ShelterCare in Action

The ShelterCare vision is starting to come to fruition in Waterloo Region.

House of Friendship’s Shelter, part of the Waterloo Region shelter system, is following the ShelterCare model to help men experiencing homelessness transition to housing and successfully stay housed.

Through the ShelterCare model, individuals are provided with a range of supports, including:

• a safe and warm place to stay 24/7;
• onsite health care to address their physical, addiction and mental health needs;
• supports to address the factors that resulted in homelessness (like childhood trauma);
• staff to provide the tools and resources they need to find and maintain permanent housing.

The new model is proving successful in many ways, including:

• No positive COVID-19 cases within the ShelterCare program;
• Overdose rates are down by over 50% despite increasing the number of individuals served from 51 to more than 100;
• 75% reduction in Emergency Medical Service visits; and
• More than 30 men housed over the past six months, with none returning to Shelter.

During COVID-19, shelter programs are following Region of Waterloo Public Health protocols to keep everyone safe.

To learn more about how you can make ShelterCare a permanent reality in Waterloo Region, visit our Join Us page.