Mary's Home Emergency Shelter: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Mary’s Home: History

• Mary’s Home is an emergency shelter for 38 women
• Opened in December 1996, originally combining long term housing, an emergency 12 bed dorm, and the Out of the Cold program.
• The program changed to emergency housing as the need became increasingly urgent; 
• We welcome women of different ages, cultures, religions etc.

Mary’s Home: Mandate

• To provide safe and secure accommodation, support, nutritious meals, and basic necessities to women 16 years of age and older; 
• Informal counseling; 
• To assist each woman with identifying her goals, 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 & recreational opportunities, spiritual support and appropriate long-term housing.

Mary’s Home: Characteristics and Needs of 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 difficulties, not knowing where else to turn.

Staff:
Director: Sr. Theresa Campeau
Tel. (416) 595-1578
Assistant Director or Shift Supervisor: Tammy Hookway

24 hour staffing includes full time, part time and casual residential counselors, housing and advocacy worker, cook, maintenance and cleaning staff, assistant director and director.