Searching for Shelter For Abused Women

Intake, assessment, referral, wait list registration and appointment booking for mental health, addictions, and crisis services. Service provided through the phone line and drop-in sites.

Service categories include:

• information, assessment and referral
• crisis assessment
• support coordination
• peer / self help
• short-term crisis support beds
• court support and diversion
• community counselling and treatment
• support within housing
• day / evening treatment
• residential treatment
• Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT)
• eating disorders
• early psychosis treatment and support services

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) - program of last resort where no other available private or public resource is available
​
Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention​

• needs assessment
• safety planning
• referrals to community services
• enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses

• Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal and treatment at a recovery facility
• No direct reimbursements are made to victims for the supports listed above
  
• Financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims

Project Lifesaver: provides wrist transmitters to individuals who may wander due to cognitive impairment. Suitable for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease, autism, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (VSW partners with Wellington County OPP and Guelph Police Service).

Spira Fire Victim Relief Fund: financial aid for those experiencing material loss due to a residential fire and are uninsured.

Services include:

• information and assistance to support participation in the criminal court process
• wervices begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
• case-specific information (court dates, bail conditions)
• court preparation
• needs assessment
• emotional support
• crisis intervention
• referrals to community agencies

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund -- financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court

• travel arrangements and expenses
• language interpretation
• real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Offers support and counselling to women who have experienced sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse or sexual harassment recently or in the past.

• individual / group counselling and support
• accompaniment to hospital / police / court
• advocacy / court preparation / community referrals
• assistance with victim impact statements
• sexual harassment support / accompaniment
• information on sexual assault / sexual harassment / childhood sexual abuse / incest / stalking
• information on legal / medical procedures and options
• client workshops on selected topics
• support for family / friends of sexually violated survivors
• public education / training / information sessions available on request
• client library and resource materials

Volunteer opportunities include:

• supporting sexual assault / incest survivors
• providing 24-hour on call service / public education / accompaniment

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.

Crisis services for all people, all genders, who have experienced sexual violence, Human Trafficking and / or domestic violence. May include physical examination, treatment of injuries, medications to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, information on pregnancy, choice of completing the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit.

• Emotional support, trauma counselling, safety planning and follow-up care.

Individuals are seen in a private room by specially trained sexual assault / domestic violence nurses to ensure confidential and sensitive treatment. Police are not called unless the patient indicates this choice.

Note: Guelph General Hospital is the designated sexual assault centre for the region

Free and confidential service designed for anyone in the Guelph-Wellington community who is experiencing any form of distress.

Trained volunteers provide emotional support, goal and safety planning, and assistance to callers in connecting with other community resources. Volunteers provide confidential, solution-focused response and assessment of crisis with intervention when required.

• support for people who are experiencing distress about their circumstances
• referral to community services
• training provided for volunteers on listening and communication skills, solution-focused conversation, and assessing high risk situations

ALL CALLS ARE CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with provincial legislation.

Distress Line

• 519-821-3760 ext. 1
• Supports mild to moderate levels of distress through active listening.

TeleConnect

• 519-821-3760 ext. 2
• Outbound call service designed to support community members of Guelph-Wellington who are struggling with independent living.

LGBTQ+ Support Line

• 519-669-3760
• Supports members of the LGBTQ+ Community by providing a safe space to chat and connect with resources. Texting is also an option.

Toll free phone service provides general information on range of legal aid services ; legal, financial eligibility criteria ; legal aid application information.

Other services include:

• duty counsel (legal aid lawyer in an Ontario courthouse) - criminal, refugee and immigration, family or youth courts, mental health
• summary legal advice for family law (criminal matters referred to local services)
• certificate program for complex cases
• poverty law, civil services - delivered through community legal aid clinics
• referrals to other social assistance agencies

Duty counsel assistance for qualified applicants is available at the Guelph courthouses when court is scheduled:

• Criminal Duty Counsel - 36 Wyndham St S (Ontario Court of Justice Criminal Division)
• Family Duty Counsel - 74 Woolwich St (Ontario Court of Justice, Family and Superior Court of Justice, County of Wellington Courthouse)

Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region operates two emergency shelters for abused women and their children: Anselma House in Kitchener (519) 742-5894 and Haven House in Cambridge (519) 653-2422 plus a regional Outreach program. They also offer transitional housing. Serve women age 16 plus, with or without their children.

Can be reached by text, instructions on website for how to erase browser history. Also offer translation services, both in person and on the phone.

This is a free service, both in shelter and outreach programs.

Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region operates two emergency shelters for abused women and their children: Anselma House in Kitchener (519) 742-5894 and Haven House in Cambridge (519) 653-2422 plus a regional Outreach program. They also offer transitional housing. Serve women age 16 plus, with or without their children.

Can be reached by text, instructions on website for how to erase browser history. Also offer translation services, both in person and on the phone.

This is a free service, both in shelter and outreach programs.

A community-based, non-profit organization

• Provides services and support to people and their families who have experienced sexual violence
• Offers individual counselling to all genders (16 years of age and older) in both Kitchener and Cambridge
• 24-Hour Support Line and support groups, advocacy, referrals, and accompaniments to the hospital, police, and courthouse
• Program supporting women who have experienced violence as they navigate the Family Court process.

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) - program of last resort where no other available private or public resource is available
​
Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention​

• needs assessment
• safety planning
• referrals to community services
• enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses

• Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal and treatment at a recovery facility
• No direct reimbursements are made to victims for the supports listed above
  
• Financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims

SADVTC is 24/7 on call team of forensic nurses and social workers who respond to the needs of individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking. Emergency and short-term follow up care is also offered to those accessing the team.

