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Residential Housing: Shelters, Addiction Recovery and Supportive Housing.

The Society provides staffed emergency, supportive and long term housing to persons in need in a variety of funded programs across the GTA.

Shelters For Women

Amelie House is a 20 bed longer term emergency shelter funded by the City of Toronto Shelter and Support Services providing women with safe and secure accommodation in the Leslieville neighbourhood of Toronto. Women who are interested in this type of longer term shelter housing may contact Amelie House for an application.

Contact Information:

Phone: 416 465-0475
Email: ameliehouse@rogers.com
Fax: 416 465-3196
Address: 126 Pape Ave Toronto, ON M4M 2V8

  • Intersection; Pape Ave and Queen St E
  • TTC Directions: Start on line (2) and go to Pape station. Take the 72C to Carlaw Ave at Queen St East. Head south on Carlaw Ave toward Queen St E. Turn left onto
  • Queen St E, and left onto Pape Ave.
  • Not accessible.
  • City of Toronto Central Intake: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398
Background:

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.

Principles of Service:
  • To provide long-term, transitional housing for women who have experienced difficulty in attaining or maintaining independent 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 assist each woman with identifying her goals and developing and implementing plans to secure safe, appropriate and affordable independent housing.
  • 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, and self-reliant.
  • 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 an environment that is free from labels, judgments, oppression, discrimination, and violence of any type.
  • To provide continuity of care for women who have left the program but who wish to maintain contact.
Staffing and Administration:

Director: Eyitayo Dada

24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief Re-establishment Counsellors, Case Manager staff, a housing worker, a life skills coach, management staff.

Elisa House is a 40 bed emergency shelter funded by the City of Toronto Shelter and Support Services providing women with safe and secure accommodation in the southern Etobicoke area of Toronto.

Contact Information:

Phone: 416-259-2528
Email: lkiss.elisahouse@rogers.com
Fax: 416-259-0051
Address: Elisa House, 60 Newcastle Street, Toronto, ON M8Y 1A3

  • Intersection; Royal York Rd and Evans Ave
  • TTC Directions: Start on line (2) and go to Royal York Station. Take the 76A to Newcastle Street. Head north on Royal York Rd. and turn right on Newcastle St.
  • Not accessible.
  • City of Toronto Central Intake: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-339
Background:

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

Principles of Service:
  • To provide emergency shelter support to women who experience difficulty accessing or maintaining independent housing.
  • To provide a safe environment, meeting the basic needs of 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 assist each woman with identifying her goals and developing and implementing plans to secure safe, appropriate and affordable independent housing
  • To provide an environment that is self-directed by the residents enabling them to become independent, and self reliant.
  • 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, independent 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 an environment that is free from labels, judgments, oppression, discrimination, and violence of any type.
Staffing and Administration:

Director: Laura Balizs

24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief Re-establishment Counsellors, housing worker, a community living facilitator, Case Management staff and management staff.

Mary’s Home is a 44 bed emergency shelter funded by the City of Toronto Shelter and Support Services providing women with safe and secure accommodation in the downtown core of Toronto.

Contact Information:

Phone: 416 595-1578
Email: boluwolerotimi.maryshome@rogers.com
Fax: 416 595-6442
Address: 70 Gerrard St E., Toronto, ON M5B 1G6

  • Intersection; Church St and Gerrard St E
  • TTC Directions: Start on line (2) and get off at Bloor-Yonge. Take line (1) to College Station. Head east on Carlton St. toward Reverend Porter Lane. Turn right onto Church St., and the turn left onto Gerrard St. E.
  • Not accessible.
  • City of Toronto Central Intake: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398
Background:

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.

Principles of Service:
  • To provide emergency shelter support to women who experience difficulty accessing or maintaining independent housing.
  • To provide a safe environment, meeting the basic needs of 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 assist each woman with identifying her goals and developing and implementing plans to secure safe, appropriate and affordable independent housing
  • To provide an environment that is self-directed by the residents enabling them to become independent, and self reliant.
  • 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, independent 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 an environment that is free from labels, judgments, oppression, discrimination, and violence of any type.
Staffing and Administration:

Director: Bolanle Oluwole-Rotimi

24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief Residential Counsellors, housing workers, Case Management staff, a cook, management staff.

St. Clare’s Residence is a 30 bed longer term emergency shelter funded by the City of Toronto Shelter and Support Services providing women with safe and secure accommodation in the North York area of Toronto. Women who are interested in this type of longer term shelter housing may contact St. Clare’s Residence for an application.

Contact Information:

Phone: 416 225-3466
Email: svdpstclareadm@rogers.com
Fax: 416 225-3656
Address: 3410 Bayview Ave., Toronto, ON M2M 3S3

  • Intersection; Bayview Ave and Steeles Ave E
  • TTC Directions: Start on line (2) and transfer to line (1) at Bloor – Yonge. Take line (1) to Finch station. At Finch station take the 42A to Cummer Ave at Bayview Ave. Head east on Cummer Ave toward Bayview Ave. Turn left onto Bayview Ave.
  • Not accessible.
  • City of Toronto Central Intake: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398
Background:

The facility was purchased by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and opened as St. Clare’s Residence in the fall of 2001, serving women in need of transitional housing supports.

