Published December 2023
Winter
Throughout the winter our focus was on safe and warm shelter spaces. We are now able to provide 100 beds at the King St. Emergency Shelter and 80 beds at University Ave (UA) residence. Both locations include a food servery, washrooms, showers, laundry, primary healthcare, and housing supports.
Our commissary kitchen on Queen Street continued to prepare 700 meals each day (200,000 this year) for distribution to St. John’s Kitchen and the three emergency shelters – UA, King Street Shelter and Erbs Road Shelter. This huge daily effort is supported by many volunteers and the Waterloo Region Foodbank. We also continue to deliver hampers to motel rooms.
In February, our Community Dental Clinic re-opened with the help of many volunteer dentists and dental hygienists that are working to improve access to preventive dental services and dental health care for people who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
Spring
In the Spring our Income Tax Clinic helped over 3100 individuals file their tax documents and secure over $8.4 million in critically needed income. Our Money Matters Hub works with thousands of people to help with budgeting, manage the increasing cost of living, connect to community resources, and to navigate government support programs.
On April 15th, the 34th Annual Mayors’ Dinner welcomed over 800 guests to celebrate examples of people working to respond to the challenges of homelessness in our community.
In late April, the Erbs Road Shelter opened providing 50 individual cabins that include a bed, desk, chair and heating/cooling. A central community building at the site provides washrooms, showers, laundry and space for food distribution. The shelter quickly became a place of refuge for 50 people who found support and stability after finding themselves for long periods without housing.
On June 1st, tenants moved into 21 new units of affordable housing with the completion of the Queen Street Apartments renovation. The apartments are now home to 34 residents, including new Canadian women and their families. The Working Centre now provides housing to over 80 people at 11 locations.
Summer
The summer brought an increase in the number of individuals looking for employment support. Our Job Search Resource Centre continues to be a vital hub for job seekers, especially new Canadians, who are looking for job search supports like job postings, resume support, employment counselling, links to employers, and connections to community resources.
In August ground was broken at 97 Victoria St. N to begin work to add 44 units of supportive housing, a space for expanded outreach and healthcare supports, and construction of a new modern building for St. John’s Kitchen. This project will recreate 97 Victoria into a hub offering comprehensive services to help those most marginalized move safely indoors, stabilize, access supports and be sustainably housed.
Fall
This fall St. John’s Kitchen returned to its original home at St. John’s Anglican Church, which has welcomed us back while 97 Victoria undergoes construction for the Making Home project. St. John’s Kitchen has been providing a daily meal in the downtown since 1985, and today welcomes 400 people daily serving as a place of rest and belonging. Along with the daily meal, St. John’s Kitchen provides public washrooms, showers, laundry, outreach supports, medical and dental care – all essential services for those without housing.
Also this fall, the changes necessitated by the Making Home project has served as a catalyst for regrowth. Worth A Second Look and Recycle Cycles are putting the finishing touches on new spaces at the 256 King East campus. These dynamic projects recycle and refurbish bikes, housewares and furniture with the help of many volunteers. Both are looking forward to operating in their new locations.
2024
The new year promises exciting new beginnings. The Making Home Project will be a focus throughout the year as we continue working with community partners to respond to homelessness and offer safe shelter and support.
Look for the reopening of the Queen Street Commons Cafe, Fresh Ground Cafe, and The Green Door Used Clothing Boutique in the new year. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back into those open community spaces. We hope to see you in 2024!
Thank You to our volunteers, donors, community partners, patrons, and staff for helping to build so much community in 2023
