Bridging Worlds: The Life Process Program’s Partnership with Ottawa Inner City Health

As I arrived at my hotel in Ottawa, I was greeted by two men wearing bright orange vests that read “Block Leader.” They stood outside, tidying up the street, their faces lit with smiles as they welcomed me warmly. Their demeanor was striking—not what you might expect from someone performing a routine cleanup task, but rather a reflection of pride and purpose.

Later, I learned that these men were participants in a program run by Ottawa Inner City Health (OICH), an initiative that compensates unhoused individuals for performing meaningful work in their community. These “Block Leaders” don’t just clean the streets—they build connections, restore dignity, and, in their own way, redefine what it means to belong.

This small interaction stayed with me throughout my visit. It was a simple yet profound reminder of OICH’s guiding philosophy: meet people where they are, treat them with respect, and create opportunities for them to contribute to something larger than themselves. It was also the perfect introduction to the work OICH and the Life Process Program (LPP) are doing together—two organizations united by their shared commitment to empowerment, humanity, and the transformative power of hope.

A Holistic Approach to Substance Use

Ottawa Inner City Health is more than just a health organization—it is a lifeline for people often forgotten by society. Their approach is practical and compassionate, providing harm reduction services that meet people where they are and help them make more informed, healthier choices. OICH focuses on supporting individuals facing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges, offering programs that address their immediate needs while also helping them move toward stability and independence.

Among their many initiatives are shelter-based programs designed to meet the complex physical and mental health needs of their clients. The Men’s Special Care Unit, for example, provides intensive support for men dealing with severe health challenges, helping them transition beyond homelessness. TED (Targeted Engagement and Diversion) is another groundbreaking program that offers a safe, community-centered environment for individuals experiencing homelessness to use drugs or detox, serving as an alternative to hospitals or emergency rooms.

For those nearing the end of life, the Diane Morrison Hospice provides a space of dignity and compassion. Its 14-bed residential hospice and 7-bed palliative care unit serve individuals who are often underserved by traditional healthcare systems. This commitment to holistic, person-centered care ensures that even the most vulnerable members of society are treated with respect and humanity.

OICH also operates supportive living units and housing programs tailored to specific needs. The Oaks, for instance, serves individuals in a managed alcohol program, with a significant portion of its population being First Nations or Inuit. Another program focuses on formerly homeless older women, helping them transition into stable housing.

Harm Reduction in Action

The philosophy of harm reduction is at the heart of OICH’s work. This approach recognizes that people often need support and understanding before they can begin to make healthier choices. OICH’s harm reduction services include supervised consumption sites, partnerships with mental health hospitals, and street outreach programs.

One of the most inspiring aspects of their work is the way they create opportunities for community involvement. Programs like the Block Leader initiative, which I encountered on my first day in Ottawa, are a testament to this. By employing unhoused individuals to perform meaningful tasks—such as cleaning streets or gently waking up people sleeping outside businesses before they open—OICH not only provides income but also fosters a sense of belonging and purpose.

These initiatives challenge the pervasive stigma surrounding homelessness and addiction, demonstrating that everyone has value and a role to play in their community.

The Life Process Program’s Role

This philosophy aligns seamlessly with the Life Process Program, which has partnered with OICH to train peer outreach workers as certified coaches. The LPP model is a therapeutic approach that helps clients articulate their values, goals, and dreams, guiding them toward a clearer understanding of who they are and who they want to become.

Where traditional substance use programs often emphasize abstinence as the ultimate goal, LPP takes a different approach. It encourages clients to build fulfilling lives by making steady, realistic changes that align with their personal context. By addressing the broader dimensions of a healthy and meaningful life—relationships, work, community engagement—LPP helps individuals redefine their relationship with drugs and alcohol in a way that feels natural and sustainable.

For OICH’s peer outreach workers, many of whom have lived experience with addiction and homelessness, LPP training provides tools to engage clients in meaningful conversations about their aspirations. These workers are uniquely positioned to build trust and rapport, making them ideal candidates to implement the LPP model.

Observing the Partnership in Action

During my visit, I had the privilege of seeing the partnership between OICH and LPP in action. Speaking with community members who benefit from OICH’s services was both humbling and inspiring. Their stories highlighted the transformative power of being treated with dignity and respect.

One moment that stood out was watching the interactions between OICH staff and the people they serve. Individuals facing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders were met with genuine care and compassion—something that is sadly rare in many healthcare settings.

If this sounds trivial or obvious, it’s worth considering how often these communities are dismissed or dehumanized elsewhere. In many hospitals, people struggling with addiction or homelessness are seen as problems to be managed rather than human beings deserving of care. OICH offers a powerful alternative, creating a model of care that prioritizes connection and empowerment.

A Vision for the Future

The partnership between OICH and LPP feels like a glimpse into the future of substance use health. By integrating harm reduction with a therapeutic model that prioritizes personal growth and self-determination, these organizations are demonstrating what is possible when care is client-centered, compassionate, and evidence-based.

As OICH CEO Rob Boyd aptly put it, their work is about countering “the false narrative we are living under” when it comes to substance use. This narrative, shaped by decades of the war on drugs, has stigmatized and marginalized millions of people. By challenging these outdated ideas and offering practical, humane alternatives, OICH and LPP are paving the way for a new paradigm.

Challenges and Opportunities

In the United States, where punitive approaches to substance use remain dominant, the work being done in Ottawa feels almost like science fiction. Many of the services offered by OICH—such as supervised consumption sites or managed alcohol programs—are politically untenable in much of the U.S.

Yet the success of these programs offers a compelling case for change. By demonstrating that harm reduction and client-centered care can produce positive outcomes, OICH and LPP are setting an example that could influence policy and practice far beyond Canada.

The Human Element

For me, the most powerful aspect of this partnership is its emphasis on humanity. Both OICH and LPP recognize that people are not defined by their struggles or their circumstances. Instead, they see individuals as capable of growth, change, and contribution.
This perspective was evident in every interaction I observed during my visit. Whether it was a peer outreach worker gently waking someone on the street or a hospice nurse providing comfort to a dying patient, the message was clear: You matter. You belong.

My Takeaway

The partnership between Ottawa Inner City Health and the Life Process Program is a testament to what can be achieved when organizations align their values and vision. Together, they are creating a model of care that is compassionate, practical, and transformative.
As we continue to address the challenges of substance use and homelessness, let this partnership serve as a beacon of hope. It reminds us that change is possible—and that when we treat people with dignity and respect, we create the conditions for them to thrive.

For humanity’s sake, we must do no less.