Emergency shelters are a safe place for people to stay while they work to find stable housing. The Region of Waterloo provides funding to eight shelters in Waterloo Region.
If you are at risk of losing your home, explore all of your options before turning to a shelter. Some options include 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 programs, food resources and street outreach with you when you need it with this pocket card.
Download Pocket Card (PDF)
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.
- 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
- 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
Edith Mac Shelter, 104 Stirling Avenue South, Kitchener
- Capacity: 30 beds
- Serves: Men 25+ years
- Regular capacity: 18 beds
- Serves: Youth 16 to 25 years
- Room types: Open area
- 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
- Capacity: 37 beds
- Serves: Women and gender-diverse adults, 25+ years
- 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
Erbs Road Shelter, 1001 Erbs Road, Waterloo
- Capacity: 50 spaces
- Serves: Adults 25+ years; women, men, gender diverse, couples
- Pet friendly
- 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
- Laundry
- 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. The Region provides funding to three transitional housing providers.
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
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
Warming, Cooling and Clean Air Spaces are buildings in the region that provide space for the public to get temporary relief from heat, cold, or poor air quality.
Find a Warming, Cooling or Clean Air Space
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.
- 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
- 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
-
Drop-in hours:
- Meals:
- Monday to Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (takeout)
- Food hampers:
- Monday to Thursday from 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.
- Meals (takeout):
- Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Food hampers:
- Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 to 3 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
First United Church Drop-in, 16 William Street West, Waterloo
Food help and meals
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
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.