Services include:

• service coordination for people with developmental disabilities
• individual, couple, and family counselling
• counselling for women who have experienced sexual assault
• walk-in counselling on Thu afternoon/evenings (1 pm-7 pm)

A treatment program for individuals that have or are experiencing family abuse and sexual assault.

Support line is a resource for anyone who has experienced sexual violence as a child or adult, and their friends and families

• Provide emotional support and intervention, options, information, referrals, as well as advocacy and accompaniments
• Phone support is available in more than 200 languages through an interpreter service
• Online chat support available as well, see website for availability.
  

Provides services and support to people and their families who have experienced sexual violence

• Offers individual counselling to all genders (16 years of age and older) in both Kitchener and Cambridge
• 24 Hour Support Line and support groups, advocacy, referrals, and accompaniments for women to the hospital, police, and courthouse

Family Court Support Worker Program -

• Information on the family court process
• Assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
• Referral to specialized services and supports in the community
• Safety planning
• Court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate

Anti-Human Trafficking Program - Wrap-around services to those experiencing sexual exploitation and those who are at risk within Waterloo Region.

• Counselling
• Advocacy
• Crisis support
• Safety planning
• Related accompaniments
• Practical assistance
• Support through legal processes
• Support with obtaining housing
• Connections to community supports
• Public education and outreach

A community-based, non-profit organization

• Provides services and support to people and their families who have experienced sexual violence
• Offers individual counselling to all genders (16 years of age and older) in both Kitchener and Cambridge
• 24-Hour Support Line and support groups, advocacy, referrals, and accompaniments to the hospital, police, and courthouse
• Program supporting women who have experienced violence as they navigate the Family Court process.

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) - program of last resort where no other available private or public resource is available
​
Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention​

• needs assessment
• safety planning
• referrals to community services
• enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses

• Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal and treatment at a recovery facility
• No direct reimbursements are made to victims for the supports listed above
  
• Financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims

Information and assistance to support participation in the criminal court process * services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
Case-specific information (court dates, bail conditions)
Court preparation
Needs assessment
Emotional support
Crisis intervention
Referrals to community agencies

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund -- financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court * travel arrangements and expenses * language interpretation * real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Provides free legal services in the following areas:

• Criminal legal issues
• Family legal issues
• Refugee and immigration legal issues
• Domestic violence
• Mental health legal issues

Information and assistance to support participation in the criminal court process * services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
Case-specific information (court dates, bail conditions)
Court preparation
Needs assessment
Emotional support
Crisis intervention
Referrals to community agencies

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund -- financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court * travel arrangements and expenses * language interpretation * real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

This listing provides information on where to get help in Halton Hills for those in need of Emergency Housing, Long Term Housing Supports, Emergency Food, Food Banks and Crisis Support.

In an emergency, call 9-1-1 for police, ambulance, fire.

For Crisis Support, please see listing of resources here

Emergency Housing

Out of the Cold

• call 905-877-7585
• provides overnight shelter and a meal during the colder months to those in need

Salvation Army Georgetown Community Church

• call 905-877-1374
• Community and Family Services provide various emergency assistances to those in need

Lighthouse Emergency Shelter, Salvation Army Oakville

• call 905-339-2918
• provides safe, secure, short-term accommodations to individuals who are experiencing some type of housing crisis

Halton Women's Place

• call 905-878-8970
• provides emergency shelter, crisis services, and support to physically, sexually, financially, and emotionally abused women and their dependent children

Long Term Housing Supports

Halton Housing Help

• call 905-825-6000 or 3-1-1
• service that helps individuals access and maintain safe and affordable housing

Links2Care (Acton/Georgetown)

• call 905-873-6502
• Transitional Housing is available for families who are homeless
• rent geared to income
• community support coordinator provides family support

Summit Housing and Outreach Programs

• call 905-847-3206
• provides housing, treatment, and case management services for those in need of mental health supports in Halton Region

Support House

• call 905-845-9212
• offers community-based housing, support and wellness programs to people living with mental health issues and/or problematic substance use

Emergency Food

Georgetown Bread Basket

• call 905-873-3368
• emergency help available if needed, by arrangement, outside of regular hours

Holy Cross HELPS

• call 905-873-1887
• supports people who are in need of emergency assistance

St Joseph Church, St Vincent Charities

• call 519-853-0784
• provides food vouchers to those in need

Salvation Army Acton Community Church Food Bank

• call 519-853-5610
• food bank available on an as-needed basis following a personal interview and completion of application for assistance

Salvation Army Georgetown Community Church Food Bank

• call 905-877-1374
• available to assist anyone facing difficult circumstances

Food Banks

Acton Foodshare

• call 519-853-0457
• provides easy access to food for those individuals or families who are in need of basic needs assistance

Georgetown Bread Basket

• call 905-873-3368
• provides food to those in need who meet the eligibility criteria

Food for Life Community Fridges

• call 905-635-1106
• a community fridge at both branches of the Halton Hills Public Library, stocked with 'Good Food bags'

Salvation Army Acton Community Church Food Bank

• call 519-853-5610
• food bank serving Acton and the surrounding community

Salvation Army Georgetown Community Church Food Bank

• call 905-877-1374
• food bank serving Georgetown and the surrounding community

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) - program of last resort where no other available private or public resource is available
​
Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario - On-site early intervention and crisis intervention​

• needs assessment
• safety planning
• referrals to community services
• enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) -- assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, may include home safety, accommodation, meals, transportation, basic necessities, dependent care costs, counselling, traditional Indigenous health services, cellular phones, vision care, dental care, aids for victims with disabilities, interpretation services, crime scene cleanup, government/medical documents and funeral expenses

• Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes storage locker, tattoo removal and treatment at a recovery facility
• No direct reimbursements are made to victims for the supports listed above
  
• Financial support is also available for victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime and for parents of homicide victims and spouses of homicide victims