Housing stability for women and gender-diverse people at 84 Frederick Street
84 Frederick Street has been supporting people in our community since the 1970s, when it first opened as an emergency shelter. The Region of Waterloo bought this Kitchener building in 2024 and continued running the much-needed shelter.
We finished renovations this past November to offer more services here for people experiencing homelessness. The building now offers transitional and supportive housing spaces that are designed to help people move towards housing stability. These spaces provide a safe and reliable place to live.
The updated site now supports up to 66 women and gender-diverse people. These individuals have specific needs and we’ve tailored the services here for them. It’s important they have a place to go that’s safe from gender-based violence.
On-site supports include:
- Mental health and addictions support
- Life skills development
- Housing stability and tenant relations
- Access to education and training opportunities
84 Frederick is operated by the Region’s partner, Services and Housing In the Province (SHIP). They use a Housing First approach that is people-centred and focuses on outcomes.
“The opening of our 84 Frederick Street Transitional Housing Program reflects a deliberate commitment to creating a space where femme-identifying individuals are affirmed and supported as they move toward safety, stability, and self-determination,” said Erin Goodyear, Senior Program Manager at SHIP. “The program establishes a clear and purposeful path forward, grounded in healing and the reclamation of personal agency. The 84 Frederick Street Transition Housing Program holds an unwavering commitment to providing a safe, affirming environment where femme-identifying clients are supported in building the lives they envision for themselves.”
The Region of Waterloo invested $12.5 million into 84 Frederick through the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. The Government of Canada also contributed $5.4 million through the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative.
You can find more resources and information here about emergency shelters and transitional housing in the Region of Waterloo.