we’ve had to move from being a few cots in a church basement . . . that we have grown this much. It speaks to the need, and secondly to the commitment and passion of the people involved with Cornerstone, and their belief that homelessness can be beat,” says Garvey, who has been executive director for more than 20 years.
The anniversary gala was filled with moments of sadness, reflection and inspiration.
Amanda Lindhout, a former journalist who was held hostage for 460 days in Somalia, shared her story of struggle and hardship while in captivity, while Ottawa-based folk singer Jill Zmud performed some touching songs, including Will You Willow With Me? – a song about weathering life’s storms.
Zmud, who has supported the organization in various ways since 2010, says her newest album – Small Matters of Life and Death – relates well to the purpose of the shelter.
“It’s about forgiveness, it’s about hope, and I think to be able to share those songs in the context of what Cornerstone does, what they’re all about – making connections between people – I think it’s a really cool link.”
Cornerstone, founded and supported by Ottawa’s Anglican archdiocese, provided help to more than 400 women in 2013.
For Winters, who currently lives at Cornerstone’s newest housing facility on Booth Street, finding Cornerstone was the ultimate relief.
“They just gave me a boost when I needed it. I’m pretty much independent, but they’re there if you need it. They got me back on my feet . . . it’s the best place I’ve ever lived.”
Cornerstone’s Booth Street location is its largest and provides special care to elderly women and women with special needs.
Partnered with Ottawa City Health Inc., the facility has around the clock medical care for it’s residents in the greatest need.
The organization started in 1984 with only a few beds in the basement of the All Saints Anglican Church in Sandy Hill. The realization that a more permanent solution to homelessness was needed came early on for Cornerstone, with its first permanent house opening in 1986. Currently, the organization employs about 70 people and has more than 200 volunteers.
Rachel Robinson, a manager at Cornerstone, says the shelter decided to focus on taking in women because of their unique needs.
“Women often have different challenges to men in the shelters, and need different sorts of support. Women often become homeless for different reasons than men, for example domestic abuse or they’re fleeing violence, so we felt there was a need for services targeted towards women,” says Robinson.
Even with the four housing locations currently in existence – the most recent of which, 314 Booth St., opening just three years ago – Garvey says it’s not yet sufficient.
“The goal for us is to move more and more away from short-term emergency responses to homelessness to more permanent housing.”