Finding a safe space at Nellie’s

Finding a safe space at Nellie's

Nellie’s shelter provides women and their children with a safe, welcoming space for healing, personal growth, and renewed strength. Housed in a beautiful Victorian building that has been fully renovated for modern functionality, Nellie's is a warm, inviting shelter that truly feels like home.

Each of our 22 bedrooms has a private bathroom. To support women and families with accessibility needs, we have four bedrooms with barrier-free bathrooms, and all common areas for residents are fully accessible for wheelchair users. Plus, we welcome and have dedicated spaces for pets at Nellie's, because a woman shouldn't have to choose between her own safety and her beloved pet.

Complemented by a wide range of supportive services, Nellie's is so much more than a shelter. We offer everything women and their children need to heal, grow, and build a brighter future.

Life at Nellie’s

Life at Nellie’s

Everyone at Nellie’s benefits from living communally, sharing household responsibilities, and opportunities for collective discussion and bonding. 

But we also understand and respect the need for privacy, so all families have their own space for peaceful self-care and reflection. It’s important that our shelter holds space for the unique experiences and needs of each individual as they process and overcome their trauma. 

Nellie’s has everything you’d find in a home, and more:

  • 22 bedrooms with private bathrooms, providing space for up to 38 beds
  • Industrial kitchen
  • Large communal dining room
  • Smaller, accessible kitchenettes for preparing meals, snacks, and baby bottles
  • Living room for socializing
  • Children’s playroom and kitchen
  • Outdoor play area for kids
  • Dedicated space for tweens and teens
  • Spiritual room for reflection and prayer
  • Counselling offices 
  • Program rooms
  • Computer room
  • Laundry room
  • Pet care room
  • Green space for pets
  • Elevator for access to all floors 
  • Welcoming reception office
  • Staff offices

Supportive Programs for Women and their Children

At Nellie’s, we offer both educational and leisure programs to the women and their children in our shelter. Geared toward empowering individuals, our programs cover a range of topics including parenting, health, housing, employment, relationships, arts, and anti-oppressive practice. These activities are an important part of the healing process, as they enable families to feel at home, have their voices heard, and rebuild their confidence.

Children and Youth Program

We know how important it is for children to be able to process their experiences, while also having plenty of opportunities to just be kids. Our children and youth programs, which are generously funded by La Fondation Emmanuel Gattuso, are designed to be fun and engaging, while also providing a safe space to express emotions and work through trauma in an age-appropriate way. 

From homework club and learning how to play musical instruments, to cooking lessons and fun outings to local attractions, there are lots of educational supports and recreational activities for kids to enjoy at Nellie’s. 

Rock and Water

In 2022, Nellie’s became the first gender-based violence organization in Canada to implement Rock and Water, a world-renowned anti-bullying program. 

Through a series of exercises and games, kids living at Nellie’s who are five or older learn about setting their own boundaries, making independent decisions, using communication, and respecting others’ limits. Rooted in physical activity and play, kids learn to block, hit padded strike shields, stand strong, negotiate using “rock” or “water” verbal approaches, walk away from a fight, consider alternatives to aggression, and develop understandings about who they are, their intuitive feelings, and their personal direction.  

Rock and Water has a lasting impact, empowering kids with the essential skills they need to build healthy relationships throughout their life so they can break the cycle of violence.

Peer Support Programs

Our Peer Support programs bring together women who have had similar experiences. Through talking, listening, and sharing coping strategies, women find comfort and renewed strength. These programs equip our clients with the tools and skills they need to make informed decisions and take brave steps toward a new chapter, while also providing the relaxed settings where women feel supported to process their experiences, build connections, and find the confidence that will drive them forward. 

Groups include WEAV (Women Experiencing Abuse and Violence), Women on the Move (for those living with physical disabilities), a Substance Use and Addiction program (an innovative program we also rolled out to other shelters), and an Arts & Crafts Support Group. We also offer organized social outings for cultural and artistic events, as well as recreational activities. A weekly House Meeting also gives women living at Nellie’s a chance to check in with one another and talk through issues and challenges.

Empowerment Self-Defense Program

At Nellie’s, our approach to violence is full-spectrum prevention. The women living at Nellie’s have the opportunity to participate in our trauma-informed Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) program.

Different from traditional self-defense models, ESD takes a proactive approach, focusing on preventing, responding to, and healing from violent events. We teach participants that “no” is a complete sentence, while also sharing a range of techniques and approaches to de-escalate and leave a situation as quickly as possible. This empowers women to set their own boundaries and use their voice to express wants and needs, equipping them to defend themselves.