Shelter Diversion

Mission Services of London offers Shelter Diversion at our Rotholme Family Shelter site.

Shelter Diversion is an essential part of our commitment to providing effective, compassionate support. By focusing on prevention and early intervention, we help families avoid the stress and disruption of emergency shelter stays. This approach not only provides immediate relief but also lays the groundwork for long-term stability and self-sufficiency.

What is Shelter Diversion?

Shelter Diversion is a proactive approach aimed at preventing homelessness before it starts. Rather than immediately placing families into the shelter, our goal is to identify and explore other viable options that could provide stability and support. This strategy focuses on finding solutions that keep people in their current living situations or help them quickly transition to a more permanent housing arrangement.

How Does Shelter Diversion Work?

Assessment and Support: When a family reaches out for assistance, our team conducts a comprehensive assessment to understand their unique situation, needs, and resources. We work closely with the family to identify any barriers they might be facing and develop a plan that best suits their needs.

Exploring Alternatives: In conjunction with the family, our staff will explore different options to sustain their current housing and/or develop a plan to find and secure alternative housing to avoid coming into shelter. We also develop practices and protocols that promote positive housing outcomes, including conflict resolution with landlords, advocacy, and collaboration across service providers.

Personalized Solutions: Each situation is unique, and our approach is tailored accordingly. We offer intensive short-term case management and connection to long-term support, such as: resources and referrals to local community services, housing programs, and support services to overcome potential recurrence of crisis and the need for emergency shelter.

Follow-Up and Support: After the diversion is successful, we continue to support families until stability has been achieved to ensure they have the tools and skills needed and are connected to resources that meet their needs to maintain stability and avoid future crisis.

Accessing Rotholme Family Shelter's Services, Including Shelter Diversion:

To inquire about accessing Rotholme Family Shelter's services, please reach out to the City of London's Coordinated Access team by phone at 519-661-4663 (Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM), homelessprevention [at] london.ca (via email) (homelessprevention [at] london.ca (homelessprevention[at]london[dot]ca)) or in person at 355 Wellington Street, Suite 248 (Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM).

If you are in need of assistance outside of Coordinated Access' business hours, please call Rotholme Family Shelter's intake line at (519) 673-4114