Mission Services of Hamilton

Published purpose

Through this 41-month project, the multi-sector Safe at Home Hamilton Steering Committee of Mission Services of Hamilton Inc., will put in place a Safe at Home (SAH) program to strengthen the GBV sector in Hamilton, Ontario. It will address survivors’ right to affordable and quality housing; the need for a new housing option for survivors fleeing violence; and create a comprehensive set of wrap-around supports and services for survivors of partner violence. It will also address the need for a gender transformative approach to the design and delivery of GBV and related services, and lack of availability of a Canada-specific SAH Policies and Practice document. This initiative will include a network of cross-sector service providers in Hamilton so women (and children) will be diverted from VAW shelters and stay "Safe at Home" guided by a plethora of supports. An external evaluator will measure and assess implementation successes and the impact of this promising practice, and the Steering Committee will summarize lessons learned around adaptation and implementation as well as program impacts on system change, client housing stability, and violence reduction to share information on the promising practice with others so that they may replicate or expand upon it. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, Mission Services of Hamilton will build on Phase 1 learnings to address identified gaps in the SAHH Program by 1) developing, testing, and evaluating a Landlord Toolkit and training; 2) performing a detailed Cost-Analysis Evaluation of the program and enhancing wrap-around services through partner training on economic abuse; 3) developing, testing and evaluating new referral pathways for children’s counselling; and 4) sharing findings at the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Conference. Through all of this we will further advance Gender Equality.