Bell Let’s Talk
Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant allows Shepherds of Good Hope to train more staff in Crisis Intervention
Ottawa, ON – December 4, 2019 – Shepherds of Good Hope (SGH) is thrilled to receive a $20,000 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant to support Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training for its front line staff and volunteers.
“We work with clients who are living with trauma, mental health challenges and addictions,” said Deirdre Freiheit, President and CEO of Shepherds of Good Hope. “As a result, some behaviours that are rooted in trauma can be challenging for our team when they are working with individuals. Our staff and volunteers overwhelmingly say that Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training is incredibly valuable. We are so pleased to offer the training, thanks to the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant.”
Shepherds of Good Hope provides food, shelter and supportive housing for some of Ottawa’s homeless and most vulnerable adults. Of its more than 200 staff and 425 volunteers, most are front line workers, who provide direct, life-saving services to clients. Staff are provided with Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training as soon as possible after being hired. Approximately 90 employees are trained every year. This funding will allow SGH to send its senior staff to Train the Trainer sessions which enables them to develop in house expertise.
“We know that what our staff does every day is incredibly unique,” adds Freiheit. “For our new staff to be able to increase their competency and confidence working with clients with complex needs from those who have been there before them is invaluable.”
“Bell Let’s Talk is pleased to support the work of Shepherds of Good Hope to train its front line staff and volunteers in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention to support their work helping vulnerable people in the Ottawa area,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “This year we are helping over 120 organizations all across Canada on the frontlines of providing access to a wide range of mental health services in their communities, just like Shepherds of Good Hope.”
The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let’s Talk Day and significant funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit www.bell.ca/letstalk/
About Shepherds of Good Hope
Shepherds of Good Hope fosters hope and reduces harm for Ottawa’s homeless and vulnerably housed adults by providing innovative shelter, supportive housing and community support services.
Through our specialized programming and dynamic partnerships, we work with individuals who face numerous barriers to accessing mainstream services due to trauma, mental health challenges and addictions.
Since 1983, Shepherds of Good Hope has continuously expanded to meet community needs and solve complex problems. We serve thousands of people every week in our soup kitchen and evening drop in, transitional shelter programs for all genders, and supportive housing in Lowertown, Kanata and Merivale Road. Our newest supportive housing residence on Montreal Road at Lang’s Road, is currently under construction, with occupancy planned for summer 2020.
For more information about Shepherds of Good Hope, please visit www.sghottawa.com.
Contact Information:
Lindy Rosko, Director, Human Resources
Shepherds of Good Hope
TEL. 613 688-2929 ext. 334
CEL. 613 447-0698
lrosko@sghottawa.com
Amber Bramer, Media Liaison
Shepherds of Good Hope
TEL. 613 789-8210 ext. 223
CEL. 613 878-3393
abramer@sghottawa.com
Homes for all. Community for all. Hope for all.