Y's WISH Shelter and 24/7 Crisis Line

Y’s WISH Shelter and 24-hour Crisis Line

If this is an immediate emergency and your life is in danger, please call 911 first.

If you’re afraid, call us.  It is the first step.  And it can change your life forever.

Leaving an abusive situation is one of the toughest things you’ll ever have to face.  How will you look after small children?  Where will you find affordable housing?  If you’re new to Canada, how will you find support in an unfamiliar environment? We can help. 

Our 24-hour confidential Crisis Line is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Caring, knowledgeable staff provides information, support and advice

If you are being abused
If you want to talk about abuse in your family
If you are concerned about a friend, family member or co-worker
If you need information or referrals to community and social assistance programs

We can offer advice in Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, Russian and American Sign Language.

Y’s WISH Shelter opened its doors in 2003 and has been a safe haven and support for thousands of women and children ever since. Y’s WISH stands for Women In Safe Housing. We will help you by offering a safe and secure temporary home in our 15 bed shelter. You and your children are welcome regardless of age, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We provide healthy meals and snacks, a comfortable room to sleep, clean washrooms, play room and family room – all in a secure setting. 

We can connect you with community agencies including housing, social services, employment, legal aid and more. Find out more about our transitional and outreach support. We also offer short term crisis counselling for women and children in individual and group settings. Finally, we can connect you to information, referrals and advocacy to ensure a smooth transition back into your community. We are also a Safe Pet Ontario member if you are concerned about what will happen to your pet if you leave.

Our services include:

15-bed shelter
Safety, security and support
Short-term crisis counselling
Safety planning for women and children
Access to community agencies including housing, social services, legal aid and more

In-house women’s groups
Supportive counselling for women and children, both individual and group settings
Information, referrals and advocacy

What is Abuse?

Abuse can take many forms including physical, emotional/psychological, sexual, financial and neglect. The abuser attempts to intimidate and control the woman by using force or threats, often leaving the woman feeling devastated and alone. Abuse can happen to any woman, at any time, regardless of her sexual orientation, age or culture. Abuse affects women and children from all faiths, educational levels and socioeconomic backgrounds.

 You are not alone.

Statistics Canada estimates that police-reported intimate partner violence represents only 30% of actual incidents. Studies have shown that 1 in 3 women have experienced violence before the age of 16.

How do I know if I am abused?

Does your partner:

Criticize you?

Call you names or put you down?
Get excessively jealous?
Control your finances?
Prevent you from seeing family or friends?
Prevent you from working outside the home or attending school?

Hit, slap, push, punch, spit or harm you in any physical way?
Threaten to hurt, kill or harm you, your children, family, friends or pets?
Do you feel frightened of your partner?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may want to contact our  Crisis Line for support at
905-576-2997 or 1-888-576-2997 

What are the effects of abuse on children?

Children of abused women are affected in many ways by the violence in their lives. They often:

Blame themselves for the violence
Have physical ailments such as stomachaches and headaches
Suffer from low self-esteem
Experience sleep disturbances

Become withdrawn or extremely passive
Act like mother’s little helper
Experience eating problems
Act out aggressively, exhibit bullying
Become self-destructive

How can I help my friend or family member?

Assure them you believe them
Listen and talk to them
Let them know you care
Help them create a safety plan

Reassure them they are not to blame for the abuse
Respect their confidentiality by not revealing their situation to others

Do Not:

Blame them if they returns to their partner
Tell them what to do

Tell them they should stay for the children
Offer to speak to their partner for them
Disrespect their confidentiality by revealing their situation to others
Judge

Abuse is NEVER okay. It is against the law.