Thank you, Guelph!
Thanks to an incredible response from local not-for-profits and grassroots organizations, we’ve now allocated more than $120,000 for enhanced services and grant applications are now closed. We appreciate every agency, staff member, and volunteer that has moved so quickly to help deliver more meals, longer hours, or other enhanced services before the City-supported daytime drop-in space opens on or about March 1, 2026.
Overview
We’ve committed a total of $120,000 in funding to not-for-profit and grassroot organizations who can provide longer hours, more meals or other enhanced daytime services between January 19 and March 1, 2026, such as:
- Meals
- Food and basic needs packages
- Washrooms
- Warm-up locations
About the grant
- Through the Emergency Community Grant for Daytime Space and Food Security, up to $15,000 was available to help cover enhanced daytime services.
- Agencies that requested more than $15,000 were welcome to submit the same application. In this case, a member of the Community and Affordable Housing team would reach out within one to three business days to learn more about the proposal and explore available options.
Applications were assessed on a rolling basis, with funding awarded to successful applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligibility
- Be a registered not-for-profit OR a grassroots organization working through a registered not-for-profit
- Be AODA compliant
- Have insurance coverage of at least $2 million CDN
- Hold the appropriate licenses and permits to operate planned services
What was considered
- Experience doing similar work in Guelph
- Experience in supporting equity-deserving communities, including unsheltered individuals
- Demonstration of the work filling existing gaps in daytime space and/or food provision
- Clear budget and need for funding
Thank you, Guelph!
Thanks to an incredible response from local not-for-profits and grassroots organizations, we’ve now allocated more than $120,000 for enhanced services and grant applications are now closed.
We appreciate every agency, staff member, and volunteer that has moved so quickly to help deliver more meals, longer hours, or other enhanced services before the City-supported daytime drop-in space opens.
Daytime drop-in space in Guelph
Stepping Stone is preparing to open a City-supported daytime drop-in space at 23 Gordon Street on or about March 1, 2026 to support residents in need. This grant program will help fill interim gaps in service until this new space opens.
On each day of the week, people have a community space to go for warmth. City Hall and our libraries are also available as warm-up locations throughout the winter.
You can access the Community Cold Weather Response Plan on the Guelph & Wellington Poverty Elimination Collaborative’s website for a list of hours and places to go.
Where to go for enhanced services
Below is a list of successful applicants that will be providing enhanced services in Guelph, with support from the City’s Emergency Community Grant.
Royal City Mission
Between Tuesday, January 27, 2026 and Saturday, February 28, 2026, Royal City Mission will provide daytime services seven days a week at 50 Quebec Street. The Emergency Community Grant will cover enhanced daytime services from 1-7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during this period.
With the extended hours, services will be available Mondays to Saturdays from 1–7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. and supper at 6 p.m. (no suppers on Sundays).
Thank you to Royal City Mission for offering these valuable services and coordinating with community partners. Thank you as well to those partners who have stepped in quickly with trained staff, volunteers, and resources including:
- Wyndham House
- Guelph Community Health Centre
- Traverse
- The SEED
- Sanguen Health Centre
- Thresholds Homes and Supports
- Stepping Stone
- Hope House
- Rachel’s Saturday Table
- Side by Side Guelph
To learn more, visit royalcitymission.ca
Side by Side Guelph
Side by Side Guelph currently provides meals on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the corner of Wyndham St. S. and Wellington St. E.
The team also prepares emergency hampers and delivers household donations to help newly housed folks.
The Emergency Community Grant for Daytime Space and Food Security will cover new kitchen equipment, more meals, and additional emergency supports until a daytime drop-in space opens at Stepping Stone’s 23 Gordon Street location (Note: Side by Side Guelph’s Sunday meal service will continue after Feb. 28, 2026).
Thank you to the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, which sponsored the funding application from Side by Side Guelph.
To get connected, visit sidebysideguelph.ca
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition will provide daytime drop-in hours for residents through five neighbourhood groups until Feb. 28, 2026. The emergency grant will also help cover the costs of additional food and basic needs hampers to help meet community demand.
To access these services, you can visit the locations below:
- Brant Avenue Neighbourhood Group – Saturdays from 2-7 p.m.
- Grange Hill East Neighbourhood Group – Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Onward Willow Neighbourhood Group – Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Thursdays from 12-3 p.m.
- Parkwood Gardens Neighbourhood Group – Mondays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Two Rivers Neighbourhood Group – Wednesdays from 4-8 p.m.
For more information on Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition’s hours and programs, visit guelphneighbourhoods.org/
Chalmers Centre
Chalmers Centre provides a drop-in café where people can access food hampers and baskets on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at 41 Macdonell Street.
The grant will help cover additional food provisions and increased seating capacity until Feb. 28, 2026.
To learn more, please visit chalmerscentre.ca/
Salvation Army
Salvation Army provides baked goods, produce, and a clothing pantry between Tuesdays and Fridays at 210 Victoria Road South. People can access services from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3:45 p.m.
The grant will help cover additional emergency hamper support until Feb. 28, 2026.
To learn more, visit the Community & Family Services page for the Guelph Citadel Salvation Army’s website.
Rachel’s Saturday Table
Every Saturday from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Rachel’s Saturday Table offers hot meals, warm beverages, and takeaway essentials at the corner of Woolwich Street and Wyndham Street.
The grant will help support increased demand for meals since mid-January, as well as additional essentials and gift cards to cover groceries and other emergency needs.
To learn more, visit the Rachel’s Saturday Table Facebook page.
Questions?
For questions about the grant, please email [email protected].