The Hope Centre - Welland, Ontario

chival O.

I met beautiful and compassionate staff at the reception. The environment is warm and clean, and the service to the community is commendable. Thank you hope centre

Andra B.

T'is the season! Donations are Necessary!!
Our items were recieved with gratitude and a big smile. We were able to ask some questions about local programs and services, we learned a lot!! What a wonderful community, we are so fortunate to live here! We were also offered a plant cutting!
Recommended for anyone who wants to feel closer to the community

Catiee M.

This place just dumped someone and all their belongings at the end of my street, to join an encampment. Not sure why you’re encouraging 2 TVs and more to be dumped in a field where there’s already serious issues happening. No consideration for our community or the neighbours cleaning up after your “staff”.

Jesycka S.

I’ve been at the Hope Center for 3 months after already having been fighting for my children for over a year. My ex refuses to give them back after a mental health crisis I had in March 2023.

I’ve been reduced to living in a shelter after financial difficulty while having my children taken away and was evicted from my home as a result. I stayed with my grandpa for 3 months prior to coming here.

It was very difficult for me to acquire a shelter spot because I have an emotional support animal and this is the only one that would take me. At first I thought it was going to be a good experience when the shelter manager advocated for me to stay but I should have realized the red flags.

When they take you on as an intake they have you sign a form stating that you agree to follow “their” plan.

I am in one of their motel rooms. They don’t give you an actual key to your room so you always have to ask for someone to open your door when you are coming and going.

They offer you breakfast, lunch and dinner Breakfast is cereal or oatmeal. Lunch is a sandwich with either a side of a small portion of vegetables, small bag of chips, or 2 oatmeal cookies. Dinners are usually well made. They also provide juice and instant coffee or tea but you are not allowed your own appliances in the room to make your own coffee or tea.

The staff seem to search for reasons to kick people out of the program. They’ll make claims that you aren’t looking when you’ve looked at 5 different apartments because you “can’t” live here. You explain to them that you can’t afford what’s out there, and what your needs are, which in my case is a minimum of a 2 bedroom. That’s after being reduced because I truly feel like I need a 3 bedroom.

The staff will lie and say they can’t speak to the Region when the region is one of their funders and listed as a partner on their website. The staff will also lie stating a rule has been in place for a month, that multiple staff have talked to you about it and a memo was sent out but nothing was received, the rule had been in place for 2 weeks and it’s the first time you’ve heard about it.

They’ll kick you out for being a mother of 3 children refusing to live somewhere where you can’t have them. They’ll tell you “you’re not being realistic” while blatantly ignoring that you are telling them what you need and that you can’t take being a mother away from her. They’ll tell you that’s not what they are doing at all.

There are a couple of good staff who empathize but they aren’t really taking any action to say “no this isn’t okay. I guess I’ve been in that situation before but when someone told me to refuse services to a disabled person and tried to disguise it as something other than discrimination I fought it and ultimately stopped working. As the saying goes. Evil wins when good people do nothing.

Jennifer A. L.

Not very helpful. Due to being in a desperately bad situation, I went into Hope center to get housing help. Was basically told the lady couldn't help me. Asked for help with NRH priority status, they couldn't help me with this either. Was told shelters are all full

Tim N.

the are not trained or have other agendas stay on there shelter and Staff there did not conduct or follow life procedures and was discriminating and breach of confidencealitly staff interference with couples and over stepping boundary etc.list gone on and lots goes on at hope center right ltr.

Maya P.

The hope center is a very racist and abusive organization. The CEO John is very rude, controlling and abusive. Well trying to tell him how his staff made me feel discriminated against, he completely cut me off and told me that I basically wasn't allowed to express how I feel. He even went as far to tell me of I wasn't allowed to use the word bigotry or racism while talking with him! That's completely abusive. Controlling. It's actually disgusting to think this is the one who controls the hope center. But it makes sense, that their shelves would be empty. Their approach to the community is driving away the donors! Who would want to donate to an organization that has a strong air of bigotry and judgement towards their clients. Especially when these clients are the most vulnerable in wellend! Stay away from this place. It should be torn down. It's truly disgusting the way Samantha and John righteously try to defend the bad behavior of their staff. Its a very sad way to operate a non for profit this is why they have tons of bad reviews !!!

Lindaaa

This place is amazing. The staff here is so friendly and welcoming. They have a lot of programs and try to help the community in many different ways. I am very proud of this community centre and I hope it continues to grow and help those in need!