Marillac Place

There's no phone you can use. When you're in labour you have the option to take the bus or an ambulance. They don't help with a taxi like at St. Monica's. The food is donated milk, Zehr's half rotten fruit and few actual groceries. Which you pay $100 a week for out of your RENT.

Marillac Place provides a supportive and caring environment for all residents. Staff are supported and respected by management, and receive excellent training prior to starting.

I have read some of the comments, which are untrue. I had done some work there and it is a friendly environment. Their food is actually purchased, as a staff member would take a list from residents and from what was needed for the food plans and would then shop for those needs. Some donations were yes given, however staff was very adamant in making sure no expired food was ever given to the residents. This was very important to them. They maintained a safe atmosphere for residents.and offer as many programs as possible. To assist young mothers in becoming the best mothers they can be. Without their continued support for mothers at risk, we would see a lot more homelessness, and apprehension than we do. They also do not recieve as much funding as other agencies. So if persons wish to complain be a solution, not a problem.

For the past two years I have witnessed the staff do their best to build a safe and inclusive environment for participants, staff, and visitors. Management truly does care about the well-being of participants and staff, and Marillac Place has been a positive place to be!

Having worked at Marillac Place for 3 years I have committed my time and energy in making Marillac Place a safe, loving and goal centred environment for the women who live there. As staff we work diligently to create relationship centred approaches that are informed with social work and social services values and perspectives. Staff work both individually and as a team to create an environment that builds women up through their struggles and celebrate their strengths. I am happy to represent this organization as we continue to work hard along side our participants on a daily basis.

As someone else commented, some of these reviews are untrue. If women go into labour, they already have a plan as to how they want to get to the hospital whether it is by Ambulance, they have someone to call, or by taxi (which at times Marillac has and does provide taxi vouchers). There is a phone residents have access to along with a computer and a television. Staff buy fresh food from the store and there is donations from the food bank, but staff pick out fresh, good food. Nothing mouldy or expired. The staff work hard to maintain a safe and supportive household. Things will never run perfectly smooth as there is up to 10 women living together, plus babies and/or toddlers; but staff try to make it as perfect as possible. The staff are good, caring, hardworking people. Marillac is a pretty great place which is non-profit and runs on donations.

10/10 would NOT recommend - you pay rent to live in a shelter (most if not all of w.e income you have) (it's a not-for-profit organization run on charitable donations so it's illegal to be charging 'particapants' rent) - no heat in Winter - no AC in Summer - bed bug infestation whole house - ant infestation in basement - can't use kitchen after 6pm - can't shower after 9pm

I stayed at marilac December 23 2019 to August 2020. I'm writing this partially in response to the last review. They even gave me Christmas presents, gift cards, baby stuff, soft baby blanket that i still have, socks etc. So kind! -There were no bed bugs, or ant infestation in the basement. One would hope nobody brought unwanted guests when moving in since. But, -floors, counters, dishes, garbage, recycling, on every floor multiple times a day, bathrooms daily chores. If residents don't do it, staff do. They're VERY clean. - heat is on very high in winter! - ac comes on after a specific temperature is reached for the second day in a row and when working works very well! - after 6 kitchen chores are done and cooking isn't allowed because residents don't always clean up properly after cooking. There are alloted times to use the kitchen to cook at breakfast lunch and dinner. Snacks are allowed after dinner chores so long as you don't make a mess and clean any dishes you make. Its not staffs job to do your dishes. Very reasonable. - you are not allowed to bathe after 9pm which is very reasonable. There are rooms on either side of 2&3 floor bathrooms and babies who are trying to learn how to sleep thru the night and tired mamas who don't want their little angels to become little banshees just cause you don't have common courtesy. Its not rocket science. - its a non profit shelter, the region of waterloo i believe helps fund their staff (I think) and aside from that, they run on donations and what you pay for rent. Its very common for shelters to charge a subsidized rent depending on your income type/amount. They are not profiting. - i would recommend marillac place. Staff is excellent. They really do care. They're so nice. I would spend hours talking to them. Overall my memory of my time, there is positive because of my interactions with them. I made so much progress there and I would not be where I am today if not for them, and their help. I would recommend marilac place over anywhere else in the tri city area just because of the staff. I really appreciate all that they did for me. They truly went above and beyond.