Community of Hope Blog | Red Door Family Shelter

Community of Hope Blog

Space Planning at the New Shelter

Thu, Jan 23, 2020

By Kathryn Hill

“A home is security and comfort, a sense of belonging. Everyone deserves a place of refuge.”     Red Door Supporter

Space planning is the process of analyzing how space in structures and rooms will be used. For Red Door Shelter, our space planning process includes not only ensuring that the space built by Harhay Construction is used efficiently, but that homeless families in need of shelter will feel that they living are in a modern, safe sanctuary where their dignity is maintained. Only then can it be called a Community of Hope.

a colourful park bench with a Red Door sign on it

New Year, New Community (of Hope)

Tue, Jan 7, 2020

Happy New Year! 2020 will be a year to remember. In the coming months we’ll be opening our new, purpose-built family shelter. It is thanks to your help that we have reached this milestone 6 years after we first shared the news that our original family shelter was at risk of closure. To all of you who signed our petition, attended our community meetings, emailed politicians and donated to our Community of Hope campaign, thank you for making a difference.

For more information: https://www.reddoorshelter.ca/building-hope

little red cardboard houses with the text "Save our Shelter"

Thanks to you - a Community of Hope

Tue, Nov 26, 2019

By Kathryn Hill

With the holiday season around the corner we want to thank everyone who has generously donated to our Community of Hope campaign. Thanks to you, our modern family shelter will be a welcoming sanctuary for families in crisis. It will provide the restorative and positive environment that families in crisis desperately need. Together we are building a community of hope.

Photos of Families

Honouring Leslieville's Past

Tue, Nov 12, 2019

By Kathryn Hill

In this photograph from early November 2019 you can see construction work being done on the roof of the new mixed-use development at the south-west corner of Queen Street East and Logan Avenue. This is the condo and retail side and not part of the new family shelter. Bricks, unique fascias, sills, and cornices from the pharmacy building originally built circa 1888, were removed during demolition and preserved to be reused in the new development. This was an important decision by the developer that honours the past while building for the future.

Brick Building with Crane

Community of Hope – Checking on Construction Progress

Tue, Nov 5, 2019

By Kathryn Hill

Today we toured the new family shelter building with Sara Reid, City of Toronto Project Manager, and had a chance to see how construction has progressed. We are fortunate to have a good relationship with our partners at the City of Toronto and we look forward to outfitting the new shelter soon so we can open in Spring 2020.

For more information: www.reddoorshelter.ca/building-hope

two people sitting on a bench holding a Red Door sign

Dedicated Programming Space will Help Kids Heal

Thu, Oct 31, 2019

By Kathryn Hill

Last year the Red Door served 361 families, including 359 children and teens. It takes more than emergency shelter to help create new beginnings for homeless families. It also takes specialized support services delivered by caring staff and volunteers. That’s why we’re so glad that our new family shelter will have plenty of space for the programming that families need; such as an after-school club for the kids, workshops on tenants rights for vulnerable families, art therapy for healing, and much more.

Major Boost to Fundraising Campaign - September 2016

Tue, Oct 29, 2019

By Kathryn Hill

In September 2016, Mr. Marc Odette, Community of Hope Campaign Cabinet member, made a surprise announcement at the cabinet meeting. He shared that together the P. & L. Odette Charitable Foundation and the E. & G. Odette Charitable Foundation would match new gifts to the $3M campaign up to a total of $500,000. This wonderful announcement led to more donations and $430,000 was raised towards the matching gift challenge within 14 months.

a child's abstract drawing with the words "Thank you to all the donors!!!"

A Legacy of Service – The Neighbourhood House

Thu, Oct 24, 2019

By Kathryn Hill

When the Neighbourhood House opened next to the WoodGreen United Church in 1958 it was described as “a gem out of the centre of one of the city’s most crowded, industrial sections”. It was used as a community space for chaplaincy, community work and counselling. Rev. McCleary passed away in 1967 and the building became a shelter in 1982 in response to the need for winter respite, and housing for refugees. Our new, modern shelter at the same site will allow us to continue Rev. McCleary’s legacy of shelter and caring for the community.

a colourful mural with names of different countries

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