If you no longer have shelter, you can contact the Waterloo Region Social Services Department to apply for Discretionary Benefits. This service, for both families and individuals, provides assistance to cover all or part of the cost of a hotel or motel room in emergency situations. To apply, call the Ontario Works application number 519-883-2100.
Because shelter for families is very limited, we suggest that you first try to apply for the Discretionary Benefits program mentioned previously. However, if you do not wish to do so, or do not qualify, there are shelter options that you can try.
From November until April there are extra shelter options available through the Out of the Cold programs in Kitchener-Waterloo. This program is a seasonal, volunteer run program that provides over night shelter in community churches for adults. For details on where the shelters are located each night, call us at 519-579-3800.
Many of the emergency shelters serve only a specific population such as women and their children, men, youth, or pregnant or abused women. The locations of some shelters are kept confidential for safety.
Most of the shelters listed offer showers to their clients free of charge. Some shelters and drop in centres also offer hygiene products available at little or no cost to the client.
Resources
General Shelter for Men
House of Friendship of Kitchener, Residential Services, Charles Street Men's Hostel
63 Charles St E, Kitchener
phone: 742-8327
General Shelter For Women
Young Women's Christian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo, Housing, Mary's Place
84 Frederick St, Kitchener
phone: 744-0120
crisis: 744-0120
Homeless Shelter
Cambridge Shelter Corporation, The Bridges
26 Simcoe St, Cambridge
phone: 624-9305
Shelter for Youth
Argus Residence for Young People
Cambridge
phone: 623-7991 (men's), 650-0452 (women's)
Lutherwood, Mental Health Services, Betty Thompson Youth Centre, Safe Haven
41 Weber St W, Kitchener
phone: 749-1450 ext 240
Shelter for Abused Women
Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Anselma House
Kitchener
phone: 741-9184
crisis: 742-5894, 1-877-419-1517
Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Haven House
Cambridge
phone: 653-2289
crisis: 653-2422, 1-800-410-4482
Shelter for Pregnant Women
Marillac Place
109 Young St, Kitchener
phone: 571-0722
Saint Monica House
231 Herbert St, Waterloo
phone: 743-0291
Saint Monica House, Monica-Ainslie Place
150 Ainslie St N, Cambridge
phone: 624-0481
Seasonal Emergency Shelter
Out of the Cold
- Mondays - Trinity United Church, 74 Frederick St, Kitchener, N2H 2L7, 742-3578, trinity@nonline.net
- Tuesdays - Benton St Baptist Church (over 20 only), 90 Benton St Kitchener, N2G 3H4, 745-3792;
- Wednesdays - St Matthew's Lutheran Church, 54 Benton St, Kitchener, N2G 3H2, 742-0462, retmanskie0316@rogers.com;
- Thursdays - St John's Lutheran Church, 22 Willow St, Waterloo, N2J 1V5, 886-1880;
- Fridays - First United Church, 16 William St, Waterloo, N2L 1J3, 745-8487, msavage@golden.net;
- Saturdays - Bethany Evangelical Missionary Church, 160 Lancaster St E, Kitchener, N2H 1N2, 745-0151
- Sundays - St Louis Roman Catholic Church, 53 Allen St E, Waterloo, N2J 1J3, 743-4101
Community Showers
Ray of Hope, Inc, Oasis Drop-In Centre
37 Market Lane, Box 1652, Kitchener
phone: 744-2794, 744-0833 (Drop In)
The Working Centre, St John's Kitchen
97 Victoria St N, 2nd Flr, Kitchener
phone: 745-8928, 743-1151 (admin)