For over two decades, Options Bytown has provided a permanent home and support services for those people who need help to live independently. We operate three apartment complexes that house approximately 130 tenants. Recently, we replaced 26 windows in one of the residences with the funds received from Hydro Ottawa’s Brighter Tomorrows Fund program. The Brighter Tomorrows Fund is a Hydro Ottawa initiative administered by United Way Ottawa that enables frontline agencies like ours to serve the homeless and those at risk of being homeless to invest in energy-efficient renovations to help reduce their monthly energy bills.

Multifaith Housing Initiative has recently replaced 15 refrigerators thanks to the generosity of Hydro Ottawa. The new energy-efficient refrigerators have not only improved the living accommodations of our tenants but will also result in a reduction of electricity costs by about $60 per year for each of the low-income residents receiving a new refrigerator. What appears to be a small gesture to some is very significant to us. Every improvement we make in our units directly impacts the quality of living for all of our tenants.

Hydro Ottawa teamed up with United Way to launch an innovative community investment fund called the Hydro Ottawa’s Brighter Tomorrows Fund. Funded with the corporate matching dollars from Hydro Ottawa’s annual United Way workplace campaign, it is designed to support frontline Registered Charities that serve people who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless, to invest in small scale energy-efficient technologies or products.