Delivering diverse service is a priority at OCHC

Serving a diverse community of 32,000 tenants in 15,000 homes across the city highlights the need for strong diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) employee priorities at the Ottawa Community Housing Corp. (OCHC).

“DEI is a wide-ranging topic but it starts at the recruitment stage. It’s a matter of attracting individuals to an organization that aligns with their values,” says Josh Torres, community developer. “DEI is what attracted me to work here.”

Torres explains that the OCHC, which provides social, affordable and subsidized housing in Ottawa, set up an internal “Champions Table” as part of its strategic plan to identify priorities within the organization.

“We put a call to staff at any level who wanted to be part of the conversation and established the Champions Table. Then we narrowed down key diversity, inclusion and equity areas,” Torres says.

They identified six: women in the workforce, anti-racism pertaining to Black, Indigenous and people of colour, LGBTQ+, mental health and wellness, neurodiversity, and a multigenerational workforce group to help encourage collaboration and understanding across generations. Employee resource groups (ERGs) soon formed.

Heather Jones, an integrated pest management worker, was one of two women hired permanently to the pest management team alongside 21 male team members two years ago.

“Just call me the bug lady,” Jones laughs. “When you look at exterminators, it’s predominantly men. I was the only female and there were a few hiccups along the way, but now there are two women and a female manager.”

Jones was involved in social work for 20 years, with the last three as a registered psychotherapist, before joining OCHC, although she had worked with the organization many times. When the chance came to join the pest management group, she quickly switched professions.

“I learned through professional training and with terrific help from my accredited colleagues,” she says. “It was a no-brainer because I believe in what OCHC does, which is housing for everybody. I still get to help people because I meet people where they’re at. It’s fantastic!”

Her years in social work offer a different approach toward tenants.

“Sometimes you need a softer, gentler approach and I think my experience as a therapist takes down the stigma and shame around having bugs in your home,” Jones says. “I don’t go in as the authoritarian, rather to help.”

Torres notes OCHC works with a variety of people, such as newcomers, refugees or immigrants who speak a multitude of languages. Housing can be in high-rise or seniors’ buildings, townhomes or houses.

“So, part of our vision is to make sure we’re reflective of the communities that we serve,” says Torres. “We emphasize hiring people who have lived the tenants’ experiences and speak their language, because that creates a bond and positive relationship.”

OCHC provides mandatory DEI training to all employees, as well as hosting events with guest speakers specializing in DEI.

Torres and a group of residents from different buildings meet to discuss events or outings that would strengthen their communities or offer different experiences.

One outdoor outing took them to the outskirts of Ottawa. “Going to a pumpkin patch and everyone picking a pumpkin was a simple thing we did, but it brought people together from different backgrounds to enjoy this unique Canadian experience,” Torres says.

Another time, the community development team at OCHC delivered food and vital information and checked people’s safety in an Ottawa neighbourhood during a city-wide power outage.

“We firmly believe everyone deserves a home. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity, it’s human rights,” Jones says. “We’re trying to ensure suitable, safe, pest-free, stable housing for everyone.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's National Capital Region's Top Employers winners, published February 7, 2023 in the Ottawa Citizen. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.