Fast Facts
30,000+ volunteer hours donated in 2011
provided services for 1,716 persons with mental illness in 2011
Helping Londoners since 1951
5 branches in London to fill the need
14,000+ received basic needs through voucher program
Our History
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From the early days before its formation, God has lead and directed many individuals in support and work, on behalf of the Mission.
This continues to this day, as an organization we are continually blessed with how God provides through a variety of avenues and resources. The Always an Open Door logo, with its stylized cross in the center, is a constant reminder of what we do and why we do it.
Mission Directors
| Founder: | Rev. Alvin Roth | 1951 – 1976 |
| Successor: | George Baron | 1976 – 1987 |
| Successor: | Roger Smith | 1987 – 1990 |
| Successor: | Horace Roberts | 1990 – 1991 |
| Successor: | Rev. Fred Hagglund | 1991 – 2010 |
| Currently: | Peter Rozeluk | 2010 – present |
| Year | Key Ministry Start Dates |
| 1949 | October, four young Mennonite men are milling through the Covent Garden Market, assessing the need and feasibility of opening a shelter for homeless men in London. |
| 1951 | On January 29th, the Goodwill Rescue Mission opened its shelter doors at 536 Talbot for a Christmas Meal to street people. |
| 1951 | The first monthly newsletter (February 25, 1951) reports, “THE GOODWILL RESCUE MISSION opened with three gospel services a day, one gospel service before breakfast, one gospel service before lunch and another one before bedtime….” |
| 1956 | A property was purchased at 668 King Street, opening in December, bringing “the reality of a Rescue Mission work for women on London’s skid row”. |
| 1957 | “11th Step House”. Bethel House opens as the Goodwill Rescue Mission’s rehabilitation arm at a farm in Wallacetown, outside of London. |
| 1960 | On May 2nd the Women’s Auxiliary is formed to support the work of the mission, for annual banquets, volunteering. |
| 1961 | September 17th, the new shelter at 459 York Street was officially opened as an 80 bed facility, newly named London Rescue Mission. |
| 1962 | Services to women, moved the shelter to 163 Clarence Street. |
| 1964 | The Women’s Auxiliary starts the clothing distribution center in support of the work of the branches of the London Rescue Mission. |
| 1965 | In April, Bethel House moved to London from Wallactown, locating at 477 Queens Avenue and renamed Quintin Warner House after Canon Quintin Warner, a local prominent Anglican clergy who “was largely responsible for introducing Alcoholics Anonymous to Canada.” |
| 1966 | The Women’s Auxiliary purchases a building at 461 York Street, beside the Men’s Mission as the clothing distribution centre. This was later to become The Mission Store (formerly The Twice Nice Thrift Mart) operating as a branch of Mission Services of London |
| 1968 | Teen Girls Home opens at 193 Wharncliffe Road (*Teen Girls Home was divested from Mission Services of London in 1996 becoming part of Western Area Youth Services, along with two other community agencies, Hardy Geddes House and Belton House). |
| 1969 | In October the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada turns over leadership and responsibility of the London Rescue Mission to a local interdenominational Board of Directors and thus Mission Services of London is created with branches of the Men’s Mission, Rotholme Women’s & Family Shelter, Quintin Warner House and The Mission Store (nee Twice Nice Thrift Mart). |
| 1976 | March 31, the annex house of Quintin Warner’s addiction treatment program was opened at 479 Maitland, operating as a transitional house for those having graduated the program. |
| 1984 | The blended services of single women and families moved into their new shelter at 42 Stanley Street as the newly constructed 41 bed shelter opened its doors on May 26th. |
| 1988 | The newly renovated and expanded Men’s Mission opened its doors providing 79 Emergency Shelter Beds and 25 Transitional beds, for men. |
| 1988 | Community Mental Health Programs was formed, providing service to the increasing numbers of those coming to the Men’s Mission with mental health challenges. |
| 1992 | Community Mental Health Services expands to Rotholme Women’s and Family Shelter |
| 1998 | December saw the opening of the first Crashbeds program (emergency shelter) of Mission Services of London, serving those with mental health challenges. |
| 2002 | January 9th, the newly purchased and renovated Head Office was opened at 415 Hamilton Road, leaving room for The Mission Store to expand in the previously occupied rented space at 300 William Street. |
| 2005 | The Men’s Mission site and Community Mental Health Programs expands with new renovations and additions to the original Men’s Mission building at 459 York Street. The Men’s Mission now provides: 111 Emergency Beds; 35 Transitional Beds, along with the CMHP’s 21 Crashbeds, for a total of 167 beds on site in this one location. |
| 2007 | Rotholme Women’s & Family Shelter changes its focus and services predominately families, with the majority of single women accessing other shelter beds in the city. The need and demand for families, both single parent and both parent lead, keep capacity at its peak. |
| 2007 | The pilot project with the City of London, Hostels to Homes, is meeting with extreme success and is noted across the province. |
| 2010 | The Women’s Auxiliary of Mission Services of London celebrated its 50th Anniversary. |
| 2011 | Mission Services of London celebrates its 60th Anniversary. |
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519-433-2807
415 Hamilton Road, London ON N5Z 1S1
