Emergency shelters are a safe place for people to stay while they work to find stable housing. The Region of Waterloo provides funding to seven shelters in Waterloo Region.
If you are at risk of losing your home, make sure you explore all of your options before turning to a shelter. Some options including applying for financial help or talking with someone who can help.
Pocket card of shelters, services and outreach
Keep a list of locations and contact information for shelters, drop-in services, and street outreach with you when you need it with this pocket card. Please also see an accessible version of the pocket card.
Emergency shelters in Waterloo Region
Emergency shelters are taking on a greater role in ending and preventing homelessness. Each shelter receiving funding from the Region is part of a coordinated system. We work together to help people find a safe and appropriate place to stay, which may or may not include a shelter.
If you think you may need access to shelter, please call the Housing Helpline at 519-624-9133 (available at any time). Families, please call 519-749-2450 (8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday).
You can view emergency shelter options in this catalogue, organized by city. It includes information about who each shelter serves, as well as amenities on site and in the neighbourhood.
| Cambridge |
| The Cambridge Shelter |
- Virtual tour
- The Cambridge Shelter website
- Address: 26 Simcoe St., Cambridge
- Phone: 519-624-9305
- Regular capacity: 78 beds
- Serves: Families and individuals, Age 16+
- Room types: Open area (Females/Trans separated), family units
- Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, elevator, ramps, grab bars in bathrooms, accessible entrance (at back), walk-in shower/bath tub
- Onsite Amenities:
- Parking
- Showers
- Computer
- Shared cable TV
- Shared telephone
- Laundry
- Neighbourhood Information:
- Public transit
- Urban neighbourhood
- Convenience store
- Coffee shop/Restaurants
- Parks/Recreation facilities
- Outdoor trails
- Library
- Retail shopping
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| Kitchener |
| House of Friendship |
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| Lutherwood Safe Haven Emergency Shelter |
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- Virtual tour
- Lutherwood website
- Address: 41 Weber St. W., Kitchener
- Phone: 519-749-1450 x 2240
- Regular capacity: 9 beds
- Serves: Youth, Ages 12-17
- Room types: Private
- Accessibility:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Grab bars in bathrooms
- Onsite amenities:
- Backyard/ green space access
- Computer
- Parking
- Showers
- Shared cable TV
- Shared telephone
- Laundry
- Library
- Personal bedroom locks
- Neighbourhood information:
- Public transit
- Urban neighbourhood
- Convenience store
- Coffee shop/restaurants
- Parks/recreation Facilities
- Library
- Community support agencies
- Retail shopping
- Community centres
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| OneROOF Youth Services Shelter |
 OneROOF website- Address: 35 Sheldon Ave. N., Kitchener
- Phone: 519-742-2788
- Regular capacity: 17 beds
- Serves: Youth, Ages 16-25
- Room types: Open area, (Female/Trans separated)
- Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, elevator, ramps, grab bars in bathrooms, walk-in shower/bath tub
- Onsite amenities:
- Backyard/ Green Space Access
- Parking
- Storage lockers
- Computer
- Shared Cable TV
- Shared Telephone
- Laundry
- Library
- Neighbourhood information:
- Public transit
- Urban neighbourhood
- Convenience store
- Coffee shop/restaurants
- Parks/recreation facilities
- Outdoor trails
- Library
- Community support agencies
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| YW Emergency Shelter |
- Virtual tour
- YW website
- Address: 84 Frederick St. E., Kitchener
- Phone: 519-744-0120
- Regular capacity: 66 spaces
- Serves: Families with children including father-led families and same sex parents, single women and transgendered persons ages 16+
- Room types: Private, shared, family units
- Accessibility:
- First floor wheelchair accessible
- Grab bars in bathrooms
- Accessible entrance
- Walk-in shower/bath tub
- Elevator
- Ramps
- Onsite amenities:
- Personal bedroom locks
- Backyard/green space access
- Storage lockers
- Showers
- Computer
- Shared cable TV
- Shared telephone
- Library
- Laundry
- Community room
- Neighbourhood information:
- Public transit
- Urban neighbourhood
- Convenience store
- Coffee shop/restaurants
- Parks/recreation facilities
- Library
- Community support agencies
- Retail shopping
- Community centres
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Transitional housing
Transitional Housing provides access to housing that is time limited and serves to promote housing stability. The Region provides funding to one transitional housing provider, Marillac Place.
| Marillac Place |
Marillac Place offers safe time-limited housing for women between the ages of 16 and 25 who are pregnant, who have their child(ren) in their care, or who are attempting to regain care of their child(ren).
- Virtual tour
- Marillac Place website
- Total Number of Spaces: 21
- Total Number of Units: 10
- 1 bedroom for a pregnant mom
- 7 bedrooms for moms with one child
- 2 bedrooms for moms with two children
- Serves: Females, ages 16-25
- Building Type: Residential home, shared living
- Number of Floors: 3 plus basement
- Types of Bathrooms: Shared
- Common Areas: Kitchen, living room, dining room, laundry room, Coach House
- Accessibility: Limited
- Designated: Non-Smoking
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| Urban Native Transitional Housing (KWUNWP) |
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Urban Native Transitional Housing provides transitional housing for individuals who identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit – Status and Non-Status). Supports are provided 24 hours/day, 7 days/week with staff onsite.
Urban Native Transitional Housing Website
Address: 34 Bridgeport Rd. E., Waterloo
Phone: 519-340-1888
Total Number of Spaces: 28
Total Number of Units: 7 four-bedroom units
Serves: Single adults 18+, couples, and small families in an emergency
Building Type: Apartment building, shared living
Number of Floors: 3
Types of Bathrooms: Shared
Common Areas: Kitchen, living room, dining room, laundry room, community room for events and ceremonies
Accessibility: No
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