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Marillac Place provides a safe home for women ages of sixteen and up who are pregnant, who have a child in their care, or who are attempting to regain care of their child.

Women who come to Marillac Place receive 24 hour guidance and support, continue their education and are enabled with the life-skills they need to care for themselves and their child.

Our onsite staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mission Statement

Marillac Place supports new mothers and mothers-to-be facing homelessness in Waterloo Region by providing a safe living environment, teaching parenting & life skills and developing supportive relationships.

Vision Statement

Every mother & child facing homelessness in Waterloo Region has the opportunity to recover and rebuild to ensure a successful future.

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Watch our video about one mother’s true story of empowerment.

Friends of Marillac Place

Friends of Marillac Place is a special community of supporters who commit to ongoing monthly gifts. These gifts provide a stable source of support that allow us to meet the needs of the mothers and children in our care.

Friends of Marillac Place give in amounts that suit personal budgets. Your pledge will be applied to your credit card every month, and you will be provided with a single tax receipt at the end of the year.

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Want to join Friends of Marillac Place by phone? Call us at 519-571-0722 x202 or donate below:

About Us

Our Mission

Marillac Place resolves to give mothers the tools to become effective parents and self-supporting, responsible members of the community. Marillac Place offers safe affordable accommodation, with basic life skill training, childcare guidance and educational opportunities. We provide chances for brighter futures to mother-led families, helping them to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

Our Mandate

Marillac Place provides a safe home for women ages of sixteen and up who are pregnant, or who have a child in their care, or who are attempting to regain care of their child. Marillac Place can accommodate children up to 24 months of age. Residency is permitted for up to 12 months.

Our History

Marillac Place is a Special Works Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Kitchener Particular Council). Our namesake, Louise de Marillac, was a follower of St. Vincent de Paul, who served the sick and the poor in the sixteenth century. We opened our doors in 1987 as a shelter for abused women. In 1992 we changed our mandate to meet the evolving needs of the community: providing housing and support services for pregnant and parenting women and their children. Our goal is to create a culture of empowerment, security, safety and stability for our participants. We have space for up to ten women between ages 16 and up and children up to the age of 24 months. They may reside at Marillac Place either during their pregnancy, or with their child/children for a maximum stay of twelve months (pending the family meets our mandate). Marillac Place’s ability to offer longer-term stays allows for more intensive training of life skills necessary to their successful transition to independent living. We can also accommodate women who have lost care of their child (up to the age of 24 months) through our Plan to Parent Program. These women can stay at Marillac Place and work towards regaining care of their child.

Our service is unique because we offer the option of long-term accommodation, and 24-hour support to our participants. We know that many of our participants may lack family and social support and need supportive housing that will provide them with more time to develop the parenting and life skills needed to live independently in the community. Our participants also benefit through the peer support aspect of community living. As mutual aid is a key element of community living, the women are also strengthened by the support they give each other. It is mandatory for all participants to continue their education and to attend programming within the community. Marillac Place also offers on-site programming to our participants and outreach clients on topics ranging from life skills, to parenting, to self-care. We are committed to providing these women and children with all of the tools they will need to have a happy, healthy future with their children.

Do You Need Help?

Marillac Place provides a safe home for women ages of sixteen and up who are pregnant, or who have a child in their care, or who are attempting to regain care of their child. To find out more, please click below.

We provide special services to women around the clock with professional and caring staff there to aid you or your child when needed. Services like housing, education, referrals and more can be found by clicking below.

If you are pregnant or parenting and need help, we can provide assistance by answering questions you may have, and provide long lasting support and guidance. Please click below for more information on how we can help you.

Do You Want To Help?

Marillac Place works hard to secure grants so that the women and their infants residing here have the necessary resources to nurture brighter futures, and we greatly appreciate donations from the public. To find out more about how you can help us, click below.

Volunteers enhance the mission of Marillac Place through direct and indirect service to the children and women in our home. They are a critical aspect of our operation. Find out how you can become a volunteer below!

If you are interested in working at Marillac Place, we welcome resumes from prospective employees who want to work with mother-led families. Click below for more information.