Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing

Emergency shelters in Waterloo Region

If you are an adult (18+ years) and need emergency shelter, call First Connect at 519-624-9133 (24/7).

Families, call 519-749-2450 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday) or 519-501-7947 (after hours).

Youth (16 to 25 years), call 519-749-1450 (24/7).

You can view emergency shelter options in the list below, organized by city. It includes information about who each shelter serves, as well as amenities on site and in the neighbourhood.

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.

Cambridge

BridgeCare, 160 Hespeler Road, Cambridge

Regular capacity: 20 beds
Serves: All genders who are both experiencing homelessness and have limited medical needs that cannot be supported in traditional shelter
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, elevator, accessible entrance, grab bars in bathrooms, fully accessible washroom
Room types: Shared rooms
Onsite Amenities:
- Showers
- Laundry
- WiFi
- IPTV
Neighbourhood Information:
- Public transit
- Urban neighbourhood
- Convenience store
- Coffee shop/restaurants
- Parks/recreation facilities
- Outdoor trails

The Bridges Shelter (Cambridge Shelter Corporation), 26 Simcoe Street, Cambridge

Virtual tour
Regular capacity: 80 beds
Serves: Men 25+ years
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

YWCA Cambridge Shelter at Grace Bible Church, 2 Grand Avenue South, Cambridge

Capacity: 20 beds
Serves: Women and gender-diverse individuals
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, elevator, ramps, grab bars in bathrooms, accessible entrance at back
Hours: Open 24-hours

Kitchener

Edith Mac Shelter, 104 Stirling Avenue South, Kitchener

Capacity: 30 beds
Serves: Men 25+ years

OneROOF Youth Services Shelter, 35 Sheldon Avenue North, Kitchener

Regular capacity: 24 beds
Serves: Youth 16 to 25 years
Room types: Open area
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

Out of the Cold Shelter (SHIP), 84 Frederick Street, Kitchener

Capacity: 22 beds
Serves: Women and gender-diverse adults, 25+ years

Safe Haven Emergency Shelter, 41 Weber Street West, Kitchener

Virtual tour
Regular capacity: 10 beds
Serves: Youth 12 to 18 years
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

Waterloo

Erbs Road Shelter, 1001 Erbs Road, Waterloo

Capacity: 50 spaces
Serves: Adults 25+ years; women, men, gender diverse, couples
Pet friendly

House of Friendship ShelterCare, 190 Weber Street North, Waterloo

Regular capacity: 100 spaces
Serves: Adults 25+ years; single men and couples
Room types: Private accessible rooms, shared double occupancy rooms
Accessibility: First floor wheelchair accessible, grab bars in bathrooms, accessible entrance, walk-in shower/tub, ramps

Onsite Amenities:
- Personal dresser locks
- Backyard/green space access
- Bike lockers
- Showers
- Computer
- Shared cable TV
- Shared telephone
- Community room
- Laundry
Neighbourhood Information:

Public transit
Urban neighbourhood
Convenience store
Coffee shop/restaurants
Parks/recreation facilities
Community support agencies
Library
Retail shopping
Community centres

Interim housing and transitional housing

Interim Housing and Transitional Housing provide access to housing that is time limited and serves to promote housing stability.

Coalition of Muslim Women – Dar-Al-Aman

The Coalition of Muslim Women (CMW) – Dar-Al-Aman program, provides temporary housing to racialized women and their children. Supports are provided to gain housing stability, with staff on site 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week.

CMW-KW website
Total Number of Spaces: 12 for individuals, 16 for families
Total Number of Units: 3 units for individuals, 4 units for families
Serves: Racialized women and their children
Types of Bathrooms: Shared
Common Areas: Kitchen, living room, dining room, laundry room
Accessibility: Limited
Designated: Smoking and vaping, outdoors and away from building

Marillac Place

Marilla Place provides transitional housing to women aged 16+ who are pregnant, have a child under 24 months in their care, or who are attempting to regain care of their child.

Virtual tour
Marillac Place website
Total Number of Spaces: 21
Total Number of Units: 10 bedrooms for women who are pregnant or parenting
Serves: Females 16+ with up to 1 child
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: Smoking and vaping, outdoors and away from building

Life Launch

Safe Haven Youth Services - Starling website
Total Number of Spaces: 6
Total Number of Units: 6
Serves: Youth, 16 to 18 year-olds
Building Type: Private rooms
Number of Floors: 1
Types of Bathrooms: Shared
Common Areas: Kitchen, lounge space, laundry room
Designated: Smoking and vaping, outdoors and away from building

Service & Housing In the Province (SHIP) - Frederick Street

SHIP provides transitional housing and supports for women and gender diverse individuals. Supports are provided 24 hours/day, 7 days/week with staff onsite.

