Committee approves draft budget for community and social services, recreation, culture and parks

The Community Services Committee today approved its portions of Draft Budget 2025, which represents a $1.5-billion total operating budget and capital investments totaling $159.6 million. This budget invests in housing options for all residents and aims to improve access to mental health and addiction support, social services, child care, arts and culture, and parks and recreation.   Through key investments, the City will take urgent action to address housing challenges by increasing access to housing options and helping people find stable, long-term homes. Investments include: 

• $48.5 million in provincial Homelessness Prevention Program funding to support housing loss prevention, supportive housing and general housing assistance  

• $16.9 million through the federal Reaching Home Program for supportive housing providers and housing first programs 

• A $4.4-million increase in provincial funding for shelter and transitional housing operations 

• A $4.2-million increase for social housing 

The draft budget also invests in support and care for those most in need, and in services that strengthen the well-being of the community. Investments include: 

• $141.5 million in provincial funding through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system to implement the new cost-based funding formula, further reduce parent fees to $22 per day and support more than 350 new child care spaces in 2025. 

• $30.8 million for more than 100 non-profit social service agencies, an increase of $840,000, to address poverty, food security and other priority needs 

• $5.4 million in provincial funding for the Downtown Safety Outreach Partnership and Alternate Response Initiatives 

• $550,000 for Ottawa Community Housing’s Community Safety Services program  

• $150,000 for tax clinics to help increase access to social services as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. 

• $140,000 to develop and implement the downtown and ByWard Market service coordination strategy  

The City is investing in new and renewed parks, recreation and cultural facilities, as well as arts and cultural programming to help keep residents physically and mentally active. Investments include: 

• $12 million to build 35 new parks  

• $450,000 to support free drop-in activities for children and youth at City facilities  

• $140,000 to extend operating hours of wading pools, outdoor pools and beaches  

• $100,000 for improvements to outdoor sports courts 

• $50,000 for minor improvements to sports fields 

The draft budget also includes an increase of $2.4 million in funding for parks maintenance. It invests $350,000 in capital funding for park repair projects. Council will consider Draft Budget 2025 on Wednesday, December 11.  For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.