Ellen Osler Home Explained

Marguerite Ward the executive director of the Ellen Osler Home and Chantel Malcolm the program coordinator informed us of one of the best kept secrets of Dundas. To most of our surprise, the home is a federal half way house for female prisoners. It is such a surprise because the women fit so well into the community and their rate of recidivism is extremely low. The home is run by the Salvation Army and has been in operation for women for 14 years. Before that it was for young men. The major focus of the home is to reintegrate women into the community. Some are there for 2 - 3 months while others are there for up to 2.5 years. The women face many barriers to integration and need to relearn everyday things like buying groceries, taking a bus or going to the library. Often employment and housing are difficult to find but they do succeed with help.