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THE RESULT OF THIS SUSTAINED AND PROACTIVE APPROACH to helping women gain dignity and a sense of self-worth is a new house, designed with their very special needs behind every detail in the plans. In June 2011, a new house owned and operated by the Cornerstone Foundation opened to provide permanent safe, affordable, supportive housing for 42 women to live in self-contained apartment units in a building at 314 Booth Street. Twenty units are allocated to low-income seniors and 22 to younger homeless women, many with a variety of disabilities, often the result of long-term life on the street. It has been a journey of challenges, disappointments, successes, time-consuming negotiations, long hours of planning, searches for government funding and collaboration with many partners. What was accomplished is a testament to the commitment of Cornerstone volunteers and staff, the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, talented and skilled professional consultants. Cornerstone has benefited from the support of many partners: The Champlain Local Health Integration Network, Inner City Health, Carefor Health and Community Services, the Royal Ottawa Hospital Outreach Teams, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Somerset West Community Health Centre, United Way’s Affordable Supportive Housing Task Force, the Alliance for Homelessness, Housing Help - all have shared in the journey.
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