Our guests need your support for a better tomorrow. They come to us under very stressful, sometimes unimaginable, circumstances. Through prevention and ongoing care, we keep families in their existing homes, offer emergency shelter when it is not an option, and search for dignified and affordable housing that will meet their needs.
When a family comes to the Inn seeking help, they are assigned to a caring, compassionate Family Support Worker who provides internal assistance while families are at the shelter.
Support and care does not end when our guests leave the Inn. We continue to work closely with families, linking them into important community resources when they need help and offering assurance tha they are not alone as they begin their new life.
Here are some examples of our services:
1. Intake and Assessment
When a family arrives at the Inn, they are assigned a Family Support Worker within the first 48 hours onsite. An intake session takes place, which involves an in-depth assessment of the family's situation and an overview of the rules and guidelines of the shelter.
2. Referrals & Resource Education
Throughout a family's stay at the shelter, they receive referrals to appropriate community programs to help them in transitioning from homelessness to housing. For example, our referrals help with clothing, counselling, immigration services, life-skills classes, employment programs, childcare respite, treatment programs, mental health support, food, and parenting. Families are also educated on the various community resources available to them to help them move forward.
3. Advocacy
The Inn will provide support and a voice to families dealing with issues related to the legal/justice system, addiction, mental health issues, and Child and Family Services. This can include assisting in landlord liaison roles and helping with immigration issues and barriers. Translation support is also available.
4. Basic Need Support
Inn from the Cold provides help with the following:
- Assistance with applications
- Phone cards
- Bus tickets for employment or meetings
- Baby formula & diapers
- Hygiene products
- Backpacks for children for school
- Assistance for six months of lunchroom supervision fees for children who attend the Inn's partner school
- In-Shelter Support
Families also receive ongoing support while staying at the Emergency Family Shelter. This can include daily informal and formal follow-up, administrative follow-up, wrap-around services with other community professionals involved in the families lives, assistance with obtaining identification and basic life skills support.
