We recognize that we are uninvited visitors on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples and acknowledge the long-standing colonial history and violence against Indigenous people. We commit to working in allyship with Indigenous people through actions of reconciliation, decolonizing our practices, and integrating Indigenous ways of knowing through meaningful partnerships.
Over the last year, Thresholds Homes and Supports has continued to focus on improving our services and our housing supply to be an ongoing positive impact for those in need within our communities. Our staff have ensured that the individuals we support have access to resources and that their voices are amplified and empowered through informed care and program design.
Our new 28-unit transitional housing project at 65 Delhi supports stabilization through human connections, in a shift from scarcity and survival to sustained stability and permanent housing.
Our standards in housing remain the highest in our sector, and the relocation from 222 Speedvale Avenue in Guelph to 47 Hyland Road is a representation of our commitment to ensuring those we support have a home filled with dignity and pride.
Our commitment to reconciliation saw the transfer of 11 acres of forestland in trust to an Indigenous partner, Crow Shield Lodge, marking the start of our journey to building trust with the Indigenous community.
Our future as a community builder now has a strong foundation. With funding awards for both 667 Victoria Street South in Kitchener and 14 Edinburgh Road South in Guelph, we will lead the sector in supportive housing design and ensure that the right to live in a safe, supportive community remains available for all people, regardless of their health condition or socio-economic status.
Eric Philip
Just one year since the doors first opened to our Transitional Housing site on Delhi Street in Guelph, what once seemed like a dream has become reality. In 12 months, 34 clients have accessed housing and support, and a strong network of community partners – from Crow Shield Lodge to Traverse Independence, to caring neighbours eager to lend a hand – has joined us in rallying around them. Through it all, two clients have even fast-tracked the program, securing permanent housing in under a year.
Whether learning to trust a neighbour, accessing culturally appropriate care, building cooking skills, or mastering a budget, these moments reflect what’s possible when people are supported in meaningful ways. It’s a powerful reminder that providing not just safe, stable housing, but the right supports, can help clients heal, grow, and build the skills they need to thrive.
One client, Nola, had lived between friends’ places, in treatment, and in a tent. After her daughter lost her life to fentanyl, she was determined to get sober for good, but was staying with friends who were using, which made it more difficult.
“I kept getting sick, going to the hospital, and almost dying,” shared Nola.
She had the opportunity to move into THS’s transitional housing program from her last hospital stay and is now 11 months sober.
“When you’re really serious, there is treatment, but you have to be sober to go. When you’re homeless, it is really hard to stay sober,” said Nola. “I’m really grateful for this place because I’m able to stay sober and clean.”
Impacts have already reached far beyond our community. The program was highlighted at the 2025 Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Conference, and partners from as far as Thunder Bay have reached out to learn more about the program design. None of it would be possible without the steadfast commitment of our front-line workers.
Thanks to our new mental health Peer Support program, clients have access to regular groups and support from someone who’s been there. Whether it’s one-on-one support, in groups at our shared home sites, or educational sessions and groups in the community, clients leave with new coping skills and the powerful feeling that they are not alone.
“Working in Peer Support has provided me the opportunity to see my journey with mental health as not just an experience, but as a skill set that I can utilize to provide non-clinical education to our community and supporting organizations. Peer Support reminds me that no matter how difficult the journey, something beautiful can be gained from it,” shares Sea Calford, Peer Support Worker.
This program, new to Thresholds Homes and Supports this year and created in response to both client and staff feedback, has already been accessed by 54 clients with over 178 sessions held across eight locations.
After being named a finalist for not one, but two architecture awards – the Affordable Housing Solutions Award and the Sustainable Kitchener Award – our 2023 build at 292 Sheldon Avenue took home the trophy for the Affordable Housing Solutions Award at Kitchener’s Great Places Awards last year! It’s clear proof that affordable homes can be a beautiful part of our communities in every sense of the word.
Built with sustainability in mind, the building is net-zero ready to protect our planet. It provides 25 units complete with outdoor spaces and a community room for activities.
Our Speedvale Extraordinary Needs Program site was on a busy street in Guelph, in what was formerly a commercial space, and didn’t feel enough like home.
We are proud to share that we completed a renovation to transform a bungalow at the end of a quiet street in order to move our Speedvale clients to a more relaxing setting that supports quality of care.
With larger bedrooms and a spacious backyard, our clients and their workers are delighted with their new home on Hyland.
Land is an integral part of reconciliation. As a property owner, health care provider, and an organisation that continues to benefit from the settler-colonial history, we understand our responsibility to take an active role in reconciliation. We’re proud to have completed the transfer of 11 acres of surplus green space around our new Hyland Road property to Crow Shield Lodge’s Indigenous land trust.
