For Women
24-Hour Abused Women’s Help Line
We are a friendly voice in the middle of the night or any time of day. We are here to listen, to offer support and information. You may or may not be prepared to leave your abusive situation. That’s okay. If you would rather see us in person at any time, you are welcome at the nearest shelter: 450 Clarke Road (near Dundas Street) or 101 Wellington Road.
Emergency, Short-term Shelter
Women’s Community House has been providing shelter for abused women and their children since 1978. There are a total of 67 beds available at our two shelter locations and there is no charge for your stay. While in the shelter, women can receive counselling and are offered programs such as personal safety planning and moving toward a life free of violence. Specialized programs for children who have witnessed violence are also available. Support for physical and mental health is available on site through partnerships with Canadian Mental Health Association and the London Middlesex Health Unit. Children and youth (up to age 16) can stay with you in family-style rooms. There is a parent relief (childcare) program so that women can attend groups, meetings or schedule relief times throughout the day. Our Wellington Shelter is located at 101 Wellington Road and our Clarke Shelter is located at 450 Clarke Road.
To find out more, contact Women’s Community House at 519-642-3000,
TTY 519-963-0427 or 1-800-265-1576.
WCH staff use a Model of Care that is an approach based on Hope, Feminism, Safety and Intersectionality.
Staff also believe in the Harm Reduction approach in dealing with substance use and addiction.
Second Stage Housing
Second Stage Housing offers women and children well-maintained, accessible, family-oriented, affordable housing with a focus on safety. Through participation in the group programs, women and children can progress towards their positive choices and changes. There are 25 self-contained apartments available for women and their children should they need longer-term safe accommodation once ready to leave the shelter. Counsellors at Women’s Community House can refer you to Second Stage Housing or you can refer yourself. Women can stay in a rent-geared-to-income apartment for generally up to one year. The contact numbers for Second Stage Housing are 519-642-3000 or 1-800-265-1576.
Transitional Outreach Services
Trained staff counsellors offer a wide variety of services to women including safety planning, legal and financial advocacy, consultation regarding housing, problem solving and community referrals.
Check the Gallery page for photos of each of our three facilities.
Mine101
Mine 101 is a hip modern store that offers a fresh approach to shopping for second-hand clothing. Women’s Community House’s first ever social enterprise project opened its doors in 2011 after a number of years of planning. We enjoy great support from Londoners who regularly donate gently used items of clothing; in fact, each day we receive more clothing than we can use. Thus, we are now converting surplus clothing donations into dollars to help develop new programs and services to support the families in shelter. Whether you are after designer deals or unique fashions for a look that’s all your own, you can shop in style, for style at Mine 101.
Public Education
Public education on woman abuse and women’s issues in schools, community service agencies, service clubs, churches, and information fairs is an ongoing and fundamental part of our commitment to ending woman abuse. WCH also provides training for other social service agencies on Bill 168, Respect-at-Work and Neighbours, Friends & Families. Throughout the year, WCH delivers information about woman abuse to 200 different schools, churches, and service clubs throughout our community.
Women’s Community House offers a diverse range of services and support systems to assist women in crisis, transitioning out of crisis and afterwards in re-establishing a healthy life for themselves and those around them. We welcome women and their children into a safe, family-focused, home-like environment in which residents can participate in programs that support their efforts toward positive choices and changes.
