Best Homeless services in Canada

A place where drug use and crime is freely welcomed and overlooked .
More crime and drugs go on there , then on the actual street.
Not a safe place at all .
Workers care more about statistics, then actually helping people .

Good shelter. Great food. Decent services. Good location.

The mobile outreach unit is a huge help to people outdoors too!

You wanna play a game? Cook check mate! Soon everyone working there will be at a shelter because I will get this place or ppl who handled my case FIRED. how will you act when this happens to YOU

You went Above and Beyond today driving my brother to Lac La Biche AB. Heaps of Blessings upon Blessings for the work you do! God sends Angels when you need them! Thank You from My Family in LLB!

Avoid this area like the plague, otherwise you will be witness to active illegal drug use and constant fighting.

A Shepherds facility moved into our neighbourhood and crime is through the roof. A two year old found a used needle and put it in her mouth and had to go to the hospital. Never saw a needle now I see them all the time. Cars are ransacked every night. Addicts are now just walking into houses and grabbing things. This neighbourhood was turning around and now everyone just talks about leaving. Ottawa Police have said they will increase patrols but that likely won't do much. The community said this would all happen, and it has. Shame on SOGH, you are horrible neighbours.

I stayed here for 2 months when my mom kicked me out. If you are not a drug addict and just need a second to pick your feet up, this is the last place to call. Drugs are everywhere, and people use them inside or in the rooms. If you complain to staff, they just shrug shoulders. They do not treat you with respect or kindness. You are already assumed to be a bad person or a burden to deal with. Staff love to talk down on you like you're less of a person because you stay there. There are no resources available to help you within reasonable time. The food here is terrible, so go to the mission or St John's church for proper food. Security guards and frontline staff have an authority issue and use it to their benefit. Take things way too far for certain matters. Most volunteers at the cafeteria are nice, and some of the frontline staff truly do care. But there are not enough of them to make the experience of homelessness tolerable. There is no way to change how it's run either because complaints do not get taken seriously. The majority of these people get paid to treat others who are at their lowest extremely poorly. This place should be your last call for emergency shelter. Cornerstone is no better because they take up to 90% of your pay, whether it's OW or you're working. These places need a big re-evaluation.

I hope there aren't any mean girls hiding in the corner over there. Come back around and round like the turning of the clock. Endless. Infinite.  Forever spinning solar system. Greater than the hands of god. Mysterious creators. Today. Tomorrow. Never known. Never seen. Never heard. Never dreamed. Never born. Never died. Is this how all the beautiful angels sing their true sweet music. . . Now, where's my crack?

Incompetent staff who are borderline Nazis. My mother and I were renovicted, and this den of the dregs of humanity was the only option. Staff have repeatedly stated that they don't care about disabled people, and further, that they hate disbaled people. There is one staff member who constantly abuses my mother. She puts my mother out in the cold for up to 8 hours. My mother has many medical issues and the cold will make some of them worse. I've had to cancel work to look after my mother for 11 hours in one event. That same staff member believes my mother is faking her conditions. I was kicked out after one month because I was "depriving someone in need of a bed". Why? Because I'm a normal law abiding citizen and not an addict. The staff laughed at me after they offered a poor option and I expressed issues about my safety. One of them stated that the only right I have is to do what they tell me, and if I don't like it, I could go die on the streets. They also told me that I have no right to consent. Aside from these abusive issues, the staff do nothing to aid the vagrants who stay there. None of them seem to be in rehab, and the vast majority of them need it. This place is a waste of resources. Staff violate the Ontario Human Rights Code frequently. They also seem to have control over the security personnel, which is absurd.

I went there to donate some clothing, and people were very respectful and helpful. I often go to other places to donate clothing, but they need it most. I have no idea about this place, and I encourage you to pass by and support them with any gesture from your heart. They appreciate it

Thank you for your service and support.

Very helpful and now have sugar twin 4 coffee

I LOVE SHEPHERDS GOOD HO PE Natalie security guard very beautiful the staff members also beautiful specialty TESP TEAM beautiful membhas well but woman more even Tia and nikky even the trailer members are gorgeous all staffs are very polite and awesome best place be and best place to live for it's a ktzillion stars 🌟 love ya all y'all

When I was homeless this place was a great place to go to when you needed to be sure you had a good meal and especially meeting Alanis Morissette when she great fully fed everybody she was veat worksry generous of course I would likely do the same if I ever won a substantial amount of money hopefully one day hope this place is there for someone who really needs it keep up the great work everyone that works or volunteer there

The property is beautiful and you would never tell it’s a homeless shelter, very impressive, makes me think this is a business or something along the lines of a hotel.
They turned away my donations, I came with 8 bags of semi new a few brand new with tags still on of woman’s and Mens clothing and was turned away by a not so friendly staff person who point blank told me she wasn’t done talking when I asked her a question. Not a good feeling when all I wanted to do was help. Too bad… So why ask for donations on the website and then turn them away? Maybe keep the website updated if you are full and no longer in need of donations…

Hello, I am experiencing domestic abuse and I have nowhere to live. What do I have to do to obtain refuge with you?

