Sistering - Toronto, Ontario

Bella A.

Sistering is one of the few places in this city that consistently shows up for those too often forgotten. Women and gender-diverse people facing homelessness, trauma, addiction, and mental health challenges don’t just need shelter — they need dignity, stability, and compassion. Sistering provides that, without judgment.

It may be uncomfortable to witness poverty, addiction, or mental illness. But that discomfort doesn’t compare to the reality of living it. If a person’s first instinct is to demand removal instead of understanding, maybe the issue isn’t the shelter — maybe it’s a lack of empathy.

The people who walk through Sistering’s doors could be your mother, your sister, your daughter, your friend — or even you. No one is immune to hardship. These are people, not problems, and no one should be discarded just because they’re struggling.

Sistering is part of the solution — and our city needs more of that, not less.

Kudos to the staff who work day and night in what is undoubtedly an emotionally demanding role. And to the volunteers and supporters who continue to show up when others look away — thank you for making the neighborhood a better place and being part of the solution.

One person’s comfort is never more important than another person’s survival. If we want to be a true community, it starts HERE and I’ll continue to help where I can!

Isabella M.

I do not feel safe living around here. I am glad women are getting services to make them feel more comfortable, but what about the rest of the community that this impacts, and makes feel UNCOMFORTABLE ? Harassment in my own neighborhood. I have a lot of respect for people who work in social services, but they have got to do something about the number of women doing illegal drugs directly outside Sistering doors and physically + verbally assaulting those walking by, literally just trying to mind their own business. Breaks my heart that this is what has become of our so-called "harm reduction".

Shirley F.

a person outside the shelter suddenly ran after me as i was walking by, trying to attack me with their bag and was yelling something unintelligible. just unbelievable. i got harassed for walking on the street

Tajah

If you get into the drop-in, there is showers, laundry, and food provided, as well as hygiene supplies and a towel. Great resource if you’re in an emergency situation as I was. Unfortunately, the environment is not healthy. The women who reside here are not always the friendliest so keep to yourself. But my main problem has been with some of the staff. They are so unnecessarily rude. Some of the staff have an attitude as if they are teenagers. I am trying to be grateful, as I know some people are still less fortunate than I am. I have tried to be extremely polite, with a smile always present on my face, but regardless some of the staff have responded to my questions with an unnerving amount of attitude. It is quite depressing. I am trying not to take it personally as I hope they are just dealing with their own issues, but so are the ladies who reside here for the night. So staff please, please, treat us with respect. You don’t know what anyone is struggling with.

Ash M.

I tried to speak for assistance in call to this place but it was the worse I did, I tried to help my mother because she doesn’t speak English so I’m the one who does, I just was asking when can I change her appointment and some stuff but at first she asked me what’s my mothers name, when I told her I started being nervous because my English is not good too, she thought I was joking but I was not, I was so nervous because sometimes I forget the letters in English, the case is that she finished the call and I listened her kinda mad so I decide call again, when I was calling again she told me in rude tone “ we are so busy so call after 4 because now we cannot, I asked you to spell and you didn’t so it’s not choice after 4 will be.” She called me after 4 and she started with a long and rude speech saying what happened before with the same tone, I tried to explain she didn’t listen, she asked about my name and I said why? I just wanted to know why, I don’t was thinking about fight or something because I really wanted to help my mother. In the end when I asked her she told me like “I’ll finish the call because you are not helping and we are so busy, I asked you and you don’t want to collaborate with me too so bye, “even I tried to talk she didn’t let me do it, she continue talking and she DIDNT let me finish or something, even say any word, maybe she thought I was rude or something but it was not like this, I called her again and she answered, I said everything I’m saying now but for her and she excused everything and with the same rude tone, I just felt bad and I started to have a sensitive and anxiety attack about how she talked to me before and in the moment, also I started crying because my attack, she gave a phone number and she told me some indications to do with a soft tone later, I said thanks you and bye because I really felt so bad but I really wished if she was kind and good person but she doesn’t look like she has passion or patience or if she’s doing her work in good way, I know maybe I cannot talk to her because I’m not the person of the appointment but I really did it because she neede it to much… and I was just a translator.:(

