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Context
Justice for Anthony Aust, You & Me International Foundation, and Mothers Against Police Brutality are coming together to host three community clothing drives on December 13, January 17, and February 14!
The initiative aims to gather and distribute winter clothing, warm food, and essential items within the Ottawa community to help keep unhoused, newcomer, and marginalized individuals warm, safe, and nourished during the harsh winter months.
This campaign is more than a clothing drive; we aim to embody the solidarity, compassion, and mutual aid practices of the Ottawa community. With temperatures in Ottawa dropping well below freezing, many unhoused residents struggle to stay warm and healthy. Some individuals even resort to entering police custody to find shelter.
Our collective goal is to help at least 150 people stay safe and cared for this winter, reducing the need for such desperate measures by providing them with essential winter gear, nutritious food, and a sense of solidarity. Instrumental to this campaign is our goal to raise $300 to purchase critical supplies, cover logistical expenses (such as transportation and rentals), and acquire additional items for community distribution. The more material and monetary support we receive, the more we can aid others.
NOTE: All money and items will go directly to those in need
Through this initiative, we aim to raise awareness of the growing challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness and poverty within the Ottawa community. Together, we can bring change to those in need this winter!
Please email our team or dm us on Instagram @Justiceforanthonyaust with any questions regarding donations, volunteer positions, sponsorships, or collaborations.
Goals
- Provide direct support to a minimum of 150+ unhoused people, migrants, and marginalized individuals by providing them with essential winter clothing, warm food, and necessities to stay warm and protected during the winter months.
- Provide an alternative to individuals who are forced to take drastic measures to ensure self-preservation, such as loitering or going as far as purposefully entering police custody to gain shelter from the elements.
- Foster awareness and community engagement around Ottawa homelessness and the hardships faced by newcomers and lower-income individuals.
Facts & Principles
According to a City of Ottawa report, 9,326 people experienced homelessness at some point in 2024 (White-Crummey, 2025). The city’s 2024 “Point-in-Time Count” reported that 2,952 people experienced homelessness at a given time, signifying a 78.5% increase from 2018 (City of Ottawa 2024). This sharp increase highlights a troubling and deepening housing and affordability crisis across the region. It is important to note that this figure does not account for those unregistered in the housing system, which is overrepresented by gender-diverse, LGBTQ+, and racialized peoples (City of Ottawa 2024, 26).
Without substantive government investment in affordable housing and essential social programs, Ottawa’s homelessness is expected to rise by an additional 60% over the next decade (White-Crummey 2025). Factors including housing shortages, increased cost of living, and government inertia are driving people onto the streets.
These figures not only highlight a systemic failure but also the ongoing injustices and inhumane conditions neglected by the Canadian government—conditions that no human being should ever endure. Recognizing that this neglect will continue, we view it as our collective duty to take action. Through this grassroots campaign, we aim to bring the community together, raise awareness about the crisis, and provide a helping hand to those in need.
What We Will Do
We will organize and run three major community clothing drives – distributing clothes, warm food and essential items – on December 13, January 16, and February 14. In addition to these drives, our team will visit several hotspots for unhoused people in the Ottawa and Gatineau areas, distributing collected provisions, food, and clothing on an ad hoc basis.
Our outreach will extend to the Gatineau area, accounting for the growing number of individuals living in temporary and precarious conditions, including those residing in shipping containers. We aim to provide these individuals with winter supplies, such as blankets, sleeping bags, tents, and warm food, to improve their living conditions.
Each drive and distribution event will take place in Downtown Ottawa, focusing on areas around the ByWard Market, local shelters, and other areas with a high concentration of unhoused and impoverished individuals. Each session will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Links
Clothing & Essential Donations (Drop-off & pick-up): https://forms.gle/W4HNYE7NLs3cGtow5
Donation Tracker
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XDeFh9f6sbk0yHv9d58zQXa2DJsqCPHM/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104843875284601179567&rtpof=true&sd=true
References (if you're interested in reading more!)
CBC News. 2025. “City warns of surge in homeless population by 2035.” CBC News, 8 Feb. Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/city-warns-of-surge-in-homeless-population-by-2035-1.6723203
(accessed 10 Nov 2025).
City of Ottawa. 2024. Housing Needs Assessment. Ottawa: City of Ottawa. Available at: https://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/default/files/2024-HNA_EN.pdf
(accessed 10 Nov 2025).
City of Ottawa. 2024. “Point-in-Time Count.” Family and Social Services / Housing and Homelessness / Plans, Facts & Data. Available at: https://ottawa.ca/en/family-and-social-services/housing-and-homelessness/plans-facts-and-data/point-time-count
(accessed 10 Nov 2025).
Organiser
