Kim's inspiring story

Today, on our website, we tell the inspiring story of Kim, one of the 11 women who live at Brigid's Place Transitional Housing for Women.

Shepherds of Good Hope runs four different supportive living facilities across the city. Brigid's Place is a little different in that it's based more on a housing first model.

Located in Lowertown, it's a former duplex that has been converted to a single home. We have 11 women living there. Although we provide support services, the women live fairly independent lives. Many of the women who come to Brigid's Place are from the streets or the homeless shelter.

They ended up on the streets or in the shelter for a variety of reasons. They might have come from abusive homes. Some suffer from mental issues and/or addictions. We're there to help them, but just as importantly, to provide them with a safe home. We believe that in order for these women to be able to turn their lives around, they must have stable housing first.

Brigid's Place runs a like a collective. All of the women are invited to take part in all the decisions made at Brigid's Place. For many, it's the first safe home they have had in years, In addition to their own rooms, they also have shared common areas where they can cook, watch TV or use a computer. They have a community garden to look after and they can do things together as a group. Earlier, this month, the women made a day-trip to the beach.

Without Brigid's Place, a lot of these women would have nowhere else to turn. Please take time to read Kim's story. 

If you would like to know more about the programs and services we offer to women, please don't hesitate to contact me. 613-789-8210, ext. 247 or asilverman@shepherdsofgoodhope.com. To make a donation, please visit our donation page.