How did your organisation start?
In 1989 in Windsor Ontario Canada, five women+ concerned about social justice and poverty issues came together to begin exploring the need for a women+’s agency. The aim of the Centre was to create a non-threatening, non-adversarial, comfortable, participatory and supportive environment in which women+ felt a sense of empowerment. The philosophy of the Centre‘s model of support reflects a women+ centric perspective and this perspective has led to the development of a women+ centric program based on this empowerment model. In 1998, the Welcome Centre was approached by the Social Services Department of the Corporation of the City of Windsor to provide emergency shelter to women+ experiencing homelessness. In 2005, the Centre underwent major renovations, increasing from 8 to 12 beds and making additional changes to the structure of the building. In 2015, under agreement with the City of Windsor, the Welcome Centre began providing the off-site Housing Support and Shelter Access to families experiencing homelessness.
In 2017 the Centre added 5 additional mats, on the floors of common areas, to attempt to accommodate more women+ during times of high shelter access. In 2021, the agency was approached by the city of Windsor regarding a purchased property in downtown Windsor. A former hotel, the building underwent an intense renovation process to increase its suitability for sheltering. In July of 2022, the Centre relocated to the space, expanded to included beds for up to 32 single women+, and 21 families (with overflow potential for upwards of 29 families during times of community system capacity). This new space also included the Centre’s involvement with the Shelter Health Network, with an on-site medical space, as well as expanded offices, children’s area, and common areas. This relocation marked the largest change management process in the agency’s history, with expansions across positions and renewed investments in programming.
How does your organisation sustain itself?
Approximately 80% of the funding comes from the province of Ontario, Canada under the Homelessness Prevention Program. Fundraising, grants and donations make up the final 20% needed.
What partners do you engage with?
The main partners are the municipality and City of Windsor, Shelter Health Network, Pozitive Pathways and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
People who access your service are permitted to bring drugs into the centre. What structures do you have in place to ensure that everyone is safe?
Welcome Shelter provide locker space to secure personal items and do not engage in bag checks or inspection of personal belongings. Drug paraphernalia and/or substances are to be kept on the person or in the locker space and not out in common areas. Upon intake, clients are informed that Welcome Shelter are an agency that engages in harm reduction programming and while consumption of illegal substances on property is not allowed, the shelter does provide access to safer use materials, Naloxone, sexual health products, harm reduction education and community referrals.
Clients who may be experiencing problematic substance use are regularly engaged to create safety plans around their use, utilize peer workers to support clients in their housing goals, and overall, a focus is maintained on obtaining housing without ever making abstinence a prerequisite to access services. The shelter environment is a mix of single women and families.
Welcome Shelter train staff to respond to problematic behaviours only, noting that not all substance users exhibit behaviour that would be considered problematic or unsafe, and respond accordingly. Ensuring both the indoor and outdoor space is only ever occupied by current clients also helps keep a safe environment. Welcome Shelter view substance use as a spectrum that never requires a punitive response. By building rapport and seeking to meet clients where they are at, Welcome Shelter avoid creating an environment in which substance use is seen as a moral failing in need of a punitive response. This assists in maintaining a safe environment and ensuring clients have access to the materials and education to make safer and more informed decisions about their substance use and personal care.
How long on average do people stay and what is the criteria for inclusion?
The average length of stay for single women+ is 30 days and for families (family definition is either a couple with children, single male with children or self-identified female with children) is approximately 45 days. Criteria for being admitted into the shelter requires meeting the definition of homelessness as determined by the municipality and ensures all options have been explored and diversion is not possible. There is also an income limit for both individuals and families who cannot have more than one month of allowable income in the bank. They must also be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee claimant.
Do you also provide harm reduction services? Can you describe these?
The Welcome Centre Shelter employs a full time Harm Reduction Program Coordinator who ensures all clients as well as self-identified female community members have access to safe injection kits, safe inhalation kits, Naloxone, sexual health supplies, education and community referrals as needed. Welcome Shelter accept that some of the clients may engage in substance use and it does not prevent them from accessing services. All staff are trained about harm reduction and overdose response regardless of their position within the agency. Welcome Shelter create policies and procedures designed to support clients and remove barriers to accessing services wherever possible. Women+ centred harm reduction is promoted to all community partners and supported with knowledge sharing wherever possible. While the agency exists to provide emergency housing to those experiencing homelessness, Welcome Shelter view harm reduction as the underpinning to the work as it allows for removal of barriers and supports a greater number of women+.
Can you give us tips on how to replicate your service model for women and gender diverse people who use drugs in other contexts?
Accept without judgement that substance use is a universal human behaviour and that it exists on a spectrum. Examine where biases or stigmas may be negatively impacting service users. Train all staff on the basics of harm reduction. Meet people where they are at, remove any barriers preventing those in need of services from accessing them. Provide safe and equitable access to safer use supplies. Train staff and service users on overdose response. Promote safe supply programs and supervised consumption sites in the community.
