The City of Ottawa says it has partnered with two local organizations to provide furniture to residents in need following the Canada Day rainstorm. The rainstorm dropped more than 150 millimetres of rain on some parts of Ottawa on July 1. The city says it has received more than 6,000 reports of flooded basements, primarily in the west end. In a news release on Tuesday, the city said it was partnering with Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa and Matthew House Ottawa to provide gently used furniture to eligible households “facing the greatest challenges on the road to recovery.” The city says that due to the limited availability of furniture, assistance will be prioritized for eligible households who may face financial or other barriers to replacing essential items, such as beds, couches, and other furnishings. “The city will follow up with people identified through wellness visits and service requests who may benefit from this initiative,” the news release says. “Residents who have not been contacted but require furniture assistance as a result of the July 1 extreme weather event are encouraged to call 3-1-1 to inquire about the initiative and have their needs assessed.” Since July 1, city staff and community partners, including St. John Ambulance and Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue, have conducted more than 6,000 wellness visits and more than 500 follow-up calls. Last week, city council approved a partnership with the Canadian Red Cross to provide support to residents impacted by flooding. Residents who want to donate furniture towards this initiative are able to drop off furniture between Monday and Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at 700 Industrial Avenue, loading Bay #16. Matthew House also offers a paid pick-up service for furniture donations. Email furnituredonations@matthewhouseottawa.org or call 613-591-6681 ex. 2512 for more information.
