Our Impact

Cornerstone Housing for Women is the largest women-only shelter and housing provider for women experiencing homelessness in Ottawa. Each year, more than 1,300 women experience homelessness in the city.

Over the past year, as we celebrated our 40th anniversary, we expanded our capacity by 76% to better support women and gender-diverse individuals in our community who are experiencing homelessness. In 2024, we opened our newest supportive housing residence on Eccles Street, and we increased the capacity of our emergency shelter from 61 beds to 150 beds, plus 15 overflow spaces. While we are disheartened by the ongoing growth in demand for our services, we remain committed to expanding our support for the women and gender-diverse individuals in our community who need it most.

Cornerstone delivers its programs and services through a gender-based lens to fully address the unique needs of women. Often, creating a safe space for healing means providing a women-only environment.

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 four housing residences, our emergency shelter, and our outreach program, we strive every day to fill the gap in our city by offering women-centered, women-only programs and services to all women and gender-diverse individuals, with dignity and without judgment.