The phone number is the same as in the google maps and the line was line 3…

Hailey

Extremely disappointed today, they opened a window to speak to me instead of opening a freaking door. And basically told me, the drop in is full. Which they also wrote on a sheet of paper and taped to Their door, that it's full, call central intake. well I have been calling central intake all day, every hour. there are no beds anywhere. I wish I knew in advance to call either Sistering or Central Intake to check if they are letting women in or not. I had no idea they could even refuse to let women in crisis with nowhere to go, inside. I have nowhere to stay safe, to stay out of the elements, to eat, drink water, shower, or to get support and talk to someone about my absolutely broken state of mental health and desperately need help but nowhere is willing to offer me help. I am about to give up on living and ready to finally give up trying to fight for my life and fighting my mental health, my depression, my severe suicidality and constant mental breakdowns . It was really impersonal and dismissive and kinda hurtful the way the Staff at sistering cracked open a window to tell me to move along there is no room at the drop in, and then proceed to slam the window in my face as I attempt to explain how much I'm suffering and desperate to find help and trying to ask her where else I may find a 24/7 drop in or literally anywhere that is open late that can help me. cause not even hospitals will help me even when I've just survived a suicide attempt and have to be revived and resuscitated.. and then hours or a day later once medically cleared, sent on my way . and i can't seem to maintain shelter beds because of my poor mental health, suicide attempts and ideation, self harm and self destructive behaviours, mood disorder and anxiety disorder symptoms, panic attacks that are severe ,CPTSD ,OCD compulsions that won't stop sometimes for 24+ hrs in a row to the point of absolute exhaustion and wanting to end my life just to get myself to calm down and be able to rest. I got kicked out of my shelter the other day afrerbeing there for a couple months without issues and then I went downhill and suddenly got discharged. I wish I could cope on my own if I could do this on my own I would. but I need resources and services but even the ones that are there either always are full/at capacity, or they turn me away or discharged me due to my MH issues and the being a danger to myself factor. well this was a huge waste of my energy and time trying to get support here walked all the way here for nothing and felt discouraged and disappointed and absolutely let down. And shooed away. Like I'm a number , a number that they just see as being above their capacity number and out of their responsibility and scope of having to provide support and help and resource to and basic safety and needs.

Aviva G.

I’m very conflicted with this place. I like how they are helping out women who need somewhere to go, and who are in need. But the neighbourhood has changed a lot since Sistering went 24 hours rather than closing mid afternoon. I do, get upset when the ladies try to touch my children. Sure, say hi! I tell my kids to say hi when we pass. But please do not grab my children. Please do not talk to my children like I am not standing there. That is a huge no from me.

F H.

I came to Canada as a refugee in 2022 May, traumatized, with no any family member. I was fortunate to be accepted where I received immeasurable support. And I feel lucky to have benefitted from such benevolence. Staff are kind and loving, Sistering drop in is a family with friendly environment and are always willing to assist and never too busy to lend a listening ear or a helping hand. Sistering by the help of Lourdes,Alison, Angel, Patricia, Wendy, Jamilah, Nicole, Dr Ray, Dr Mona, and Dr Dixon among others gave me support and encouragement when I had very little hope. With their help, I was able to access laudable medical attention and care at no cost. After regaining my health, they encouraged and effectively supported me through the IRB process,and education as a psw, and now am upgrading to nursing, Lourdes and Alison God bless you so much.
They ensured that i never felt alone or left out by making Christmas, birthdays, and other festive days beautiful and am eager waiting for my valentine gift from them, of course yes😉😊. Valentine gift for me😘
And today i move in to my new apartment, everyone was happy for me. I was nervous and express my lonely ness feelings to Alison, and she encouraged me, also telling me calls us incase you need anything. I really felt loved😘.
I have immensely benefited from sistering resources and programs. Through their mentoring and encouragement, I was able to set goals for myself and achieve milestones.

I successfully pursued and completed the personal support worker program of Ontario Certification program at UMS college Dufferin I was also able to successfully applied for housing rent subsidy with the help of Lourdes, Words cannot express my gratitude to the management and staff of Sistering, and from the bottom of my heart, I say THANK YOU for your kindness and support. I can look at the future and smile😊again. Sistering has served thousands of refugees from all around the world, is the helping hand and the umbrella of hope for refugees and homeless while they begin to rebuild a life in Toronto.Sistering is a mother and a family to me, i am happy and privilege to grab all the benefits from sistering.
I love you all God bless you so much!
With love
Faith.