United Way Agencies

Today's featured agency is Ernestine's Women's Shelter . "2008 marks the 25th anniversary of Ernestine's Women's Shelter. While it saddens us to know we are still needed, we are grateful for your support to provide the essential services to women and children fleeing violence…the links between violence, poverty and proper social support systems remain. Our clients face serious shortages in safe and affordable housing and a complete freeze on funding for child care subsidies. We realize that we cannot end violence by ourselves and so we have strengthened our commitment to sharing resources, policies, manuals, fundraising strategies, approaches to volunteerism, with other organizations and our funders have praised us for this outreach." 

Ernestine's individualized service model is important in helping women to achieve their independence. The agency's services include: 32 beds located in 14 bedrooms for single women and families; a 24/7 emergency telephone crisis line; service in 21 languages with access to cultural interpreters for additional languages; trained staff available 24/7 during the week; full service access to children and women with disabilities; the necessities of food, shelter, bed, linens, towels and hygiene products; and, a safe and supportive community environment to help women and their children plan for a safe future.

For information on United Way agencies, please visit the United Way of Greater Toronto web site under "Who We Help" .

"Without you, there would be no way!"

Submitted by Jennifer Schmitt and John Puusa  

Today's featured agency is Ernestine's Women's Shelter . "2008 marks the 25th anniversary of Ernestine's Women's Shelter. While it saddens us to know we are still needed, we are grateful for your support to provide the essential services to women and children fleeing violence…the links between violence, poverty and proper social support systems remain. Our clients face serious shortages in safe and affordable housing and a complete freeze on funding for child care subsidies. We realize that we cannot end violence by ourselves and so we have strengthened our commitment to sharing resources, policies, manuals, fundraising strategies, approaches to volunteerism, with other organizations and our funders have praised us for this outreach." 

Ernestine's individualized service model is important in helping women to achieve their independence. The agency's services include: 32 beds located in 14 bedrooms for single women and families; a 24/7 emergency telephone crisis line; service in 21 languages with access to cultural interpreters for additional languages; trained staff available 24/7 during the week; full service access to children and women with disabilities; the necessities of food, shelter, bed, linens, towels and hygiene products; and, a safe and supportive community environment to help women and their children plan for a safe future.

For information on United Way agencies, please visit the United Way of Greater Toronto web site under "Who We Help" .

"Without you, there would be no way!"

Submitted by Jennifer Schmitt and John Puusa