WATERLOO -- The former hotel on Weber Street in Waterloo will now be home to the House of Friendship thanks to $8.5 million in funding from the Ontario government.

In an announcement Wednesday morning, officials said the former Comfort Inn will be converted into a 100-bed housing centre.

“We are thrilled to have a location where we will once again be able to provide the innovative ShelterCare model for people experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region,” said Jessica Bondy, Housing Services Director at House of Friendship. “ShelterCare addresses the physical, mental and addiction health needs of those who are homeless while ensuring public and donor dollars lead to strong outcomes.”

"When they walk through an environment that is warm, that is welcoming, that is dignified, it signals something deeply important, and can be the beginning of a pathway to getting better," said John Neufeld, the Executive Director at House of Friendship.

This announcement comes after a difficult year for the organization. On Feb. 9, there was a fire at the Inn of Waterloo which was being used as a temporary shelter for 120 men. Then in November, as their lease at a Guelph hotel came to end, House of Friendship announced they were temporarily closing their shelter and discontinuing services while they worked to find a new location.

"I have to say, it's probably one of the lowest points we've experienced at House of Friendship," said Neufeld.

A few weeks later the House of Friendship opened transitional housing at its former Charles Street site in Kitchener, in an effort to address increased demand.

A point-in-time survey conducted by the Region of Waterloo last September indicated a significant jump in homelessness. In 2018, there were 333 people experiencing some form of homelessness. In 2021 that figure jumped to 1,085 people.

"The communities that respond creatively and innovatively will never fully solve it, but they will at least move forward and try to serve more people and in a more helpful way," said Neufeld.

“It has been a long and difficult journey to get to this point, and we’re so thankful to the province of Ontario for making this purchase possible," added Bondy. "This location will provide some much-needed stability for both program participants and staff for the foreseeable future."

The hotel will undergo renovations before opening later this year.