House of Friendship keeps up with 24-hour shelter model after Inn of Waterloo fire

In the month following a fire that uprooted a men's shelter from the Inn of Waterloo, the director of housing services for House of Friendship says they have kept up with their 24-hour shelter care model and they've found permanent housing for 25 men.

"It's going to be those small wins of getting people housed in places and spaces we know they can be successful and thrive that is going to help us combat homelessness in our community," Jessica Bondy told CBC News.

The shelter has been operating out of Guelph after emergency crews responded to a fire that broke out at the Inn of Waterloo hotel in early February, which displaced 130 men as well as the cancer support centre, Hope Spring.

Bondy said wrap around services like addictions and mental health, as well as housing services, have been kept on site at House of Friendship's temporary location.

She said additional counselling from the Canadian Mental Health Association has been brought on board to support the men affected by the fire and relocation.

"We found that this move, in an urgent way, was challenging for them," Bondy said. She added they are working toward better transportation for the men they work with as many have expressed a sense of disconnect from the community.

"Their community is in Waterloo region and it absolutely has been difficult for them."

Staff have also worked to retrieve any personal items like keys, wallets or backpacks that were left behind.

Housing for 25 men

Despite the loss and hardship of being relocated, Bondy said they have been able to find housing for 25 men this past month.

"I feel like for the men we're serving, that's been expedited," she said.

"Lutherwood, as well as the region, has been able to free up and triage any other buildings or supports and double down on getting these folks who were impacted by the fire housed."

As the province tabled its budget Wednesday afternoon, Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman underlined the importance of provincial funding to build more affordable housing in the region.

"We got about 6,000 people on our wait list," Redman told Craig Norris on The Morning Edition Wednesday morning.

Shelter funding set to run out

Redman said she hopes the province also extends shelter funding to the region, as it is due to run out in this spring.

"We've come up with a dormitory style model [shelter] and it's got much better results with wraparound services for those experiencing homelessness, but it's expensive," Redman said.

Bondy said they are exploring all options and work is taking place to find a new shelter location in Waterloo region, but "it's going to take some time."