What We Do

Assisting Families, Refugees and Women Who Are Fleeing Violence
Since 1982, the Red Door has provided services for families and individuals who need safe and supportive emergency shelter. Back in 1982 there was only one other shelter operating in Toronto. The Woodgreen United Church responded to the growing need for more shelters for homeless families and the Red Door was opened as a result.

Many people can find themselves in desperate need. These include women who have experienced violence at home, families who get evicted, refugees, or young mothers who may have nowhere to go. The people who use our services are moms with children; followed by intact families, and dads with children.

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness
A dedicated and caring staff team addresses the particular needs of the families in crisis. The services provided reduce the impact of homelessness by providing safe and supportive shelter to hundreds of families each year. We help keep families together by providing services for the whole family. We assist families to establish a stable life beyond the shelter.

Families come to the Shelter through a referral from agencies such as Children’s Aid Societies, Public Health Department, Police Services, other shelters, through word of mouth upon the advice of friends. Within approximately three months most families are re-established back to independent living. Individual circumstances and needs determine the length of stay; some families stay overnight while others live at the Shelter for as long as six months.

Red Door Family Shelter is a non-profit registered charity serving the GTA with 156 beds in two locations. The City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario provide the basic operations funding. Donations and private fundraising allow us to present programs for our residents that go beyond food and shelter; programs that make life a little easier while at the Red Door and that offer tools to achieve long-term objectives.