About Options Housing
We are a group of individuals committed to ending homelessness in Ottawa. We believe that everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home, no matter their background, no matter their challenges. We want to see real and lasting change in our community and we know that the best way to end homelessness is to prevent it from happening in the first place. These beliefs underpin everything we do.
Every team member and every program is focused on meeting people where they are, so we can help them get where they want to go.
We opened the doors of our first Supportive Housing building in the heart of Ottawa’s Byward Market in 1989.
Caring and creative residents and community groups came together because they saw a crisis in our community and knew we could do more to help people who were experiencing homelessness. They realized we needed something other than temporary shelters in our city — we needed a permanent solution.
So, they raised the funds to construct a building that could provide permanent housing for people who had been living in shelters for months.
When Options Bytown opened its doors, 67 people had a new home — for the first time in months, they were able to unpack their belongings and settle into their safe and permanent home.
Our dream had become a reality!
Since then, we’ve added another three buildings, changed our name to Options Housing, and expanded our programs to help hundreds of individuals find and keep a home of their own for as long as they need it.
Our Programs
We have a diverse team of over 60 caring, experienced staff who support our clients with crisis intervention, case management, eviction prevention, life skills training, and much more.
Our staff have a wide variety of lived and professional experience and skills from advocacy to social work and building operations to mental health. You can find our staff onsite at our Supportive Housing locations, Ottawa Community Housing Resource Centres, Ottawa’s Safer Supply clinics, and many other sites across the city.
Our team members are creative, resourceful, compassionate individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure our clients are fully supported and successful!
Board & Staff Directory
Board of Directors
Norm Turner
Chair
Liz Wigfull
Vice Chair
Rae Wigglesworth
Lauren Kupferschmid
Annie Carruthers
Director
Heather Lachine
Al Shadid
Gesa Harmston
Sean Grassie
Jordan Daly-Frey
Dominique Dallaire
Director
Kristin Solvason
Denise Isingizwe
Renzo Yparraguirre
Management Team
Catharine Vandelinde
Angela Davis
Director of Housing and Community Services
Emily Laurie-Beaumont
Director of Human Resources and Corporate Administration
Madison McCulloch
Program Manager of Housing First
Jessica Osabuohien
Program Manager of Supportive Housing
Donna van den Oever
Program Manager of Homelessness Prevention
Chioma Obiakor
Program Manager of Hoarding Assistance Team
Hany Ibrahim
West de Castro
Nadine Fazio
Facilities and Services Supervisor
Supportive Housing
Charlene Morling
Supportive Housing Service Specialist
Adi Steward
Mental Health and Substance Use Specialist
Reanna Martin
Housing and Community Support Worker
Cassidy Walton
Brittany Lesway
Josephine Okafor
Rosa Lila Cerda Ampie
Predrag Prodanovic
Housing and Community Support Relief Worker
Thomas Blackett
Housing and Community Support Relief Worker
Nicolas Enakarhire
Housing and Community Support Relief Worker
Eric Koinski Da Silva
Housing and Community Support Relief Worker
Jacqueline Addo
Housing and Community Support Relief Worker
Matty Gaudet
Housing and Community Support Relief Worker
Housing First
Jennifer Connolly
Team Lead
Leigh Stratton
Austin Ward
Housing Specialist and Reconciliation Action Plan Implementation Steward
Evan Miller
Madison Salmon
Maggie Turgeon
Keerat Aujla
Christina Trent
Adrienne Paddock
Emily Todd
Alex Golden
Andrea Noel
Stephanie Smith
Peer Support Worker
Stephen Sauppe
Resource Centres
Darryl Leboeuf
Megan Poole
Jen Isaacs
Kristin Gibeau
Candice Kenny
Mackenzey Boisvenue
Ashley Oliver
Peer Assisted Community Engagement (PACE) Program
Keely Pelyk
PACE Program Coordinator
Katherine Rehak
Tina Mallard
PACE Program Peer Support Worker and Health Collab Peer Worker
Semsa Asefi
David Phoenix
Krystelle Flamand
HAT (Hoarding Assistance Team)
Greg Saxe
Cali Palmer
HAT Case Manager
Chantal Hurtubise
Tammy Chorney
Clutter Coach
Destiny Pirnat
BIT Facilitator/Clutter Coach
Maintenance
Don MacQuarrie
Victor Smith
David Phoenix
Careers
Volunteer and help us end homelessness in Ottawa.
If you have a skill to share — like home improvements, art, or cooking — or are up for lending a hand at a special event, we’d love to have you.
Publications
Solving homelessness is about more than finding housing.
Donate Money
Give the gift of home with a regular or one-off donation
Donate Items
Make someone’s day by donating your new or gently used items
Fundraise
Host an event to raise awareness and funds so we can see an end to homelessness
Volunteer
Use your skills and time to make a difference in someone’s life
