House of Friendship men's shelter relocating to Inn of Waterloo

The House of Friendship's men's shelter will be relocating to a new temporary space this month in Waterloo.

The Tower at the Inn of Waterloo will be the shelter's temporary home for the next year, where staff will continue to deliver a 24-hour shelter model with services on hand.

The move is scheduled for mid-October.

Jessica Bondy, director of housing for House of Friendship (HOF), told CBC News staff have been piloting the mode since the shelter quickly relocated from their Charles Street location to the Radisson Hotel in Kitchener at the beginning of the pandemic.

"We are so thankful for the team there as we made a very quick move as a COVID-19 response for folks who are homeless in Waterloo region," she said.

"But as we continued down that path, we realized that the needs of our participants were shifting and changing and we needed to find a bigger space."

The Inn of Waterloo is providing that needed space in the Tower portion of the building, which is separate area from the hotel, said Bondy.

"We'll be able to have our own designated space and location for the folks that we're serving," she said.

"We'll be able to house 120 men in that space and we'll have on-site staff 24-7 to support their housing and health care needs."

'It's community, it's connection'

Bondy adds they also hope to grow their on-site services at the new location, such as additional trauma informed and addictions services.

She says having those supports available 24-7 at the shelter has reduced overdose rates by more than half, despite increasing the number of people they serve, from 51 to over 100.

It's also reduced EMS visits by 75 per cent and staff have been able to find housing for more than 30 men, with none returning to the shelter.

"That's the x-factor that we have here. It's that collaboration and partnership and that we've been able to staff it so that it's not just a bed and a space and place to be," Bondy said.

"It's community, it's connection."