Inside transitional housing

Transitional housing at Hope Mission helps bridge the gap between emergency shelter and long-term housing or recovery. Located at Immigration Hall, just across the street from the Herb Jamieson Centre, it provides a stable, supportive environment for up to 52 people at a time—creating space to rebuild daily routines, strengthen independence, and prepare for what comes next.

Ryan Meester, transitional housing supervisor, explains how transitional housing works and how it provides a critical stepping stone for people entering recovery or long-term housing.

 

Q: Can you give us a virtual tour of Immigration Hall? What is the space like?

Immigration Hall is an old brick building. It’s a historical building and has been part of Hope Mission for quite some time. It’s gone through a lot of different uses. At one time it was called the Workers Annex. Then it was a recovery program, then aftercare, and now it’s transitional housing.

The building was redone to feel a bit like a hotel. There are thirteen suites on each level. People live either independently or with a roommate.

It’s meant to be a safe place where people can get out of the shelter system and get a headstart on what’s next—whether that’s housing or recovery. We have common areas where people can build community, watch TV, play games, and spend time together. There are reading nooks, patios, and places to be outside. There’s a real sense of community here.

 

Q: What are the suites like for residents?

They’re like small bachelor suites. You’ve got a bed, a table and chair, a fridge, a microwave—basic things you’d have in your first apartment.

It’s a place where people can get into the swing of living on their own before they’re out on their own completely. They can practice cooking, keeping food, and managing daily routines.

For a lot of people, they may have never lived on their own or rented an apartment before. That can be daunting. This gives them a chance to figure out the basics—things you wouldn’t always think to ask, like how to prepare food properly or plan meals—before they have to do it on their own.

 

Q: Where does transitional housing fit in someone’s journey?

People can enter the shelter system in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s more straightforward—like job loss—and they can move through quickly. Other times, it’s more complex.

Transitional housing is for those points where there are still steps to take before someone can move into housing or recovery. The housing team might identify a few barriers—like ID, income, or health—and this becomes the place where we can work on those things.

It’s about preparing someone so that when they do move on, it’s successful and stable.

 

Q: How is the building structured in terms of support?

We have three floors, each with a different focus.

The first floor is for people preparing to enter recovery programs. Rooms are shared, and there’s more routine and structure—things like daily check-ins and support from staff. We help with applications, assessments, and coordinating entry into recovery programs.

The second floor is what we call our complex floor. That’s for people who may need supportive housing or have medical needs. They might be older or waiting for something like seniors lodging. They usually stay longer, and we support them with appointments, funding, and figuring out the right long-term housing.

The third floor is for people working toward independent housing with fewer barriers. They might need to get ID, open a bank account, or get back to work. Their stay is usually shorter.

 

Q: How long do people stay, and where do they go next?

It depends. The maximum stay is around two years, usually for people waiting for supportive housing or with more complex needs.

For recovery, we try to keep it as short as possible. People want to move into their programs quickly, so it might be a month or two.

For those preparing for independent housing, it’s often a couple of months—long enough to get things sorted and be ready.

From here, people move into independent housing, supportive housing, or recovery programs. The focus is making sure they’re prepared before they go.

 

Q: How many people move through the program?

We have capacity for about 52 people at a time.

So far this year, we’ve supported about 10 people into independent housing and 21 into recovery programs. Last year, which was our first year running this, about 90 people moved into housing or recovery through the program.

That gives you a sense of the turnover. Some people stay longer, but others move through more quickly.

 

Q: How does health support connect to this program?

We have healthcare aides on site every day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They help us understand what people are experiencing with their health and how to support that.

Sometimes when people leave the shelter environment and start to stabilize, health issues become more visible. When someone is in survival mode, they might not notice or address those issues. Once they feel safe, those needs can come forward.

The healthcare aides help identify those changes, connect people to care, and make sure they’re getting support. We work closely with the health services across the street, including the clinic and nurses there.

We also help with things like medication management and getting people to appointments.

 

Q: What do you wish people understood about transitional housing?

I wish people understood how much confidence it builds, and how much community matters.

People sometimes think it’s just a place where someone stays before getting a house. But what really changes people is the community.

You see someone who hasn’t worked in a while, who doesn’t have confidence, start to build relationships. They talk with their neighbour, they reconnect with who they are, and they start to remember they can contribute, they can connect, they can move forward.

Those changes are hard to see unless you’re here every day. But they’re a big part of what makes long-term success possible.