Instead of providing services they turn people away with tents and supplies to set up encampments. They un do any hard work that is put in by the city and contractors who take the time to clean up the filth and make parks and trails usable again.

Amazing staff. Nice clean layout. These people helping are the salt of the earth. Full services including medical and social workers. Well done Orillia!

Many of the staff members and clients needed a lot of my help, which is why I had stayed there for such a long time.

Feels super weird that we are allowed to review the only real support for people suffering from homelessness in Fort McMurray. But I'll go with 5 stars. I used to work in non-profit charity and ended up working with many of the workers and employees there. They are all incredibly hardworking and compassionate. Without this organization countless people would suffer starvation, hypothermia, and death. They are absolutely vital.

2weeks ago I wrote a review about customer service, well that day I placed an order to be delivered to my home. I was told I should receive it within the week, as I mentioned I was flying out of town December 16… “no problem”…..well it was delivered to my home today December 21st. No one is home until January 6th! I will definitely be returning this item and after which I will never step foot in Shepherds.

This is a wonderful place to call home for that unfortunate time you have no home. The food is nutritious and always fresh. The kitchen staff are knowledgeable, funny, and helpful. They make sure if you are working that there is always a plate put aside.
They even prepare and hand out bagged lunches a few times a week to anyone in need who is just not ready to take that step.
The staff and volunteers who run the lighthouse are eager to help you on your journey. Easy to talk with about anything, and always have a kind word to help you through the hard times, while maintaining their professionalism. The housing staff on hand never miss a beat and willing to work with your schedule. Weather it be to help with paper work, apply for housing or assistance. With regular scheduling and gentle nudges the help keep your focus on the important task at hand.
If you ever find yourself in need find your way to the lighthouse.

Dropin centers are essential for women. We need more of them. The real shelters force women to wash all their clothes (even those requiring drycleaning). They also force women to apply for welfare and then give 50% of it to the city. So yes the ARC is a lifeline to women who are poor but still want dignity. The cleanliness is not so great, there is no personal space and harrassment from clientele. But the alternative is ...

" Repeatedly turned away when needing shelter in times of crisis."...... Apparently there wasn't enough space, although the lobby was bigger than my house and alot warmer than being outside in the elements. I would have slept in the entrance doorway happily but nope I wasn't allowed to be on property and was told to leave repeatedly despite my plea for help I was not allowed and not because of space issues, No!. They play favorites and I guess I wasn't anybody's favorite. Lol. It's a sad cold truth in these kinda institutions. 1?... Where is the Love"!?...1L❣️💯⚓

I stayed at the shelter for almost 3 months. Horrible to be homeless, but it was a positive experience all the way. The staff are very special people, so helpful, accommodating, cheerful and fun and hard working. The others staying in the shelter were also helpful and kept me laughing. Our chef was talented and adorably funny. Thank God they were there...Kimberly

i use to go here..i remember this 1 chick melissa..pretty chick and pretty kool too...good place

I stayed there for a night. It was really bad experience. The shelter was dirty and open windows, dirty washrooms . People were peeking through the windows.

Excellent resource center with extremely kind and helpful staff. A great place to get immediate help when in need and a safe, warm place with a lot of heart and soul

As someone who used to be a part of this organization let me say that the facilities, inside and out, are disgusting. I have found cockroaches (several times) in the kitchen, the food health and safety standards are minimally met, cooking equipment are almost never cleaned properly, and some of the staff there are just straight up insufferable (I’m talking paid higher ups and not volunteers). I’ve known several people that have left the organization because they are expected to take on responsibilities that surpass those of an actual paid job.

Moreover, the homeless clientele are some of the most ungratefull and meanest people I have ever met. Never a smile on their face, never a single thank you for the FREE food three times a day. I understand Ottawa has an homelessness issue, but they are honestly some of the worst people I have ever encountered, mental health issues or not. Most of the patrons of Sheps do not deserve the generosity provided to them by the staff there.

It is sad because I know that several of the people that work/volunteer at Sheps are decent people. I also know that the shelter is almost always at capacity and that they are not equipped to handle such a large amount of people.

I will never have anything to do with Sheps and it’s patrons ever again. It brings me great joy to never have to walk into that building of Murray st. ever again.

This place is not a shalter it is a drop in for women. The staff here are nice but the safety here is concerning. But there are some rude staff here to.

I found it very helpful the staff is great the woman's own recovery program was great planning on going back for a visit clean and sober 😊

I have never been there in centre of hope but I just researched a lot of information about the programs they have and their vision as well as mission. What interested me the most is the diversity of individuals utilizing centre of hope. Most would think that these clients are from fort mc when most of them are not (even though they are from Alberta). I hope that centre of hope keeps working hard to eleminate homelessness and make the 10 years plan to end homelessness possible.