Searching for Shelters From Abuse

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

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)

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.

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.

Provides emergency shelter to youth between the ages of 16-24 in care in the community

• Food, shelter and 24-hour staff support
  
• Voluntary life-skills acquisition program
  
• Also operates a charity thrift store called Uptown Thrift which is located in the heart of downtown Preston.

Emergency shelter

• Offers a wide variety of programs and services
• Meals
• Addiction support and referrals
• Drop-in Centre
• Medical clinic
• Identification clinic
• Clean needle exchange program
• Housing support
• Supportive housing

Offers a wide variety of programs and services including shelter services, meals, addiction support and referrals

Provides emergency shelter to youth in care between the ages of 16-24 in the community

• In addition to food, shelter and 24-hour staff support, Argus offers a voluntary life-skills acquisition program the goal of which is to mobilize young people experiencing homelessness toward healthy and viable community integration
  
• Also offers SEESAW, where participants are paid for 30 hours a week, over a three month intervention, at a rate of minimum wage to gain work experience
  

Inclusive overnight shelter

Provides non-medical residence

Congregate setting home for people who were previously homeless/precariously housed and who are living with complex medical challenges, including palliative situations.

Provides short term homeless shelter and housing help services to women, cis and trans women, non-binary individuals and families with children who are experiencing homelessness.

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

Interim housing option

Supportive shelter

Major Services:

• 24 hour crisis lines for abused women
• HWP Chat provides online support, Mon-Sun 24 hrs, from a training Violence Against Women Counsellor
• safe shelter accommodation, food, and basic personal items for a maximum of 8 weeks for abused women and their dependent children
• individual and/or supportive group counselling at the shelter
• community agency information and referral when necessary
• court support for interim custody and restraining orders
• children's services
• emergency transportation to shelter, if necessary
• depart planning
• SafePet Program
• advocacy and public education around ending violence against women
• transitional support program
• accepts donations of goods for those in the shelter and those moving from the shelter to permanent housing (see list of needs here)

Family Court Support Worker Program

Facilitates a victim's understanding of and passage through the familly court system.

Support provided includes:

• information on the family court process
• assistance in preparing for family court proceedings (documenting history of abuse, accessing Legal Aid)
• debriefing with clients following family court appearances
• referral to specialized services and supports in the community
• safety planning
• court accompaniment to proceedings when appropriate

Schools programs

• EngageMENt 'male ally' program is a conversation-based 8-week program led by a male facilitator that guides male students through discussion around popular and sports culture, through a gender lens, and discusses what 'healthy masculinity' means, wrapping up by planning an experiential or service learning initiative (participants may receive up to 15 volunteer hours toward their Community Involvement requirement)

An overview of emergency shelters in the region of Halton and surrounding areas

Halton's Emergency Shelters

For general emergency shelter intake in Halton, call Access Halton at 3-1-1

• If someone is homeless or sleeping outside
  • contact Halton Social and Community Services at [email protected] or 1-866-442-5866
• If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis
  • call the Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) at 1-877-825-9011
• for more details see here

Salvation Army Halton Lighthouse Shelter

• 905-339-2918 or call 3-1-1 and ask for referral
• emergency shelter services for men, located in Oakville
• shelter may be able to arrange transportation
• for more details see full listing here

Wesley Housing Services - Halton

• email [email protected] or call 3-1-1 and ask for referral
• emergency shelter services for youth, single females and families
• Housing First services and case management for adults, youth and families
• advocacy, referrals and community integration to improve housing retention
• for more details see full listing here

Emergency Shelter for abused women, their dependent children and pets:

Halton Womens Place

• Shelters
  • South Halton 905-332-1593
  • North Halton 905-878-8970
• Crisis Phone
  • South Halton 905-332-7892
  • North Halton 905-878-8555
• Administration 905-332-1200
• online chat through HPW Chat
• protects pets from violence through the SafePet Program
• for more details see full listing here

