Description

In this episode, we speak with Lady Laforet, Executive Director – The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families.

Stewarding services that are data driven and evidence-based, Ms. Laforet’s focus at the Centre over the past 15 years has been on areas of transformational leadership, change management, and ensuring homelessness services are provided in community with a strong gender-based lens. Currently in their second year in their new space at 500 Tuscarora, Ms. Laforet is currently overseeing the agency’s incoming 5-year strategic plan, with pillar areas of community connections, internal excellence, and advocacy driving her work.  Community-minded and pragmatic, she splits her time between her work and her home-life- with her husband, two daughters, three cats, and a dog.  

The Welcome Centre Shelter works to actively transition women+ and families out of homelessness through emergency shelter and peer-supported services.

Centre Programs:

• Emergency shelter and basic needs for women+ and families experiencing absolute homelessness (can support 32 single women and 21+ families with minor children)
• Housing support case management targeting keeping shelter stays infrequent and short in duration.
• Family support case management for high acuity/need families with additional barriers, with a focus on children’s school attendance and system access
• Children’s on-site recreational programming
• Harm reduction programming for agency clients and community members, that provides access to available Needle Syringe Programming (NSP) and sexual health supplies.
• On-site, once weekly general practitioner support to shelter service users, as part of the Shelter Health Network
• Twice weekly drop-in program targeting prior shelter system users who are transitioning into housing and seeking additional social supports and peer engagement.
• Peer Engagement Program to connect women in shelter with trained peer engagement workers who support healthy, informed, and peer supported shelter stays.

Contact Information:

Website: http://www.welcomecentreshelter.com/

Social links: https://linktr.ee/welcomecentreshelter

Email: info@welcomecentreshelter.com

Phone: (519) 971-7595

“Inspiring Community” is a production of the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society

Connect with WECAS & Hosts:

www.wecas.on.ca

info@wecas.on.ca

Socials: @WindsorEssexCAS