Basic Needs Guide

Emergency Shelter

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.

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Basic Needs Guide: Immediate Needs

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

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)