Emergency Shelter's in Surrounding Regions

ShelterSafe.ca

• an online clickable map that connects women with the nearest shelter
• map provides the shelter's 24 hour phone number and/or website, and information on each shelter's pet policy, wheelchair accessibility, and availability of children's programming
• for more details see full listing here

Hamilton

To find shelter information call 905-546-2489, or 211

• for more information on shelters in the Hamilton area, see here

Niagara

To find shelter information call 1-800-263-3695, or 211

• for more information on shelters in Niagara Region, see here

Peel

To find shelter information call Street Helpline Peel 1-877-848-8481

• for more information on shelters in Peel, see here

Wellington County and City of Guelph

To find shelter information call the County of Wellington 1-844-824-1212

• for more Information on shelters in Wellington County, see here

Toronto

To find shelter information all the central intake line 1-877-338-3398

• for more information on shelters in the City of Toronto, see here

Women's shelter open to all women but focused on serving the needs of Muslim women in abusive domestic situations, confidential address

• halal meals
• personal wellness and professional counselling available

An agency working to end interpersonal violence and abuse by supporting individuals and families who have experienced domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or gender-based violence through the provision of crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional support, children's programs, and counselling; and by fostering accountability for those who harm through intervention, counselling, public education, and systemic advocacy

Programs and services include:

• Crisis Line, Online Chat Service and Emergency Shelter - Offering a 24-hour crisis and support line and an online chat service. The agency operates a 33-bed emergency shelter (including two fully accessible rooms) for women and children escaping violence, abuse or homelessness and providing a safe haven, meals, support, information and referrals to community resources

• Transitional and Housing Support - Assisting women who have experienced violence or abuse in their relationship and are transitioning. Support workers help to develop a plan to leave an abusive relationship, to transition into a shelter, to transition from a shelter to the community, or to transition from an abusive living environment to an independent, violence-free life. The second-stage housing program offers transitional units with additional wrap-around support for women and children

• Counselling Services and Family Programs including:
  • Trauma-informed counselling for individuals who have experienced violence or abuse in their relationships to support their healing journey
  • Caring Families program to help parents/caregivers create respectful adult relationships and a positive co-parenting approach with their children
  • Child Witness program for children who have witnessed violence or abuse against their mothers
  • Challenge to Change program for individuals who have been abusive towards their partners or are at risk of using abusive behaviours and includes partner contact, youth support services, PAR (for men and women) and SCRIBE

• Family Court Support - Providing information, resources, support and accompaniment for clients who have experienced intimate partner violence, to family court, lawyer's appointments and also assist in navigating the family court system

• Community Engagement and Public Education - Raising awareness through presentations/seminars/webinars delivered to community agencies, schools, businesses, clubs, religious institutions and other groups on domestic violence, teen dating violence, human trafficking, sexual harassment and healthy relationships

• Volunteer Program - Volunteers play a major role with fundraising and special events and assist staff in providing services and programs to clients. Positions include Child and Youth Program Assistant, Donations Facilitator, Special Events Volunteer and Receptionist

Crisis Line and Emergency Shelter

• 24 hour crisis support line and online chat service
• 33 bed shelter for women and children escaping violence, abuse or homelessness
• Providng meals, toiletries, clothing, baby essentials, emergency transportation and referrals to community resources

Short term emergency shelter for women, pre-screening intake assessment required prior to admission

Covid-19: in cases of clients displaying flu-like symptoms shelter continues operating with enhanced screening and safety measures, including encouraging masks and distancing
There are current limitations to the available beds, call shelter line for current information

Emergency shelter, includes in-person and telephone support

• emergency transport to shelter
• food, clothing, basic personal necessities
• counselling
• child and youth support
• assistance in finding community resources, supports
• information and referral, including to legal and court support
• assistance in finding and securing special priority housing
• education and employment supports
• health and mental health wellness programs

An emergency shelter, providing safety, support, and emergency accommodation to women who are dealing with homelessness, poverty, mental illness, and/or violence.

Programs and services:

• Emergency accommodation and safety planning
• Referrals and advocacy for medical, legal, and other community services
• Assistance in establishing permanent housing
• Recreational and educational daily activities for residents and women living in the community