Searching for Transitional Housing

Services for women and their children who are experiencing or have experienced violence in a relationship, as well as those who have left abusive relationships or are considering leaving and want to establish violence-free lives in the community.

• risk assessment and safety planning
• access to emergency shelter
• individual and group counselling
• transitional planning
• health and wellness support
• legal information and referrals to police, lawyers, court, hospital
• advocacy and liaison with community agencies and resources
• help with custody, child support issues and getting financial support (eligibility must be established)
• accompaniment to police, court, lawyer, Crown Attorney/Legal Aid, Victim/Witness Assistance Program
• immediate telephone support and information through 24-hour Crisis Line

Support and counselling for women who have experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation recently or in the past. Services are free, confidential, and non-judgmental. No ID required.

• immediate telephone support and information through 24-hour Crisis Line
• individual / group counselling and support
• accompaniment to hospital / police / court
• advocacy / court preparation / community referrals
• assistance with victim impact statements
• sexual harassment support / accompaniment
• risk assessments and safety planning
• information on and support through legal / medical / immigration processes and options
• information on sexual assault / sexual harassment / childhood sexual abuse / incest / stalking
• housing or emergency shelter support
• substance use community supports
• support for family / friends of sexually violated survivors
• facilitated culturally appropriate connections
• public education, training, targeted outreach
• client library and resource materials

Provides a trauma-informed, harm reduction, intersectional approach and response to crisis, working from an anti-racism, anti-oppression framework.

Additional e-mail address: [email protected]

Risk assessment, safety planning, one-on-one counselling, group counselling, workshops, emergency shelter, transitional planning, housing and legal support, custody and access support, victim impact statement and court preparation, advocacy and public education.

Programs include Marianne's Place (shelter), Transitional and Housing Support Program, Family Court Support Program, Rural Women's Support Program, Sexual Assault Centre, 24-hour Crisis Line, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Program.

Market rent and rent geared to income units. Services include:

• 114 apartments (19 wheelchair accessible units)
• support services on site
• on public transportation route
• underground parking

Services include neighbourhood programs and engagement, tenant and landlord consults and resources for students, lease reviews, rental listings.

Comprises bungalow homes, town homes, mid-rise condominium suites and rental condominium apartments (some designated for assisted living) built on land that is leased from the University of Guelph.

• Offers recreational, cultural, educational, retail and medical facilities.
• Various activity groups organized by Village residents meet regularly throughout the year.
• Adjacent to the University Arboretum on a 112-acre site.

Independent living, retirement apartments, full service retirement living, assisted care and memory care. Amenities include:

• library
• spa / beauty salon and barber shop
• indoor café and pub
• general store
• fitness centre
• chapel
• community centre
• hobby and craft rooms
• greenhouse, outdoor patios
• large family lounges

Long term care is NOT available at this location.

Operates 163 units that comprise apartments and townhouses

• rent geared to income units
• 70 units, apartments - 141 Woolwich St, Guelph
• 31 units, apartments - 216 College Ave, Guelph
• 43 units, townhouses - 264 College Ave, Guelph
• 20 units, townhouses - 560 Woolwich St, Guelph

The Help Centre provides integrated access to Housing, Children's Early Years and Ontario Works programmes and services.

• The Help Centre allows Social Service related computer use to clients on a drop in or reservation basis. Computer and one to one assistance is based on staff availability. Computers, phones, photocopier/fax, and a board with community programs are available.
• Individuals can book one on one appointments with the Help Centre Support Coordinator for Social Service related support such as assistance with internal programme applications. Clients can call or drop in with questions about the different Social Service programmes, or make appointments/drop in to receive help filling out an application.
• Help Centre can also assist individuals by providing listings for Market Rent units in the community.
• All services are free.

Provincial Rent Bank Program provides funding for rent arrears for people in danger of losing their accommodation. Ensures housing stability for those with short-term arrears who are facing eviction.

Fund can assist market rent tenants only. Provisions can be made for up to two months' rent and it will be paid directly to the landlord.

TENANTS CAN APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.

Stepping Stone helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness step forward on a path toward securing permanent housing in Guelph-Wellington through housing focused programs and individualized support for adults ad families.

Areas of focus and service include:

• preventative action to help those at risk of homelessness
• individualized plans for those struggling to attain a long-term residence

Prevention & Diversion:

• prevention assistance supports households in preserving their current housing situation
• diversion support assists adults and families in finding housing outside of shelter
• prevention and diversion services help stabilize current situations while assisting with a permanent housing solution

Housing Focused Outreach:
Housing Focused Outreach worker visits locations known to have individuals who are precariously housed, at risk of homelessness, or experiencing homelessness. Services include:

• assess needs of individuals and families through a standardized assessment tool
• assist with aquiring suitable housing
• identify intervention recommendations
• supports their transition to a case manager

23 Gordon St. Overnight Emergency Shelter:

• previously known as the Warming Centre
• provides warm meal, shower, and overnight shelter
• accommodates up to 27 people ; one bed dedicated to the safe bed program, on a first-come, first-served basis
• supported by Diversion team, Housing Stability Outreach and Housing Focused Outreach

Grace Gardens Permanent Supportive Housing:

• individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, mental health issues and / or addiction
• Mon-Sun, 24/7 support services

Housing Focused 24/7 Supportive Shelter:

• supports approximately 40 people who are experiencing homelessness
• Stepping Stone works in collaboration with community organizations to deliver mental health, addiction, and medical support to individuals staying at the shelter
• focus is to provide access to food, showers, nursing, harm reduction, and court support
• individuals have their own rooms, common space, etc.
• support team (shelter support and housing stability staff), on site 24/7 to support residents and help them achieve their housing goals

Housing Stablity Program:

• supports a caseload of individuals and families who have completed the common assessment tools
• a recovery-oriented approach to ending homelessness
• quick movement from homelessness into independent and permanent housing
• provide additional supports and services as needed

Mandated to develop and manage nonprofit housing. There are 545 rental housing units in nine locations.

• Approximately 80% of developed rental accommodation is provided on a geared-to-income basis for eligible households (adults, couples, families).
• Remaining 20% is available to households at average market rates.
• Unit types include apartments and townhouses (bachelor, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom unit types).

Rent-geared-to-Income (RGI) Subsidy - Social Housing
The County of Wellington supports the delivery of subsidized housing in units where rent is set at no more than 30 per cent of a household's income. To learn more about eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit Applicant households must apply to the County

Rent Supplement Subsidy
Rent Supplement Program allows individuals and families to receive a geared-to-income rent supplement for a unit in the private market. Applicant households must apply to the County and meet eligibility criteria.

Government-funded Affordable Housing
Affordable housing, sets rent at less than market levels, can be found in the City of Guelph and Wellington County. All prospective households must apply to the provider directly and meet eligible criteria.

Homeownership
The County of Wellington administers two homeownership program:

1. Wellington Affordable Homeownership Down Payment Loan Fund, and
2. Ontario Renovates

The Affordable Homeownership Program and Ontario Renovates are limited funding program, please review program eligibility.

Funding to Prevent Eviction
The County of Wellington administers funding for the Housing Stability Program, the Rent Bank, Emergency Energy Fund (EEF), and Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP).

Find out more about Housing Stability Funding eligibility.

Emergency Shelter
The County of Wellington funds Stepping Stone (formerly known as the Welcome In Drop In Centre) and Wyndham House (youth up to 25 years of age) to deliver support homelessness prevention, crisis response and housing stability supports and services.
Find out more about emergency shelter services in Wellington-Guelph

Offers long term, short term, respite, vacation, convalescent, and palliative stays.
Adult day program.

Wyndham House Youth Shelter open 24 hours a day and all meals provided. Call for information.

A 14-bed facility providing temporary shelter for youth. A shelter overflow process exists; no one is turned away. Services include:

• laundry facilities, showers, meals
• referrals to community resources
• life skills training
• supportive guidance
• recreational activities
• assistance in finding permanent housing
• weekly access to Registered Nurse Practitioner

Related and additional services provided at Concurrent Specialized Youth Hub, Youth Resource Centre (133 Woolwich St)

Consultation and assistance to consider options:

• access to help for vulnerable older adults and their families, especially those who have experienced or are at risk of abuse
• referral to community resources and informal seniors groups when appropriate
• temporary safe bed available through selected retirement homes with regard to elder abuse
• consultation for health professionals through the response network is available

Market rent and subsidized units

• 2 and 3 bedroom townhouses and apartments: 28 units total

Facility capacity for 64 residents, 32 rooms in total. Services and amenities include:

• assisted living program
• short term stays - trial, vacation, respite, convalescent
• emergency communications system
• recreation program
• 24 hour staffing and nursing supervision - RPN on call 24 hours
• visiting physician

Support Services: counselling for persons living with HIV/AIDS to assess needs and establish a continuum of support service.

Thresholds offers a range of mental health and addiction services, including supportive housing, crisis respite, individualized support programs, and more. We currently assist more than 1,100 individuals in the communities of Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph.

Residential program - are available for adults experiencing serious and persistent mental health concerns. Housing options include congregate living with seven (7) other individuals and smaller shared living homes, Individuals receive ongoing support services that range from 24/7 on-site support to monthly contact.

Crisis Respite program - offers short-term stays, at no cost, in a residential setting to individuals 18 years of age and older who are experiencing a mental health and/or psychosocial crisis. There are six crisis beds available at the Kitchener location and 2 beds available in Guelph. Stays are typically a maximum of 5 days. Individuals are assessed through a telephone screening prior to admission.

Supportive Housing - Thresholds provides subsidized housing in Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington, through agency-owned properties and partnerships with private and non-profit sector landlords.

Focuses on providing adequate, affordable social housing

• exchange of information
• research and community consultations to identify housing needs, gaps, priorities
• creation of partnerships among housing and social service providers and funding bodies
• advocacy and education on housing issues

Cooperative living residence for youth in full time educational programs who cannot live in their parental homes.

Consists of 82 townhouses, split evenly between two- and three-bedroom units.

• five units with visual alarm systems to accommodate needs of deaf / hard of hearing individuals
• participation in co-op community is welcome
• up to 90% of units are subsidized by the County of Wellington

There may be a long waiting period for a non-subsidized market value unit