When children and families arrive at Halton Region’s only emergency shelter for families, staff from Wesley’s Emergency Supportive Housing program make sure they have what they need.
The shelter, comprised of 43 rooms in Burlington, is home to 70-100 people at any given time. Residents include families, young children, and single women, and approximately 75 are from Burlington. In its 2024-25 fiscal year, the program supported 310 clients, including 91 children.
Since 2017, Wesley has collaborated with Halton Region to offer housing support at the shelter. The region provides operational funding, but not capital funding, meaning items such as bunk beds are not covered.
“A safe, comfortable environment is vital to the physical and emotional well-being of families in crisis,” said Kristyn Bruce, senior director, housing and outreach services. “The addition of bunk beds creates a more supportive environment, providing better sleep and lower stress, which all contribute to overall wellness and successful housing outcomes.”
In fall 2025, BCF provided $10,000 toward the purchase of 20 bunk beds through its annual Community Granting Program. An additional $25,000 was provided through its Housing Support Fund, one of several BCF Cause Funds that allow donors to support specific needs.
“This initiative is allowing Wesley to expand access to safe, dignified housing,” said Kristyn. “We are grateful for the support we have received from the Burlington Community Foundation and the Housing Support Fund to help us support families, children, and women in the community.”
To ensure that no families were displaced and no available beds were lost during the transition, Wesley planned to implement the program in stages.