1) People in need of housing are a resource and must be engaged as partners in establishing the vision, setting the goals and objectives and carrying out the work of creating opportunities for re-integration.
2) The transition from life without housing to life with a permanent home requires more than bricks and mortar. It is the transition from a life of vulnerability and isolation to a life of security within community. Those who are actively involved in making this transition need to have access to an appropriate level of support throughout the process.
3) People without housing should have as much as choice as possible in determining the type of housing and the level of support that they need in order to live successfully in our community.
It is true that if one looks at people without housing as a group certain characteristics will emerge. For instance, one will find a number of traits that occur in proportionately greater numbers among the homeless than they do in the general population (i.e. mental illness, addictions, disabilities etc.) It must be noted, however, that none of these characteristics apply to the whole population.
Although these characteristics may contribute to the individual’s loss of housing, they cannot be described as the cause of their homelessness. On the other hand, they do underline the need for adequate and appropriate support services as people make the transition from homelessness to home.
There are three notable characteristics that tend to be common among people without housing who enter our services:
* They lack adequate housing that they can afford.
* They tend to be socially isolated, without the supportive relationships that many of us take for granted (family, friends, co-workers, community groups and services, etc.).
* Economic opportunity is limited for a variety of reasons, including their lack of stable housing.
The Cornerstone Model provides a continuum of housing thereby providing a range of service and support. This model recognizes the need to link shelters with transitional and permanent affordable housing. Within this continuum we encourage people, when they feel they are ready, to move from locations and programs that offer higher levels of support to locations that afford less support and greater independence.
Our continuum consists of the following programs:
Our Mission
To provide all necessary and possible resources to enable the re-integration of marginalized individuals into our communities.
Our Goal
To provide opportunities for reintegration so that people without housing can make the transition from homelessness to home; from the margins of our communities to full membership (citizenship) with all of its privileges and responsibilities.
Operational Principles
Who Do We Serve?
Cornerstone provides a range of housing, community development and support services to people without housing and/or those just released from an institutional setting. Those we serve are over the age of 16, the majority of whom are single men. This is a diverse and changing group. In recent years the increased numbers of people without housing have meant that the traditional stereotype of the homeless person has become less accurate than ever.
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Current Services
The Work of Cornerstone
Emergency Shelter
Bed Capacity: 40
Stay: Up to 9 nights with review
Support: On-site staffing 24 hrs, 7 days/week
Next Steps: Transitional Program, private housing, move to other region or continued homelessness
Community Residential Facility (CRF)
This program provides for community integration of individuals returning from federal correctional facilities.
Beds: 16
Stay: 3-6 months (average)
Support: Onsite staffing 24 hours, 7 days/week
Next Steps: Transitional Program, private housing
Transitional Program
This program offers a supportive setting where individuals can begin to stabilize and develop the basic skills to live independently as responsible tenants.
Beds: 10
Stay: Indefinite
Support: 40 hrs/week, access to 24 hour shelter staffing and on-call.
Next Steps: Apartment at 133 Simcoe, 454 Bloor or private housing.
Apartments (133 Simcoe Street South)
These are self contained permanent units that offer a balance between support and independence.
Apartments: 18 (2 - 2 bedroom)
Stay: indefinite
Support: 40 hrs/week + access to 24 hr shelter staffing and on call
Next Steps: 454 Bloor, Northview, Cormack Station, other non-profits, private housing
454 Bloor Street East
This building offers greater independence and yet still affords ready access to supports.
Apartments: 28 (4 - 2 Bedroom)
Stay: Indefinite
Support: On-site staffing 24 hrs/week and on-call
Next Steps: Northview, Cormack Station, other non-profits, private housing Northview Meadow Cooperative Homes and Cormack Station
These buildings offer a higher degree of independence with limited support.
Apartments: 19 (total)
Stay: Indefinite
Supports: On call
Next Steps: Other non-profits and private housing
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