SHIP Website
Address: 84 Frederick Street, Kitchener
Phone number: 905-795-8742
Total Number of Spaces: 40
Total number of Units: Mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and accessible units
Serves: Women and gender-diverse individuals
Building Type: Shared living
Number of Floors: 4
Types of Bathrooms: Shared
Common Areas: Kitchen, lounge, laundry
Accessibility: Limited
Designated: Smoking and vaping, outdoors and away from building

Service & Housing In the Province (SHIP) - University Avenue

SHIP provides transitional housing and supports for individuals and couples. Supports are provided 24 hours/day, 7 days/week with staff onsite.

SHIP Website
Address: 139 University Avenue, Waterloo
Phone number: 905-795-8742
Total Number of Spaces: 80
Total number of Units: 80, one-bedroom units
Serves: Individuals and couples
Building Type: Former university dorms or apartment building, shared living
Number of Floors: 4
Types of Bathrooms: Shared
Common Areas: Kitchen, lounge, laundry
Accessibility: Limited
Designated: Smoking and vaping, outdoors and away from building

Relief from heat, cold or poor air quality

Overnight Warming Centres

This year, four overnight warming centres will open from November 1 to March 31, 2027:

Grand Avenue Overnight Warming Centre in Cambridge, operated by the YWCA of Cambridge, serving up to 20 women per night.
Lawrence Avenue Overnight Warming Centre in Kitchener, operated by Thresholds Homes and Supports, serving up to 30 men and women per night (with the ability to support more spaces if needed).
Cambridge Street Overnight Warming Centre in Cambridge, operated by Porchlight, serving up to 30 spaces for men (with the ability to support more spaces if needed).
Victoria Street Overnight Warming Centre in Kitchener, operated by The Working Centre, serving more than 100 men and women per night.

For people living unsheltered or in encampments, the Region is working with partners and PECH Co-Creators in Kitchener (The Working Centre), Cambridge (Thrive HIV and YW Cambridge), and the townships (Engage Rural / Community Care Concepts) to provide warming supplies and resources such as sleeping bags, hats, mitts, boots and gift cards.

Warming, Cooling and Clean Air (WCCA) Spaces

Warming, Cooling and Clean Air (WCCA) Spaces provide indoor space for temporary relief from heat, cold, and poor air quality during regular business hours.

Regional buildings at 99 Regina St. S. in Waterloo, 150 Frederick in Kitchener, and 150 Main Street in Cambridge will serve as warming spaces again this winter, with extended hours beginning November 1.

Visit the WCCA Space webpage for hours of operation, an interactive map of WCCA Spaces and an option to print WCCA Spaces near you.

Warming, Cooling and Clean Air Spaces

Pocket card of shelters, services and outreach

Keep a list of locations and contact information for shelters, drop-in programs, food resources and street outreach with you when you need it with this pocket card.

Download pocket card

Drop-in programs

Drop-ins provide a range of services that may include food, healthcare, showers, laundry, information and referrals, and social and recreational activities to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Cambridge

Cambridge Vineyard, 147 Elgin Street North, Cambridge

Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Includes showers and laundry
Find this drop-in on Google Maps

MACS (Multi-Agency Community Space), 150 Main Street, Cambridge

Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Find this drop-in on Google Maps
There is a Region of Waterloo Welcome Space in the same building

HART Hub Waterloo Region

Support for substance use, mental health, and housing across Waterloo Region. Call 519-745-4404 extension 213.

Kitchener

Ray of Hope Community Centre, 659 King Street East, Kitchener

Drop-in hours:
- Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Find this drop-in on Google Maps

St. John's Kitchen Drop-in Centre, 23 Water Street North, Kitchener

Drop-in hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Find this drop-in on Google Maps

SJK Drop-in Centre, 87 Victoria Street North, Kitchener

Drop-in hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Find this drop-in on Google Maps

Food help and meals

If you or your household needs emergency food help, needs more information about how to get food, or needs a food hamper delivered, the Food Bank of Waterloo Region can help.

Call the Food Bank's Centralized Food Assistance Outreach line at 519-743-5576 extension 340. The phone line is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and closed on holidays and weekends. If you leave a message, they’ll get back to you within one business day.

Find emergency food help or a meal

Outreach services

Street Outreach workers connect with individuals experiencing homelessness to provide support needs, assist with housing plans, and refer to other resources.

Kitchener/Waterloo Street Outreach (The Working Centre): Call 519-577-2095 or 519-503-8926
Cambridge Street Outreach (ACCKWA and Sanguen Health): Call 519-778-2952 or 519-778-4677
Youth Street Outreach (oneROOF): Call 519-505-6623 or 519-496-8788
Region of Waterloo Unsheltered Support Program (Region of Waterloo): Email outreach@regionofwaterloo.ca or call 519-575-4400

Welcome Spaces

The Region of Waterloo offers in-person support at three Welcome Space locations for people who need to access certain Community Services programs, such as Ontario Works, Child Care Subsidy, Employment Support, and Housing Services. Learn more about Welcome Spaces.