Crisis response program expands to the Glebe Annex 

Crisis response program expands to the Glebe Annex 

By Ryan Hampel  

Ottawa’s Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response – better known by its acronym ANCHOR – has broadened the area it serves to include the Glebe Annex. 

The expansion this fall followed sustained advocacy last year from the Glebe Annex Community Association (GACA) and Glebe Annex residents to make the mobile, non-police crisis response available to the community. The City’s 2026 budget set aside funding to accelerate ANCHOR’s rollout through the hiring of additional staff and the expansion of dispatch capacity and outreach.  

For many Glebe Annex residents, this expansion responds to a real and growing challenge – how to respond compassionately and effectively when someone is clearly in distress, but police involvement feels unnecessary or inappropriate. Until now, residents often faced a stark choice between calling 911 or doing nothing. ANCHOR fills that gap by offering a practical, humane option that prioritizes care, de-escalation and connection to services, while also supporting neighbourhood safety and well-being. 

What ANCHOR is (and what it isn’t) 

ANCHOR is a non-emergency, community-based mental-health and substance-use crisis response designed to offer a skilled and compassionate alternative to police. The program operates through 211, which triages and diverts calls to mobile crisis response workers who respond in teams of two, either on foot or by vehicle. These workers are trained in mental-health and substance-use crisis response. Services provided on scene include emotional support, well-being checks and de-escalation. ANCHOR also connects people to follow-up care and social supports. The program is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 

ANCHOR is not intended to respond where threats of violence or weapons are present. In those cases, 911 remains the appropriate call. While ANCHOR is independent of Ottawa Police Services, there may be situations where ANCHOR services intersect with police, which may be determined when calls are triaged. 

Early results  

In the first year of the ANCHOR program, which launched as a pilot in August 2024, the service responded to over 4,400 calls. Of these, 92 per cent were addressed without the need for any police intervention. These results are significant because resolutions without police involvement reduces pressure on emergency services and allows police to focus on situations where their presence is truly required.  

What residents can expect going forward 

With the ANCHOR expansion, the program’s boundary now extends from the Ottawa River in the north, Island Park Drive in the west, Carling Avenue to Bronson Avenue and then Highway 417 in the south, and the Rideau Canal in the east. While ANCHOR does not include the Glebe, other neighbourhoods could be considered for expansion in the future. 

Residents of the Glebe Annex are encouraged to call 211 when they encounter someone who appears distressed, confused or unwell but not violent or threatening. This could include people yelling, nodding off on the sidewalk or acting confused or disoriented. Residents should continue to call 911 for cases involving urgent situations, medical emergencies or suspected criminal activity. If a situation feels ambiguous, 211 dispatchers are trained to assess risk and determine the most appropriate response, giving residents confidence that they are making the right call. 

A key focus of the program is strong collaboration with existing community health and social service providers, including the John Howard Society (JHS). ANCHOR facilitates this either during the crisis response itself or through post-crisis follow-up. In many cases, a follow-up worker will check in a few days later and incorporate coordination with the individual’s current service providers, such as JHS. This collaborative approach helps avoid fragmented or duplicative responses, while ensuring accountability and continuity. For residents, this means concerns are addressed through coordinated systems rather than isolated interventions, with the aim of reducing both community disruption and the likelihood of repeat crises. 

As ANCHOR begins operating in the Glebe Annex, there will be a learning period for both residents and service providers. GACA will continue to monitor the program’s use and effectiveness, and residents are encouraged to share feedback and ask questions. With thoughtful use and continued collaboration, ANCHOR has the potential to strengthen both community safety and compassion. 

Ryan Hampel is president of the Glebe Annex Community Association and an 18-year resident of the Glebe Annex.