Cambridge Shelter Corporation

What Cambridge Shelter Corporation does

Cambridge Shelter Corporation (CSC) is a registered Canadian nonprofit charity (#890259419RR0001) operating in Cambridge, Ontario within the Waterloo Region. The organization was founded in 2005, growing out of the seasonal Out of the Cold program (1998-2005) that operated in seven local churches. Its primary facility, The Bridges at 26 Simcoe St., provides 83 emergency sheltering beds (56 overnight beds on the third floor plus 27 overflow mats on the first floor) and 20 supportive housing bachelor apartments on the second floor for residents transitioning toward permanent housing. CSC also operates BridgeCare, a specialized medical shelter program for unhoused adults preparing for or recovering from surgery or medical procedures, which is relocating from 651 Concession Road to a newly acquired property at 160 Hespeler Road in December 2025.

CSC delivers services at no charge to clients and funds operations through individual donations (including via CanadaHelps), gifts-in-kind, government grants (notably from the Ministry of Community and Social Services), and third-party community fundraising. Wraparound programming includes daily drop-in services, meals, an on-site medical clinic operated in partnership with Lang's Community Health Centre (an 18-year partnership), mental health support delivered to over 60% of residents by a full-time Mental Health and Housing Manager and a part-time Mental Health Peer Worker, the Blair Voluntary Trust Program for financial literacy, an ID Clinic, three full-time Housing Support Workers, and chaplaincy. Three full-time housing support workers helped house over 100 residents in the past year through partnerships with public and private housing providers.

The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Bob Howison and led operationally by Executive Director Wayne Paddick. It is the only emergency shelter in Canada accredited under Imagine Canada's Standards Program and one of only a handful accredited unconditionally. CSC markets itself minimally, relying on community engagement, email newsletters, earned local media, social media storytelling (e.g., the In Our Backyard program), and third-party fundraisers rather than paid acquisition channels.

Name

Cambridge Shelter Corporation

Legal name

Cambridge Shelter Corporation

Website

https://cambridgesheltercorp.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cambridge Shelter Corporation is a Canadian nonprofit operating The Bridges emergency shelter and BridgeCare medical shelter in Cambridge, Ontario, providing free housing, medical, mental health, and rehousing services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Shelter and Supportive Housing Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Supportive housing programs
• Homeless services
• Medical shelter care
• Housing first support

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary donations made through CanadaHelps platform and direct contributions to support shelter operations, programs and services.
2. Gifts in Kind: Donations of goods and services in lieu of monetary donations including food, clothing, toiletries, and household items for residents.
3. Government Funding: Funding from government sources including Ministry of Community and Social Services for specific programs such as the Blair Voluntary Trust Program.
4. Third-Party Fundraising: Community-organized fundraising events and campaigns coordinated by volunteers, sponsors and donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cambridge Shelter Corporation operates The Bridges, a year-round emergency shelter in Cambridge, Ontario providing 83 shelter beds and 20 supportive housing bachelor apartments for individuals experiencing homelessness. It also operates BridgeCare, a small-scale medical shelter program for unhoused adults preparing for or recovering from medical procedures, delivered through partnerships with area hospitals and healthcare providers. Wraparound support services include meals, drop-in programs, on-site medical clinic, mental health support, financial literacy programming, identification assistance, and housing navigation.

Product overview

Cambridge Shelter Corporation operates The Bridges as its primary facility—a unified homeless shelter and supportive housing program combining emergency shelter beds, daily drop-in services, and 20 transitional bachelor apartments. The organization offers multiple integrated programs including BridgeCare (medical shelter), Blair Voluntary Trust (financial management), ID Clinic, Housing Support, On-Site Medical Clinic, and Mental Health Support services, all delivered through community partnerships and in-house staff using a housing-first, holistic approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BridgeCare: A small-scale medical shelter program providing specialty medical services and housing support for up to 20 unhoused adults who are referred by area hospitals or healthcare providers. Clients are typically preparing for or recovering from surgery or specialized medical services.

