Feds Open Vacant Federal Building as Emergency Shelter for Homeless

A Canadian flag hangs from a lamppost along the road in front of the Parliament buildings ahead of Canada Day, in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

The Canadian government has opened a vacant federal building for use as an emergency shelter for those who seek refuge from the cold, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

On Jan. 19, PSPC announced that the federal government had signed an agreement with the City of Ottawa to use the Graham Spry Building, located at 250 Lanark Avenue, as a temporary emergency overnight centre for the homeless, as first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter. No costs were disclosed.

The former Health Canada office is one of 10 federally owned buildings identified by PSPC for disposal in the National Capital Region (NCR). 

The building, which opened on Jan. 20, “will provide a safe and warm space for up to 45 people at a time” until March 31, the PSPC news release said.

About 715 square metres of space on the building’s ground floor would be used for the centre. The ground floor space includes washrooms and showers.

Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the partnership with the City of Ottawa was essential “during these colder months,” as quoted in the news release.

“As we find ways to accelerate and streamline the process of converting surplus federal properties into affordable housing and redesigned space that will benefit Canadians, we are seeking meaningful opportunities to use these properties to best serve local communities,” he added.

‘Underutilized’

According to a PSCP briefing note dated June 1, 2023, the department manages about 6.2 million square metres of office space countrywide for the federal government. Selling surplus buildings will take decades.

“Public Services and Procurement Canada is working to modernize and green the federal office portfolio over a 10 to 25 year planning horizon, which also includes the disposal of assets that are no longer required,” said Helena Jaczek, Mr. Duclos’s predecessor, in the note prepared for question period titled “Optimizing Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Real Property Portfolio.”

“My department’s approach is evolving in line with the new hybrid workplace. Planning assumptions and investment timelines are being updated to reflect current realities, ensure office space is optimized and improve the overall condition and performance of federal buildings.”

The NCR encompasses the cities of Ottawa, Ontario, and Gatineau, Quebec, as well as parts of their surrounding municipalities. According to PSPC’s website, over half of its office portfolio is within the NCR.

In a November 2022 report on “Evolution of the Office Portfolio,” PSPC said federal office space was underutilized and costing billions of taxpayers’ dollars to operate and maintain.

“Studies undertaken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic showed that existing office space was underutilized by at least 40%, and considered inefficient with annual operating and maintenance costs of approximately $2.4 billion,” said the report prepared for the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

“By enabling a hybrid model of work, PSPC has an opportunity to optimize and modernize the portfolio [and] transform the public service.”

The report added that if the department can “accelerate” cutting office space by 50 percent over a 10-year period, it could save $1.15 billion annually.

“[I]nfrastructure is the second-largest expense after salary expenses,” the report said.