Emergency Shelter Services
Who we are
At Street Haven at the Crossroads, our Emergency Shelter Housing Program provides a safe haven and critical support for women experiencing homelessness in Toronto. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our low-barrier emergency shelter offers immediate access to safety, warmth, and care for up to 50 women each night.
We understand that the women we serve often face complex and overlapping challenges, including homelessness, substance use, mental health concerns, trauma, and experiences of gender-based violence. That’s why our program is rooted in a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, ensuring that each woman is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
Women arriving at Street Haven’s Emergency Shelter receive:
- A safe, clean, and welcoming place to sleep
- Nutritious meals and snacks
- Access to showers, hygiene products, and basic clothing
- On-site support workers and crisis intervention
- Referrals to medical care, mental health services, and addiction recovery programs
- Pathways to transitional housing and long-term stability
Our shelter acts not just as a place of refuge, but as a critical first step toward recovery, healing, and empowerment. We work collaboratively with each woman to help her navigate her unique journey — whether that means finding permanent housing, reconnecting with health supports, or simply taking the next right step forward.
If you or someone you know needs emergency shelter, or if you’re looking to support our mission, we welcome you to learn more about how Street Haven is helping women move from crisis to confidence.
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We truly couldn’t be more grateful for the relationship WAO has created with Street Haven. From volunteering at our shelter this past January to fundraising, WAO is an incredible group of U of T students dedicated to advocating and supporting women and women’s rights in their community and across the world.
Our Executive Director, Andrea, has been invited as a guest speaker, and all ticket proceeds go directly toward supporting our organization.
We will have a Street Haven table so come say hi, grab some info, and chat with us about what we do! With the Convention centred around intersectional grassroots advocacy, we can’t think of a better event for us to be a part of.
#WomenHelpingWomen #WAO #IntersectionalAdvocacy #WomenEmpowerment #StreetHaven WomeninCommunity
Thanks to two grants of $400,000 from the @Ontario Trillium Foundation, we’ve launched a brand new Training Centre right inside our 87 Pembroke Street shelter, along with expanded on-site mental health services for the women we serve. Now shelter residents and clients can access education, digital literacy, job readiness supports, counselling, and mental health services all in one place, without having to navigate multiple locations or systems.
Today, the @WCG Services team made a site visit to the training centre to overlook the functioning of the space and see the team in action. The space is designed to allow clients to access digital resources, receive support in employment and training services, while encouraging them to build social connections and network with their peers.
We’re so grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for believing in this vision and helping us expand what’s possible for women experiencing homelessness in Toronto.
#StreetHaven #OntarioTrilliumFoundation #WomensHomelessness #Toronto #MentalHealth Empowerment EndHomelessness
We asked our staff, volunteers, and clients what Black History Month means to them, and their voices say it best: celebrate the legacy, honour the culture, recognize the contributions, and keep showing up with purpose.
Because it’s not just a month, it’s a call to action to amplify Black voices and stand in solidarity, every day.
Thank you for being part of the Street Haven community. ✨
#BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #AmplifyBlackVoices #Toronto #CommunityCare

Thanks to everyone who joined Street Haven's Careers in Personal Support Worker (PSW) panel on January 29! We heard from PSWs, trainers, and employers who shared practical advice, training options, certification tips, and real talk about what the job actually looks like.
A few key things we learned:
PSW work is about hands-on care, good communication, and compassion
You can get trained and certified pretty quickly through accredited programs
Employers look for practical experience, reliability, and people who want to learn
Thinking about becoming a PSW? We're here to help with training or job search support. Visit our website for more information. https://streethaven.org
#PSW #Healthcare #HealthCareJobs #CareerDevelopment #StreetHaven
AURA is a group of amazing U of T medical students who care about the health and wellbeing of women in our community, and they really came through for us. Each kit was packed with thoughtful essentials like blankets, gloves and hygiene products.
A huge thank you to @aurauoft for thinking of our residents and putting so much care into these kits. We are so grateful and can’t wait to see what we can do in the future together! 💙
#StreetHaven #givingback #community #womensupportingwomen
A huge thank-you to Sandra (People’s Warden) and the York Group Executive Committee at St. James Cathedral for their generous donation to Street Haven. Because of their support, our seniors program — where 10–15 women meet weekly for arts & crafts, conversation circles, field trips and shared meals — can keep offering a safe, welcoming place to connect and belong.
Our seniors made a beautiful handmade thank-you board that we were honoured to present at the church. Partnerships like this — between churches and local nonprofits — help our city’s most isolated women feel seen and valued. Thank you, Sandra and everyone at St. James Cathedral.





