At Matthew House, it's estimated 70 per cent of residents have come through the irregular border crossing at Roxham Road in Quebec. With that province saying it can't accept more refugees and asylum seekers, services and supports in Ottawa are under more pressure to help.
Advocates working with refugees and newcomers to Ottawa say people have largely forgotten those who fled various countries and are resettling in the region, as news headlines focus on helping Ukrainians fleeing war.
Ottawa's transit commission has signaled a desire to offer free OC Transpo service to newly-arrived Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, but some aid groups say the city should extend that kind of support to all displaced people regardless of their country of origin.