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 independent housing.
  • Resident’s are encouraged to live independently in the community by participating in long-term, self-directed services in a supportive, home-like atmosphere, governed by safety, respect and dignity while working towards securing independent 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, independent 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 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, independent housing.
  • To provide an environment that is free from labels, judgments, oppression, discrimination, and violence of any type.
  • To provide continuity of care for women who have left the program but wish to maintain contact.
  • Residents of St. Clare participate in a financial literacy program.
Staffing and Administration

Director: Ashley Hwang
24 hour staffing includes full-time, part-time and relief residential counsellors, a cook, housing worker, Case Management staff and management

Recovery Housing

Ozanam House was founded in 1984 as a pre-treatment program for men awaiting admission to residential treatment programs for alcohol and drug addiction, located at 88 Mulock Avenue, in the Junction neighborhood of west-end Toronto.

Principles of Service:
  • From the outset, we have served men awaiting admission to addiction treatment programs, and we now serve the residents of our program who have just completed treatment, and are awaiting admission to a supportive housing program. We work closely with Withdrawal Management Centres throughout southern Ontario, and with addiction treatment and supportive housing programs
  • We build on the fundamental belief that our residents are served best not when we provide for them, but when we are able to give them the tools to live successful, independent lives, both in and out of treatment.
  • Funded by Ontario Health
Staffing:

Staff have both professional training and personal experience in working with the challenges our residents often face.

Director: Jim Isadas
Supervisor: Lincoln Kerr

Staffed on a 24-hour basis with volunteer support for 12 Step meetings, maintenance and renovation jobs around the house, accompanying residents to appointment and general assistance.

Contact Information:

Phone: (416) 762-4195
Fax: (416) 762-9754
Email: ozanam@ssvptoronto.ca

In response to the need for supportive, abstinence based post-treatment housing, the Society provides community based program housing in 14 residents across the GTA.

Principles of Service:

Our mandate, simply put, is to assist in the prevention of relapse by providing stable, program based housing for a 6 month to 1 year period immediately following graduation from a recognized treatment facility.

Eligibility:

Our Homes strive to provide an atmosphere conducive to continuing recovery, concentrating upon the rehabilitation principles advocated during treatment, aftercare and recognized 12 step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition, residents are encouraged to upgrade their education, obtain employment, and restore family relationships.

Staffing:

Director: Jim Isadas
Phone: (416) 364-5577 ext. 225
Email: vphomes@ssvptoronto.ca

Assistant to the Director: Sarah Davidson
Phone: (416) 364-5577 ext. 221
Email: sarahd@ssvptoronto.ca
Fax: (416) 364-2055

Supportive Housing

Vincent, DePaul, and Martineau Homes

We operate 3 homes in Scarborough for 18 men and women with developmental disabilities, funded by the Ministry of Community, Children’s and Social Services.

Principles of Service:
  • To provide permanent homes with 24 hour care for people with developmental and physical challenges;
  • To provide an environment that supports the residents with their spiritual, physical and emotional needs;
  • To provide an atmosphere which respects the uniqueness of each individual;
  • To encourage each resident to enter into the decision making process in areas affecting their lives;
  • To promote community awareness through participation as full members of the community.
Characteristics of our Residents:
  • The residents are men and women ranging in age from 45 to 85 years. The majority of the residents are seniors and several of the residents have physical challenges. All of the residents have different levels of developmental disability.
  • The residents at DePaul, Martineau, and Vincent houses are provided with 24 hour staff support.
  • All of the residents are active members of their community through staff, volunteer, family and Vincentian support.
Staffing:

Supervisors: Jackie Carlos, Isahack Rahim
Email: info@ssvptoronto.ca

DePaul House:

Phone: (416) 265-2605

Martineau House:

Phone: (416) 431-4147

Vincent Housel:

Phone: (416) 724-2455

St. Francis Residence

St. Francis Residence opened in 1988 in response to the housing crisis faced by persons living with mental health challenges. Funded by the City of Toronto Habitat Services, with considerable support from the Society.

Principles of Services:
  • St. Francis Residence offers permanent supportive housing in a community-based setting for 24 men and women who have a history of mental health problems and are stabilized and capable of living in a community-like setting; are independent enough to participate in basic daily living activities; and who freely choose to live in our home.
  • St. Francis Residence is classified as a Personal Care Boarding Home, and is operated as such under the terms of the Tenant Protection Act, by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Toronto Central Council.
  • Home-cooked meals are provided.
  • Residents pay room and board on a rent-geared-to-income basis.
  • Staff provide 24 hour supportive supervision in a life-giving, homelike environment. Staff encourage independence, socializing in the community, and development of life skills. When needed, staff will assist and give direction with laundry & housekeeping chores.
  • Storage & supervision of prescription drugs & daily medications can be arranged by individual residents, when required. Medications are not administered or dispensed by staff except in emergencies when a resident’s life may be in jeopardy.
  • Ontario Health provides support programmes through Habitat Services, including initial screening of referrals for suitability, ongoing residential activities and staff education through C.O.T.A. (Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services), and quarterly standards of care inspections. All applicants to St. Francis Residence are referred to Habitat Services for the admission process.
Staffing:

Director: Eyitayo Dada

Contact Information:

Phone: (416) 603-4340
Fax: (416) 603-7675
Email: stfrancis@ssvptoronto.ca