Emergency Shelter
Nova Vita offers a safe place for women* (16+) and their children who are experiencing violence, abuse, or homelessness. Our crisis support counsellors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our 33 bed emergency shelter offers:
- Crisis counselling and safety planning
- Trauma-informed and harm-reduction support
- Children’s programs and parenting support
- Healthy meals and snacks
- Clothing, hygiene products and baby essentials
- Assistance with finding housing
- Referrals to community supports
- Resources for cultural and diverse needs
- Advocacy and system navigation
If you think that staying in our emergency shelter is right for you, a Nova Vita shelter worker will meet with you for an assessment of service. In this meeting, the shelter worker will discuss safety planning, options available to you, and provide you with resources and referrals. If there is space available in our emergency shelter, the shelter worker will complete an intake with you, provide you with a tour, explain the shelter rules and guidelines, and assist you with settling into your room.
Nova Vita is a temporary communal living environment, with many different people and families under one roof. At times this can be challenging, so we do have house rules and guidelines to follow to ensure that your time with us runs as smoothly as possible for you and your children.
While you stay at Nova Vita, shelter workers will continue to safety plan with you and your children, help connect you to community resources for housing and financial supports, provide you with information on your legal rights, and support you in connecting with any cultural or community resources. You will also have an opportunity to talk about your situation, to learn about the impacts of what has happened to you, and to learn about healing and coping strategies. Your stay at Nova Vita can give you time to safely sort out your feelings and plan your next steps. Shelter workers will help you with your transition from Nova Vita and back into the community or the community of your choice.
For more information or to schedule an intake:
Call/Text 519-752-4357
Online Chat Service click here
24-Hour Crisis and Support Line
If you are experiencing violence or abuse in your relationship, our crisis counsellors are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone/text at 519-752-HELP (4357) or through our online chat service. Our staff know that reaching out for help is a difficult first step and we are here to listen to your concerns, help you to create a safety plan, discuss which services would best meet your needs, and support your decisions.
We also provide support to family and friends, however our services are confidential and voluntary so we will not be able to discuss specific client information. We can however provide you with helpful tips and resources on how to be a good support system for your family or friend. To learn more about how to support someone experiencing violence in a relationship, visit our BLOSSOM page.
For more information or to speak to a crisis & support counsellor:
Call/Text 519-752-4357
Online Chat Service click here
Children’s Programs
Nova Vita’s Children’s Programs provides trauma-informed counselling and support to children of all ages who have witnessed or experienced abuse in their home. We also provide information, counselling, and support to parents/caregivers. Services are available both in shelter and in the community.
To learn more, about our Children’s Program, click here.
For more info on this program or to schedule an intake:
Call our Intake Coordinator at 519-752-1005 x221
Or email info@novavita.org
Safety Planning
If you have experienced abuse in your relationship, developing a safety plan can be a helpful tool to increase your safety and the safety of your children. A safety plan is a personalized plan of action that can prepare you if your partner becomes violent towards you or your children, whether you are still in the relationship or you have left. Shelter workers can help you to create your own individualized safety plan for you and your children. For more information, visit our Safety Planning page.
For more info on safety planning:
Call/Text 519-752-4357
Online Chat click here
*Includes gender-diverse individuals