Our Impact

Cornerstone Housing for Women is the largest women’s only shelter in Ottawa. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this past year Ottawa has seen a rise in women experiencing homelessness by 17%.

In light of the pandemic, Cornerstone overcame many obstacles. Cornerstone worked with the City of Ottawa and Shepherds of Good Hope to provide a space where women experiencing homelessness could physically distance. Since December 2020, in a matter of months we went from providing shelter to 61 women to providing shelter to 125 women.

Every year 1000 women become homeless in Ottawa. Last year, we supported nearly 300 unique women through our emergency shelter and four supportive, affordable housing residences.

Cornerstone offers our programs and services through a gender-based lens so that we are able to fully support the unique needs of women. Often times creating a space for women to heal and be safe means providing a women’s only space.

One night in a hospital costs more than $1,000. One night in jail costs about $500. Supportive housing at Cornerstone costs much less – between $19 and $115 a day – all while enabling a woman to use her skills and energy for sustainable work, emotional healing, and independent living.

Through our 4 housing residences, our emergency shelter, and our outreach program we strive every day, to fill the void in our City by offering women-centered women-only programs and services to all women and gender diverse individuals without judgement and with dignity.