Ottawa Neighbourhood Services evicted over unpaid rent
Agency blames unsuitable location, for-profit donation bins
A longtime not-for-profit agency that sells donated clothing and goods to the working poor in Ottawa has been evicted after a year-long battle with its landlord over unpaid rent.
"It's very difficult," said Lanna O'Brien, vice president of Ottawa Neighbourhood Services. "It's been around for over 80 years serving the Ottawa community and I know there's a lot of broken people right now ... Everywhere I go people say, 'What do you mean Ottawa Neighbourhood Services closing down?'"
Ottawa Neighbourhood Services was founded in 1932, but the agency's recent history has been rocky.
Customers showing up & giving hugs to Ottawa Neighbourhood Services workers devastated about eviction <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/scxhh7aMST">pic.twitter.com/scxhh7aMST</a>
—@AshleyBurkeCBCAfter arson forced it from its City Centre location in 2012, the store moved to its current address on Rideau Heights Drive, an out-of-the-way spot with little pedestrian traffic and no bus stop nearby.
Donations dwindled
The rise of rival — and in some cases, shady — clothing donation bins has also siphoned off donations to ONS, with the volume of donated items dwindling by 70 per cent over the last three years, according to president Patricia Lemieux.
Last summer the not-for-profit retailer put out a public call for help, saying it needed $45,000 to pay rent they owed. A donor came forward with $50,000, which cleared the debt but failed to address other underlying issues.
Lemieux said staff at ONS did everything they could to bring business back, including lobbying the city to put a bus stop near their location and crack down on for-profit donation boxes, but nothing could stop the bleeding.
"I rips my heart out," says Maria Hawkins who fears this will be the end for Ottawa Neighbourhood Services <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/GToMM1IEMQ">pic.twitter.com/GToMM1IEMQ</a>
—@AshleyBurkeCBC9 days to vacate property
With ONS again in debt — this time close to $20,000 — the landlord informed the agency Tuesday it would be evicted. Lemieux said the landlord has given ONS nine days to move everything off the property.
"I was very shocked to see the notice on the door and I felt a loss," she said.
"My heart dropped. All the people were standing out on the deck this morning, all of the cars in the parking lot and we couldn't ... let them in through the doors because the doors were locked."
Lemieux said the group has reached out to College ward Coun. Rick Chiarelli to help find a temporary home for the store.