The Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response
The Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) program is a new, exciting program here in Centretown. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – Call 2-1-1 to reach ANCHOR for help with a mental health or substance use crisis.
Why do we have ANCHOR?
A person in a mental health and/or substance use crisis needs the right response, at the right time, from the right people, with follow-up support. The ANCHOR Crisis Response Teams are trained to handle crises in a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed way. If you are witnessing or experiencing a life-threatening situation, call 9-1-1 and they will direct your call to the right person.
Where are the service boundaries?
Service boundaries are Ottawa River (North), Rideau canal (East), Highway 417 (South) and Preston Street (West).
What is a crisis?
- A person is in crisis when they cannot function ‘normally’, which is different for every person. In crisis, a person would need or benefit from intervention or de-escalation.
For example:
Someone is emotionally distressed. They might be acting unpredictably, saying they feel hopeless, or want to hurt themselves. - A heightened situation involving someone’s mental health needs de-escalating.
- It seems like someone needs help and they are not a danger to anyone else, so you do not want to call the police
What situations do not need an ANCHOR response?
- Public drug use
- Visibly unhoused folks staying or camping in an area
If you have unhoused neighbours, we encourage you to talk to them and make a connection.
We’ve had people call 211 about needles and other supplies left in public – Calls like this can be directed to 3-1-1 for city services.
Call 2-1-1 to access trauma informed crisis response.
The result of community advocacy. Delivered by Centretown and Somerset West Community Health Centres. 2-1-1 service provided by Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario. Funded by the City of Ottawa.