As part of providing wrap-around, person-centred support, we are proud to partner with Indigenous organisations, like Crow Shield Lodge and Southwestern Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre to ensure clients have access to critical cultural reunification.
From access to traditional medicines, to facilitated sharing circles, to a 12-month land based healing program, both our winter Warming Centre and our Guelph Transitional Housing Program have benefitted from these partnerships.
In addition to our partnerships, we also invested in trainings from Indigenous teachers for staff across the agency to increase cultural competency and better equip staff to support clients in accessing culturally safe care.
We’re proud to be converting our Victoria Street property in Kitchener to more than double the units on site to reduce our waitlist. Current residents will continue to receive supports and alternate affordable housing throughout the construction period.
With half of the units dedicated for Indigenous residents, the building will also feature an Indigenous healing garden for all residents to enjoy.
We are thrilled to be partnering with the City of Guelph to build new affordable housing for seniors. This building will include 13 deeply affordable and fully accessible rental units with sustainable design features and on-site support provided by our staff.
As we work with the city to conduct ongoing soil testing, we are finalizing plans and looking forward to breaking ground.
As part of our continuing efforts to solicit client feedback, improve quality, and increase equity, in 2024 we implemented the annual Ontario Perceptions of Care for Mental Health and Addictions survey – a standardized, validated survey, developed by CAMH and used across the province to gather actionable feedback. In 2025, we implemented new strategies and tools in response to client feedback:
Clients shared they want more information about our programs and services. In response, we’ve redesigned our website with plain language descriptions of programs and services and created a paper Guide to Thresholds Homes and Supports. In addition to being available at our sites, current clients are being provided with their own copy. Moving forward, new clients will receive their guide at intake.
Clients shared they want to know more about how to share complaints and feedback. In response, we’ve shared a paper copy of our client complaint and feedback procedure with all clients, with an option to provide feedback by phone, PDF form, paper form, or the online form on our website. We are also providing further training to staff to ensure all clients feel confident and supported using our feedback process.
Clients shared there was room for improvement when it comes to accessibility. In response, we’ve redesigned our website with new accessibility tools, are recreating documents we share with clients to be easier to understand, and are centering accessible design in our new building plans and ongoing upgrades.
of clients surveyed felt treated with respect by program staff
of clients surveyed said staff understood and responded to their needs and concerns
of clients surveyed would recommend THS to a friend
Client guided care is at the centre of all we do. In addition to regularly soliciting feedback through surveys and empowering clients to share feedback directly with program staff, our Thresholds Client Council meets regularly to provide different perspectives on programming and services, strategic planning, and more.
This year, in addition to guiding our strategic direction, our client council developed a new client charter to support both clients and staff in understanding their rights and responsibilities. Paper copies are included in our new client ‘Guide to Thresholds Homes and Supports’, and physical posters have been printed for display at each of our sites.
More than just heads in beds – our winter warming centre provided 335 guests with a calm place to regroup and wrap-around services that make all the difference.
Thanks to support from partners like Tiny Home Takeout, local restaurants donating pots of soup, and the Foodbank of Waterloo Region, the centre provided nutritious meals and snacks all season long.
That’s not even to mention 16 movie nights, 5 baking parties, make-your-own pizza dinners, holiday celebrations, haircuts, access to healing resources like Indigenous medicines, and community referrals.
Our Crisis Stabilization Beds program provided 284 individuals with the direct support they needed to recover from life’s big challenges.
With a strong program and proven need in the communities we serve, our focus this year has been on reducing barriers to access – including introducing a new video tour to support new clients in feeling confident accessing the service.
A client who hadn’t been able to leave the house for months finally felt confident enough to try a trip to the arcade – with staff cheering them on as they knocked it out of the park on a new game.
Another client gathered their courage as they took on a high-ropes course at Camp Ki-Wa-Y for the very first time, sharing:
“This is a dream come true. This is one of my bucket list checks!”
Thanks to our Recreation and Wellness programming, these are regular occurrences at Thresholds Homes and Supports. This program is so much more than a fun afternoon – it’s a chance for clients to find joy, build confidence, and practice new skills.
This year, we were proud to expand our reach. This includes adding a music therapist to provide weekly programming across the communities we serve and incorporating even more of the special trips that help clients shine – like visits to Medievial Times, Niagara Falls, and Grand Bend Beach.
increase in unique donors
increase in donations
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Gateway Services
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Mat’s Auto Sales
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Sherifali Motors Inc.
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