What Is Supportive Housing?

“Supportive housing” refers to a spectrum of housing solutions that combines affordable housing with varying levels of on-site support services to meet an individual’s physical and mental health needs. 

Our mission is to break the cycle of homelessness and repeated hospitalizations often faced by individuals with mental illness. We achieve this by fostering a stable, empowering community that promotes dignity, independence, and holistic well-being. Through our integrated approach, we aim to support our residents in building resilience, developing life skills, and achieving their full potential within a compassionate, home-like setting.

Our House

Located at 169-171 1/2 Shaw Street, House of Compassion accommodates 21 residents. Each resident has a furnished private bedroom with a key entry door; washrooms and bathrooms are shared. Washers and dryers are available for resident use, with laundry products provided. There are several common areas on the first level and basement levels for resident use and the kitchen and dining room on the first floor serve as the central congregating area. We also have a front porch and a beautiful garden area in the back yard for residents to enjoy. The house is centrally located, is convenient to public transportation and streetcar service is available on both Queen Street and Dundas Street. 

What We Offer:

• Deeply affordable housing in Toronto 
• Support in accessing rental assistance (rent-geared-to-income)
• A safe, permanent and supportive home and community
• Staff on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Care advocacy 
• Co-ordination with individualized external supports
• Informal counseling
• Social recreation and day/evening programming opportunities
• Healthy prepared meals and meal planning support
• Assistance with medications
• Housekeeping services
• Mail, telephone, internet, fax and television services
• Laundry facilities on-site
• Other individualized supports as needed

Our Belief

At House of Compassion we believe that wellness is encouraged through stability, support and the realization of personal hopes, dreams and aspirations. We strive to provide a positive, respectful environment that understands the unique needs of each resident. In supporting individuals on their personal journey towards optimal wellness, House of Compassion holds recovery and person-centered support as core principles which promote the concepts of self-determination, choice, citizenship and community integration. We believe that an improved quality of life requires emotional and physical well-being, a sense of belonging, proper support and hope for the future. 

What We Know

Research consistently demonstrates that supportive housing is a highly effective model for promoting stability among individuals living with mental illness and breaking cycles of institutionalization and homelessness. Studies show that this approach not only improves housing retention but also enhances overall well-being, reduces hospitalizations, and fosters community integration.

The transformative impact of supportive housing is evident in residents' personal journeys. These often include shifts from feelings of shame and stigma to a sense of dignity and hope, from lives characterized by chaos and fear to those marked by stability and safety, and from profound isolation to meaningful community engagement

Our Broader Impact

House of Compassion's evidence-based model of care significantly reduces the risk of homelessness and institutionalization for our residents, while simultaneously decreasing the burden on high-cost emergency services. Our approach aligns with current research showing that supportive housing effectively breaks cycles of crisis care and promotes long-term stability.

By providing round-the-clock support, we enable our residents to age in place within a familiar community setting, addressing a critical need for older adults with mental health challenges. This person-centered approach not only enhances quality of life but also promotes independence and dignity.

Our model fosters a supportive environment that encourages positive peer relationships and family engagement. This community-oriented approach helps alleviate caregiver stress and promotes social integration, key factors in mental health recovery.

Moreover, House of Compassion serves as a catalyst for inclusive community development. By demonstrating the effectiveness of supportive housing, we contribute to creating diverse, welcoming neighborhoods and challenge stigma associated with mental illness. This approach aligns with current best practices in community mental health and social inclusion.