Losing your home is one of the hardest things anyone can go through. It’s more than just finding a new roof over your head, it’s letting go of the place where your daily life took shape, where a sense of normalcy resides, where memories were made, and where you found your sense of comfort.
When everything feels uncertain, it can be hard to know where to begin or what to do next. That’s where this guide comes in.
This guide won’t solve everything overnight, and it won’t pretend to. But it’s a place to start. Inside, you’ll find practical information on temporary housing options, financial resources, local support services, and tips to care for your mental health while you navigate this time. Small steps matter- and this might be one of them.
Seeking Immediate Shelter in Ontario
When housing becomes unstable, accessing safe, immediate shelter is a critical first step. Ontario has several organizations that offer emergency and transitional housing options
- Salvation Army Centre of Hope
Offers emergency, short-term, and transitional housing for men, women, and youth.
- Services include stabilizations rooms for up to one year, meals, and casework support
- Website: centreofhope.ca.
- Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness
- Provides low-barrier shelter options such as crash beds and 24-hour emergency admission.
- Also offers meals, hygiene supplies, and onsite advocacy.
- Address: 717 Dundas St E.
- Website: https://unityproject.ca/
- 2-1-1 Ontario Helpline
- Available 24/7 by phone, text, or online chat.
- Connects individuals to local services including shelter, food programs, and mental health resources
- Website: https://211ontario.ca/
- Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto
- Offers culturally safe services for Indigenous women, including housing referrals and crisis support.
- Website: https://nwrct.ca/
- Youth Shelters Across Ontario
- Organizations such as Covenant House Toronto and Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) London support youth aged 16-24 with emergency shelter, job training, and long term housing plans.
- Covenant House: https://covenanthousetoronto.ca/
- YOU London: youthopportunities.ca
Meeting Basic Necessities
Staying healthy, nourished and clean is often difficult during a housing crisis, but Ontario offers accessible programs to support basic daily needs.
- Food & Clothing Support
- Many shelters offer regular meal services and free clothing closets.
- The Unity Project, The Salvation Army, and Mission Services of London all provide daily meals and seasonal clothing.
- Food banks like Daily Bread Food Bank and London Food Bank offer grocery hampers and personal hygiene items.
- Find a food bank: https://feedontario.ca/about-us/find-a-food-bank/
- Showers & Laundry
- Emergency shelters and drop-in centres typically provide access to showers and laundry machines.
- Community organizations like Sanctuary Toronto and Ark Aid Street Mission also offer hygiene programs.
- Ark Aid: https://arkaidmission.ca/
- Community Health Centres
- Mental Health Support
- ConnexOntario offers 24/7 confidential help for mental health, addictions, and crisis needs
- Call: 1-866-531-2600
- Website: https://connexontario.ca/
- Financial Assistance
- Ontario Works (OW) provides emergency financial aid, including help with shelter costs, food, transportation, and health expenses
Moving Forward, One Step at a Time
Losing your home can make everything feel uncertain- but you’re not alone, and there is help out there. Take what you need from these resources, reach out when you’re ready and remember: your circumstances do not define you.
If you or someone who could use this information, please consider sharing it. No one should have to navigate this alone.
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