Products and services

• The Bridges (Emergency Shelter and Supportive Housing) Year-round emergency shelter facility in Cambridge, Ontario providing 83 beds (56 overnight beds on the third floor plus 27 overflow mats on the first floor) and 20 supportive housing bachelor apartments on the second floor for individuals transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.
• BridgeCare Medical Shelter Program Small-scale medical shelter program serving up to 20 unhoused adults who are preparing for or recovering from surgery or specialized medical procedures, referred by area hospitals or healthcare providers. Relocating to 160 Hespeler Road in December 2025.
• Drop-In Centre Programs Daily drop-in programs delivering wraparound services including meals, overnight accommodations, group activities, chaplaincy program, and recreational activities for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Blair Voluntary Trust Program Financial literacy and money management program helping residents budget their income. Participants have their own bank account and receive monthly statements with staff support for budgeting, bill payment, and savings skills.
• Identification Clinic Service where a drop-in coordinator secures identification documents for residents, including health cards, birth certificates, social insurance cards, and landed immigrant certificates, to enable access to housing and employment.
• Housing Support Services Service provided by three full-time Housing Support Workers who assist individuals in developing plans to find appropriate affordable permanent housing, partnered with public and private housing providers, and provide furnishings and household goods for those moving in.
• On-Site Medical Clinic On-site medical clinic delivered through an 18-year partnership with Lang's Community Health Centre. A doctor, nurse practitioner, and social worker are on site once a week to provide medical care and support for residents.
• Mental Health Support Program Mental health support provided by a full-time Mental Health and Housing Manager (who is also a nurse) and a part-time Mental Health Peer Worker, offering weekly informal meetings to residents experiencing mental health issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully housed over 100 residents last year through housing support workers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Lang's Community Health CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner18-year partnership providing on-site medical care. A doctor, nurse practitioner, and social worker are on site once a week to provide medical care and support for residents at The Bridges.
• Community Food Assistance Network of Waterloo RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership supporting the kitchen and food services at The Bridges, helping provide meals to residents through sustainable and ethically sourced food.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Lang's Community Health Centre: Cambridge-based community health centre providing primary care, including the 18-year on-site medical clinic partnership at The Bridges. Comparable as a core operational partner rather than competitor; demonstrates CSC's strategy of integrating clinical care into shelter delivery.
• Region of Waterloo (Social Services): Municipal funder and operator of homelessness services in Waterloo Region. Comparable as both a key funding partner and as a peer operator in the same service geography, with decision authority over municipal property used by CSC (e.g., 651 Concession Road).

Regional players

• Mustard Seed: Calgary-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and programs for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable service model (emergency beds + supportive housing + wraparound), but operates in Western Canada rather than Ontario.
• Union Gospel Mission: Vancouver-based faith-affiliated nonprofit delivering emergency shelter, meals, addiction recovery, and housing services. Comparable as a Canadian shelter operator with similar faith-rooted community partnerships, though serving the West Coast geography.

Direct peers

• Fred Victor: Toronto-based nonprofit delivering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and health/housing support for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable as a mid-sized urban Canadian shelter operator with similar integrated service models and hospital-referral partnerships.
• Homes First Society: Toronto-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing programs. Comparable as an Ontario-focused, similar-sized nonprofit combining shelter beds with permanent supportive housing and wraparound services.
• Old Brewery Mission: Montreal-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and outreach for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable as a Canadian urban shelter operator offering integrated emergency beds, transitional housing, and rehousing support.
• YWCA Cambridge: Local YWCA serving Cambridge and surrounding area with shelter, housing, and support services for women and families experiencing violence and homelessness. Comparable as a nearby, similarly sized nonprofit shelter operator in the same Waterloo Region service area.
• House of Friendship: Kitchener-based nonprofit serving Waterloo Region with emergency shelter, housing support, and community services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Directly comparable as a regional homelessness services peer operating in the same Waterloo Region catchment, with overlapping programs (emergency shelter, family outreach, addiction support).

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army (Ontario Division): National faith-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and social services across Ontario. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering the same core emergency-shelter and wraparound services for unhoused populations, with overlapping fundraising channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/camb_shelter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge Shelter Corporation