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Our History
Rev. Bob Percival
Daybreak had its beginnings in compassion. When Reverend Bob Percival was
serving at Ottawa's Bell Street United Church in the 1970s, he became
progressively more concerned about the number of people coming to him in need
of financial assistance. He was deeply disturbed about their quality of life
and how desperate they felt, and he didn't always have the resources to help
them.
In 1980, Reverend Percival brought together a study group from a number of
churches in downtown Ottawa, including Bell St. United, St. Luke's Anglican,
McPhail Baptist, Knox Presbyterian, Christ Roi Catholique, St. Jean Baptiste
Catholique and McLeod-Stewarton United. Their concerns led to the
establishment of the Daybreak Non-Profit Shelter (Ecumenical) Corporation in
1982. Reverend Percival was the first president of the corporation and later
became known as 'Father Daybreak.'
Daybreak was one of the first non-profit organizations in Ottawa to provide a
long-term option of independent, supportive, rent-geared-to-income housing for
single adults living in poverty. From the outset, our houses were meant to
offer residents not just a place to live, but a place to call home. The name
'Daybreak' was chosen to signify a new beginning in life for the residents who
benefit from our safe, affordable, comfortable housing.
Daybreak opened its first house in April, 1983 with funding from the Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation. With eight rooms, it was initially a home
for women, but in 1985 was converted to a home for men.
Mayor Marion Dewar opens Daybreak's first house in 1983.
Our second house opened in September 1983 with 10 rooms for men.
In 1985, the communities of St. George's Anglican, St. Andrew's Presbyterian
and Dominion Chalmers United Churches joined in supporting Daybreak's mission.
Our third house was leased from St. George's and the Anglican Diocese, and
opened in September 1985 with 10 rooms for women.
Our fourth house was donated by Mrs. Mary Murphy. Thanks to capital funding
form what is now the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, it
opened in January, 1990, with five rooms for men and two self-contained
one-bedroom apartments.
Our fifth home was opened in September, 2001 in partnership with City Living
(now Ottawa Community Housing) and the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate
Conception, with additional funding from the provincial Homelessness
Initiatives Fund and the federal government's Supporting Communities
Partnerships Initiatives. This building offers 12 rooms for women, and
increased Daybreak's capacity by 38 per cent. At the time it opened, Daybreak
was one of the only organizations to succeed in increasing affordable housing
in Ottawa in the previous decade.
Opening of Picadilly House
L-R: Margaret Singleton (City Living), Sr. Rita Kehoe
(The Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception),
Monica Siengenthaler, (Executive Director Daybreak)
Tenant and Councillor Elizabeth Arnold (Somerset Ward)
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