We are excited to announce the launch of the Alternate Neighbourhood Community Response (ANCHOR) program, a transformative initiative led by the City of Ottawa. ANCHOR is designed to provide a compassionate, community-based approach to supporting individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
With $2.465 million in funding from the City of Ottawa, this program underscores the city’s commitment to enhancing community safety and well-being. ANCHOR aims to provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive support tailored to the unique needs of individuals in crisis.
Although ANCHOR is initially being implemented in a specific area of Ottawa, this program is part of a broader city initiative aimed at revolutionizing crisis response. The project is rooted in Ottawa’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and the efforts of the Ottawa Guiding Council on Mental Health and Addictions. ANCHOR introduces a new civilian-led, 24/7 mobile crisis response, offering an alternative to traditional police interventions.
Starting August 15, 2024, residents can call 2-1-1 to access ANCHOR’s free, confidential crisis support services. This mobile outreach service will be operational within a designated area of Ottawa, covering a region bounded by major local landmarks.
The launch of ANCHOR marks the beginning of a two-month live demo in this initial area. This testing phase will collect valuable data and feedback to refine the program. While currently limited to this specific area, we acknowledge that this trial falls outside of Gloucester-Southgate but wanted our residents to be aware of this important intiative. Successful outcomes from this trial could lead to potential expansion to other parts of Ottawa in the future.
For more information about the ANCHOR program and its services, visit the website here, or in person at the Centretown Community Health Centre.
