Transitional Shelter for Women and Children

One of the core services we provide is the transitional housing program for recently arrived women and their children. We welcome refugee women from all around of the word. We provide temporary house to around 30 women and children. A transitional housing worker visits the houses to build community offering support in the areas they need: support with medical appointments and other vital settlement needs such as opening a bank account, language classes, etc.

We believe that the refugee experience is a continuum from the moment the refugee decides to leave their country until they become a Canadian citizen… We have developed an integrated model of services for all uprooted people, but offer temporary shelter only to women and children.

We offer temporary shelter (up to one year) to women and children. During this time we offer the following initial settlement services to both the residents in our shelters and to others who come to our office:

Orientation. We help the women with a basic orientation to life in a new country, where to shop and how to use public transit, etc.
Legal Assistance. One of the first appointments they must make is with legal aid. We refer them to a good refugee lawyer who will represent them in their refugee case and prepare them for their refugee hearing.
Social Assistance. The next appointment is with OntarioWorks, to get social assistance for their basic needs and rental allowance, which they pay to us for their accommodation. They are eligible for social assistance as long as they are in school or other training full time.
Medicals. Medical appointment is necessary to apply for a work permit and a Social Insurance Number. This can take up to three months.
School. If the women do not speak English, they are enrolled in an English as a Second Language class for adults. If they have children, the children are enrolled in a school near them.
Women’s programs/Support Groups: On-going information-sharing on issues relevant to women adapting to a new culture.
In the past, International Cookbooks have been developed from the Community Kitchen Program: Cookbook 2007, Cook-Book 2008.

Coalition of Service Providers in Ontario

The Ontario Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants includes refugee houses and agencies who work with vulnerable populations across Ontario and two in the United States.

The Coalition meets every two months to share information and resources; identify and communicate operational needs; and to raise public awareness of refugee issues.

Refugee houses and agencies who work with vulnerable populations across Southern Ontario:

TORONTO

Adam House
430 Gladstone Ave, Toronto
info@adamhouse.org
416-538-2836

Canadian Red Cross / First Contact
557 Dixon Road, Unit 122, Etobicoke
firstcontactontario@redcross.ca
416-480-2500
(Observer)

COSTI / Immigrant Services
1710 Dufferin Street, Toronto
info@costi.org
416-480-2500
416-493-9000 ext 618

Centre for Refugee Children
208 Oakwood Ave, Toronto
contact@crcrefugee.ca
416-469-5067

Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
43 Christie Street, Toronto
general@christiestreetrc.com
416-588-9277

FCJ Refugee Centre
208 Oakwood Ave, Toronto
info@fcjrefugeecentre.org
416-469-9754

Matthew House Toronto
981 Dundas St W, Toronto
admin@matthewhouse.ca
416-203-7848

Quaker Committee for Refugees
Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave, Toronto
refugees@torontoquakers.org
416‐964‐9669

Romero House
1558 Bloor St W, Toronto
info@romerohouse.org
416-763-1303

The 519
519 Church Street, Toronto
Info@The519.org
416-392-6874

Sojourn House
101 Ontario Street, Toronto
info@sojournhouse.org
416-864-9136

The Peoples House
374 Sheppard Ave East, Toronto
larab@thepeopleschurch.ca
416-499-4209

HAMILTON

Micah House
205 Holton Avenue South, Hamilton
info@micahhouse.ca
905-296-4387

Open Homes Hamilton
info@openhomeshamilton.ca
289-426-2612

WINDSOR

Angela Rose and Oak House
226-674-4944

Matthew House Refugee Welcome Centre
3185 Forest Glade Drive, Windsor
info@matthewhousewindsor.org
519-945-7627

OTTAWA

Carty House
P.O. Box 4758, STN E., Ottawa
office@cartyhouse.org
613-236-8855

Matthew House Ottawa
340 Legget Drive Door 53, Ottawa
fbinfo@matthewhouseottawa.org
613-255-0168

KITCHENER

COMPASS Refugee Centre
230 – 675 Queen Street South, Kitchener
compass@compassrefugee.ca
519-571-1912

Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre
715 Fischer-Hallman Road, Suite 401, Kitchener
519-208-9575

LONDON

London Cross Cultural Learner Centre
505 Dundas Street, London, On
cclc@lcclc.org
519-432-1133

FORT ERIE

Casa El Norte
281 Central Ave, Fort Erie
casaelnorte281@gmail.com
905-871-4483

Matthew House Fort Erie
183 Central Ave. Fort Erie
matthewhfe@gmail.com
905-871-6059

Fort Erie Multicultural Centre
Peace Bridge Newcomer Centre
80 Queen Street, Fort Erie
service@firststepsincanada.com
905-871-3641, 905-994-6005

ST. CATHARINES

Chez Marie
16 Pelham Rd., St. Catharines
905-682-5795

OUTSIDE OF CANADA

Vive / Jericho Road Community Health Center
50 Wyoming Avenue, Buffalo, NY (USA)
vivelegal@jrchc.org
716-892-4354

Freedom House
1777 N. Rademacher, Detroit, MI (USA)
ddrennan@freedomhousedetroit.org
313-964-4320