United House provides transitional housing and supports to women leaving the Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie in our 5 renovated, fully furnished apartments. Since opening United House, we have expanded this partnership to offer additional housing options through our Second Suites program.

Usually women who have reached the end of their allotted time at the women’s shelter are still on the waitlist for Rent Geared to Income (RGI) housing placements.

​This puts them in the position of choosing between housing they cannot afford, homelessness, or returning to abusive partners.

Working closely with the Barrie Women and Children’s Shelter, we fill this gap in affordable housing, dramatically increasing the likelihood of our clients transitioning sustainably out of abuse. At United House and in our Second Suites apartments, women (and their children, if applicable) can stay while they wait for RGI housing to become available. When women do not meet the mandate for Special Priority status on the waitlist for RGI housing, they can stay for up to one year while they set housing goals for themselves and develop and implement a housing plan to achieve their goals. During this time, our Housing Coordinator provides support with budgeting, education around tenant rights and responsibilities, accessing basic needs, income and employment supports, and housing search.

The women who come to live in our housing have left an abusive relationship. The first step in breaking the cycle of abuse and poverty is creating safe, affordable, hopeful housing. Some women have made a clean break from their partner, other rely on the security measures in place at United House. Some women have jobs or student loans, but many of our families rely on Ontario Works for their shelter and basic needs. A single woman receives $396 per month to pay for housing, a mom with one child receives $642, and a mom with two children receives $697, in a city where the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1750 per month. Many have no income source, no credit, and no bank account in their own name. 

Having created beautiful, safe homes people can afford, we then work together with our families and individuals to develop a community of support, which can make the difference between returning to an abusive relationship, facing homelessness again, or dreaming about a brighter future. Some folks need support connecting to Ontario Works or getting their child tax benefits arranged. Some are writing resumés and searching for a job, or getting registered for school to complete a program or change careers. For some women, it’s getting children registered for school, accessing the foodbank, or attending family court proceedings.  

But everyone has a greater chance at a good life through affordable housing. Everyone can use a reminder that, just as they are, they have worth. And everyone benefits from the community of fellow clients, staff, and volunteers, and talk about their desire to get to a place in their lives where they can be sharing wisdom and expertise from their lived experience, and supporting others on the journey.