Get Help
You Do Not Have to Navigate This Alone.
If you are experiencing homelessness, at risk of losing your housing or struggling to meet your basic needs, the Cold Lake John Howard Society may be able to help.
You do not need to know exactly what service you need before reaching out. Our staff can listen to your situation, explain the supports available and help you identify possible next steps.
A referral is not required to access our services. You may contact us or come to the shelter directly. Family members, friends and service providers may also contact us for general information or help connecting someone with support.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, experiencing a medical emergency, or requires urgent police, fire, or ambulance assistance, please call 911 immediately.
Cold Lake John Howard Society is not an emergency response service.
When Services Are Available
Emergency Shelter
7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.
Outreach Day Program
9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Community Meals
7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Our current service hours are based on the funding, staffing and resources available to the organization. We recognize that homelessness and housing instability are not limited to certain hours. As resources allow, we continue working to strengthen and expand the supports available in our community.
Hours and service availability may occasionally change. Contact us directly for the most current information.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
You do not need a referral, appointment or identification to reach out. Our process is designed to be respectful, transparent and centred on your needs, choices and goals.
1
First Connection
Connect with us by phone or visit us during service hours. You can simply tell us what you need help with, you do not need to know which service is right for you.
You do not need identification, completed paperwork or a confirmed referral before reaching out.
Intake and
Needs Assessment
When you are ready, a staff member will meet with you to learn more about your immediate needs and how we may be able to support you.
We will only ask for information that is relevant to providing safe and appropriate services. You will not be expected to share your entire story, and you can ask why information is being requested.
2
Exploring Your Support Options
Together, we will discuss the services and resources that may best fit your current circumstances, priorities and goals.
This may include immediate shelter and basic needs, practical assistance, service navigation or connections to other community organizations. Staff will clearly explain any eligibility, availability or service limitations.
3
Receiving Support
Once you decide how you would like to move forward, staff will help you access the available services and support your next steps.
Support may begin with an immediate need and continue through different services as your circumstances and goals change. You remain involved in decisions about your support throughout the process.
4
A Safe and Respectful Environment
Everyone accessing our services has the right to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
Our services are:
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Confidential
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Non-judgmental
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Person-centred
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Recovery-oriented
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Trauma- and violence-informed
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Focused on dignity, choice and individual goals
We recognize that each person’s experience of homelessness is different. There is no single pathway into homelessness and no single pathway toward stable housing.
Staff work with each person based on their circumstances, priorities and readiness.
Who Can Access Our Services?
Our shelter and most direct services are available to individual adults aged 18 and older who are experiencing homelessness, housing instability or difficulty meeting their basic needs. You do not need a referral, a confirmed diagnosis or a complete plan before reaching out.
Because our shelter is designed and funded to serve adults, we are unable to provide shelter accommodation for children, youth under 18 or families with dependent children. However, families and young people, or those supporting them, are still welcome to contact us for information and system navigation. Staff may be able to help identify appropriate services, explain available options and support connections with organizations better equipped to meet their needs.
Our shelter provides non-medical, short-term accommodation and community-based support. We are not staffed or equipped to provide ongoing personal care, medical monitoring or extensive assistance with daily activities such as mobility, bathing, dressing, toileting or medication management.
People who require a higher level of medical or personal care may not be able to safely access shelter accommodation. However, staff may still be able to provide system navigation by helping individuals or their supporters understand available healthcare, continuing-care and community-service options.
Eligibility and access vary by service and may depend on current needs, operating hours, available space, staffing and whether we can safely provide the support required.
You are welcome to contact us even when you are unsure whether our services are the right fit. When we cannot provide shelter or direct services, we will do our best to help identify another possible pathway and connect you with an appropriate community or healthcare resource.
Not sure where to begin? Please reach out. Even when we are not the right service, we may be able to help you understand your options and find your next step.