Residential Housing

Women’s Shelters

Providing housing and support to women in crisis through a network of emergency beds and longer term housing.

Amélie House

History

Amélie House opened in December 1998 as a 30 bed emergency shelter for women. In March 1999, Hostel Services of the City of Toronto changed the mandate of Amelie House to a longer-term transitional shelter program.

Amélie House can accommodate 20 women and we welcome women 18 years of age and older, from all cultures and religions.

Principles of Service

  • To provide long-term, transitional housing for women who have experienced difficulty in attaining or maintaining permanent housing.
  • To provide safe accommodation, nutritious meals, informal counselling, crisis intervention, referrals, advocacy and basic necessities to the women in our care.
  • To assist women with identifying their individual goals and ensure that they are provided with the support and resources required to meet these goals.
  • To provide on-site programming with staff supervision and support, available on a 24 hour basis.
  • To provide a living environment that is self-directed by the residents enabling them to become independent, self reliant and to build their self esteem.
  • To ensure that each woman has access to and the option to utilize community resources that provide financial support, health care, emotional support, education and training, spiritual support, social and recreational opportunities and, ultimately, permanent housing.
  • To ensure that the women in our care are treated in a fair and consistent manner and are provided with opportunities to voice their concerns about their living environment without fear of negative repercussions.
  • To provide continuity of care for women who have left the program but wish to maintain contact.

Characteristics of our Residents

  • Most of our residents are survivors of domestic violence, abuse, poverty, addiction or mental illness and refugee claimants
  • The circumstances that brought our residents to Amélie House are varied. The barriers that prevent them from seeking and maintaining independent housing are many.

Staffing and Administration

Director: Eyitayo Dada
24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief Re-establishment Counsellors, a community support worker, a life skills coach and an overnight worker.

Amelie House is funded by the City of Toronto Hostel Services under an annual purchase of service contract with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  Amelie House is governed by the Toronto Shelter Standards which can be found on the City of Toronto website, and the policies and procedures of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

 

Contact Information

by phone: (416) 465-0475
by fax: (416) 465-3196
by email: ameliehouse@rogers.com

Elisa House

History

Elisa House opened in December 2001 as a combination transitional housing program and emergency shelter for women.  Now it operates as an emergency shelter.

Elisa House can accommodate 40 women, and we welcome women 18 years of age and older from all cultures and religions.

Principles of Service

  • To provide short and long-term accommodation to women who experience difficulty accessing and/or maintaining permanent housing
  • To provide a safe environment and meet the basic needs of the women in the residence
  • Residents are offered client-centered case planning, supportive counselling, referrals, advocacy and life-skills training.
  • To assist women in identifying their individual goals and to provide the support and access to the resources required to meet these goals.
  • To provide a living environment that is self-directed by the residents enabling them to become independent, self reliant and to build up their self esteem.
  • To ensure that the women in our care are treated in a fair and consistent manner and are provided with opportunities to voice their concerns without fear of negative consequences.
  • To provide an environment that is free from labels, judgments, oppression, discrimination, and violence of any type.

Characteristics of our Residents

  • Elisa House provides services to women who have experienced, or are dealing with, addiction issues and/or mental health issues, immigration issues, abuse or poverty.

Staffing

Director: Laura Balizs
24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief Re-establishment Counsellors,  housing worker and a community living facilitator.

Elisa House is funded by the City of Toronto Hostel Services under an annual purchase of service contract with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  Elisa House is governed by the Toronto Shelter Standards which can be found on the City of Toronto website, and the policies and procedures of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

 

Contact Information

by phone: (416) 259-2528
by fax: (416) 259-0051
by email: lkiss.elisahouse@rogers.com

 

Mary’s Home

History

Mary’s Home opened in December 1996, originally combining longer-term housing, a 12 bed emergency dorm and an Out of the Cold program. The program changed to an emergency shelter as the need for increased shelter beds became increasingly urgent.

Mary’s Home can accommodate 44 women, aged 16 years or older, and we welcome women of different ages, cultures, religions.

Mary’s Home participates in the City of Toronto’s Extreme Weather Alert program.

Principles of Service

  • To provide safe and secure accommodation, support and accompaniment, informal counselling, nutritious meals and basic necessities to the women who stay at Mary’s Home.
  • To assist each woman with identifying her goals and developing and implementing plans to secure safe, appropriate and affordable long-term housing.
  • To advocate on each woman’s behalf as necessary, assisting them in resolving their situation.
  • Encouragement of each woman’s competence, independence and self- esteem.
  • Assistance for any woman seeking shelter to find a bed on any given night.
  • To ensure that each woman has access to appropriate community resources that provide financial support, health care, emotional, support, education and training, social and recreational opportunities, spiritual support and appropriate long-term housing.

Characteristics of our Residents

  • Women come to Mary’s Home from a variety of situations including leaving abusive relationships, newcomers to Canada, family breakdown, eviction, job loss, addictions and/or mental health issues and poverty.
  • Women are usually in crisis, facing many obstacles and not knowing where else to turn.

Director: Bolanle Oluwole-Rotimi
24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief Residential Counsellors, housing and advocacy workers, a cook, maintenance and cleaning staff.

Mary’s Home is funded by the City of Toronto Hostel Services under an annual purchase of service contract with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  Mary’s Home is governed by the Toronto Shelter Standards which can be found on the City of Toronto website, and the policies and procedures of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

 

Contact Information

by phone: (416) 595-1578
by fax: (416) 595-6442
by email: boluwolerotimi.maryshome@rogers.com

St. Clare’s Residence

History

The Bayview Avenue facility was purchased by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and opened as St. Clare’s Residence in the fall of 2001.

St. Clare’s Residence provides accommodation for 30 women.

Principles of Service

  • St. Clare’s Residence is a transitional shelter for women, aged 25 years or older, who have experienced difficulty attaining or maintaining permanent housing
  • Our goal is to assist our residents to live independently in the community by providing long-term, self-directed services in a supportive, home-like atmosphere, governed by safety, respect and dignity while they work towards securing permanent housing
  • To ensure that each woman has access to community resources that provide financial support, health care, emotional support, education and training, spiritual support, social and recreational opportunities and, ultimately, permanent housing.
  • To ensure that the women in our care are treated in a fair and consistent manner and are provided with opportunities to voice their concerns about their living environment without fear of negative repercussions.
  • To provide continuity of care for women who have left the program but wish to maintain contact.
  • Residents of St. Clare’s contribute financially, based on their income

Characteristics of our Residents

  • St. Clare’s Residence provides services to women who have experienced, or are dealing with, addiction issues and/or mental health issues, immigration issues, abuse or poverty.
  • Many are seeking employment possibilities and pursuing avenues that will lead them to independent housing
  • Length of stay is dependent on the progress of the resident, active participation in case management, goal setting, and community housing; and the determination that the program remains suitable

Staffing

Director: Carolyn Young
Shift supervisor: Ashley Hwang
24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief residential counsellors, and a cook

St. Clare’s Residence is funded by the City of Toronto Hostel Services under an annual purchase of service contract with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.  St. Clare’s Residence is governed by the Toronto Shelter Standards which can be found on the City of Toronto website, and the policies and procedures of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Contact Information

by phone: (416) 225-3466
by fax: (416) 225-3656
by email: svdpstclareadm@rogers.com