Good Shepherd Centre Hamilton

About Good Shepherd Centre Hamilton:

The Good Shepherd Centre Hamilton’s (GSC) social services include emergency shelters, food and clothing programs, employment assistance, supportive housing, mental health programs, assisted living for seniors and health clinics. GSC offers emergency overnight accommodation for up to 60 men, case management and referrals to appropriate community resources, a hot meal program and a trusteeship program for clients needing help managing their finances. The family centre offers temporary emergency accommodation and residential support to families who are experiencing homelessness. GSC’s Barrett centre for crisis support provides confidential and free counselling services and short-term crisis bed stay to individuals, 16 years of age or older, who experience a mental health crisis. In 2014 the average monthly occupancy for all of GSC’s shelters was 84% or higher. Three of the shelters had to turn people away because their beds were full.

Good Shepherd Works is a social enterprise program that provides employment experiences to individuals who face barriers to employment and require support. GSC’s assisted living program for high-risk seniors provides personal care, support, and homemaking services to help seniors maintain independent living. GSC also offers a number of community mental health programs, health clinics, services for women and youth, and an affordable & supportive housing program.

The Good Shepherd Venture Centre is the distribution point for 95% of GSC’s donated clothing and food items. The Market Place is an innovative emergency food and clothing services program, which provides grocery carts to clients as they select food, clothing and personal items. Over 42,500 people visited GSC’s emergency food program and Christmas hamper in 2014. GSC’s staying home program, implemented in April 2015, provides early intervention for people who are at imminent risk of homelessness. Staff members are already working with 50 clients at various stages of housing crises.

Financial Review:

In F2013 GSC’s administrative costs were 3% of revenues, while fundraising costs were 4% of donations. GSC has gross funding reserves of $682k, which cover 5% of annual program costs. GSC’s debts of $7.8m make net funding reserves and program cost coverage negative.