Strathmore Overnight Shelter Society

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter Society is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to mitigating homelessness within the Strathmore community. It operates the Strathmore Overnight Homeless Shelter, providing essential services to individuals facing housing insecurity. Registered under the Canadian Revenue Agency with Business Registration Number 787657519RR0001, the Society functions as a registered charity committed to addressing immediate shelter needs and supporting individuals in their transition to stability.

Mission and Objectives

The Society’s primary mission is to reduce homelessness by offering temporary shelter and comprehensive support to those in crisis. Its approach focuses on ensuring that individuals have a safe place to sleep while concurrently assisting them with resources to overcome their challenges and regain independence. The organization aims to help clients navigate adversity such as loss of housing, natural disasters, family issues, or financial hardship that forces people to sleep in unsafe or unstable conditions.

Services Provided

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter Society offers a range of supportive services designed to meet basic needs and promote recovery, including:

• Separate men’s and women’s dormitory accommodations
• Hot meals provided to all guests
• Shower and laundry facilities
• Change of clothing for clients in need
• Crisis counseling to address immediate emotional and psychological needs
• Referrals to additional social and community services to assist with long-term solutions

The Society emphasizes dignity and individualized support, working closely with each client to understand their situation and identify practical steps for them to regain self-sufficiency.

Operational Model

Guests seeking shelter are typically required to check in with staff, who conduct intake assessments to tailor support accordingly. The Society recognizes that homelessness can result from diverse circumstances including eviction, car breakdowns leaving individuals stranded, or emergency situations like floods. By providing shelter and wraparound services, the organization helps prevent individuals from becoming entrenched in homelessness or be forced to rely on temporary, unstable solutions such as staying on friends’ couches.

Community Engagement and Funding

As a registered charity in Canada, the Strathmore Overnight Shelter Society relies on donations and community support to sustain its operations. The organization utilizes platforms like CanadaHelps to facilitate secure and tax-deductible donations, which are vital for funding its 24-hour operations and maintaining the quality of services. The Society encourages donors by highlighting the immediate impact contributions have on the lives of vulnerable people in Strathmore.

Significance

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter Society fills a critical gap in local social services by providing emergency shelter and targeted support for homeless individuals. Its comprehensive model combines shelter with social services, reflecting best practices in addressing homelessness. The Society’s work contributes to the broader goal of mitigating homelessness and improving community wellbeing in Alberta.

Note: This article is based on publicly available information from Canadian charity registries and organizational profiles.