Stichting OOK Reviews

THE SALVATION ARMY IS LEGIT...100% a great orginization that really helps people and you can see the donations going to work on the street,,

God Bless the Army of Salvation i thank you for all you have done for me.

The women and men that work at the Belkin House have holes where their hearts should be. They pile abuse on top of abuse and need to find a different job or be made to if necessary. Luckily I can see their behavior for what it is but not a lot of people in positions where shelters are ever necessary can do that. It still hurts too. They are completely antagonistic and dehumanizing beyond comprehension.

This shelter/halfway house is ridiculous. They kick out single moms and children - rain, snow or shine - daily from 7:45 am - 12:30 pm for Housekeeping . A harsh reminder of our situation. We re left wasting time, finding ways to entertain child, carrying around any items we may need for the 5 hours. There is no wifi available to clients or a resource centre for computer research, printing, copying, etc necessary for finding a home. No on-site housing help. They place families with children on the same floor as women with serious mental health issues.

i did not feel safe here. this isn't just a women's shelter its also a half way house for people getting out of jail, you have to share the common areas with these convicts. one of the men apparently was a pedophile he made a sexually harassing comment towards me which i reported to the staff and they did nothing asked me to point him out yet everyday he was still there staring at me. another guy wouldnt stop hitting on me and this chick i had to share i room with had a crush on him so she told me if i dont pack up my stuff and leave she was going to stab me...... so yeah i left and was sleeping on the streets instead when i was 17. great fun

Reason to follow pending possible legal action, civilly. All I'll say for now is terrible food and attitude from staff when you mention it.

My personal experience with all staff was positive and found them very helpful when needed. They provide 3 square meals/showers/laundry/recreational room/programs/etc.. in a professional manor... a shelter guess is welcome to stay up to 30 days. I refuse to give a bad review due to the condescending (to say the very least) old man that's always has the hat on at front desk... Yet I wouldn't feel right without leaving some sort of documentation of his historically rude performance I fell victim too... Cheers to that guy that clearly hates his life and reflects it onto people going through some of the worst times of their lives...

Did not feel safe here. people with PTSD and fleeing abuse should NOt be sent here! When the stress of it sent me to the hospital they cut off my lock, stripped my locker and gave away my bed. It was not clean either. I took photos

Kudos to a wonderful organization that helps people who are serious to seek help.

Staff are rude and condesending, dont like asking for anything because they look annoyed if you ask them for anything. Was told to leave after 29 days for no reason and its 30 day stay, they also dont let natives stay longer than a month but everyone else gets to stay for 2-3 months at a time

I think one time this was a place that prided itself on being a high barrier/no tolerance shelter. But really this designation needs to be revisited or even revoked based more on staff attentiveness than on facilities.
During my exploration, I found that the staff are, like most non-profits these days, beleaguered. Staff worn out to the point of going through the motions, reflected in all aspects, from security to floor attendants, w/ upper management more interested in maintaining heirarchy than in remembering their mission statement & reason for being.
Policies seem quite good on paper & the "guests" are expected to sign and adhere to, but there seems to be no consistency in enforcement. Often, staff are seen almost hiding in their offices, & on the program floors one is hard pressed to find any visible staff there at all, instead relying on peer reporting, opening doors for abusing & ignoring policies, & for greater chances of harrassment, especially among those who've been there along time or are repeats who've learned how to read the system.
If there's updating of procedures to reflect the myriad of circumstances they encounter repeatedly, there doesn't seem to be any indication. They certainly have a lot to know & do so you can't blame the workers. It's a hard and thankless job in dealing w/ the homeless & disadvantaged. But this means passing on responsibility to the next shift or deferrals to management when problems happen so, if one encounters harrassment, policy breaches or unhealthy conditions, it can go unadresssed or turned back onto the person staying there to handle it by throwing them into Belkin's bureaucracy. Of course many staying here aren't that sophisticated or lack the experience in how to navigate adminstrative systems, so they give up & suffer silently or find themsleves in a losing battle for upholding the rights this organization established for their welfare in the first place. Less seasoned staff as well as the more worn-out long term attendants were seen to become defensive when pressed for accountability (again putting the responsibility on those staying there) or begrudgingly handling issues, and that doesn't seem right. Or charitable.
The conditions of cleanliness are usually supposed to be quite good, & they do offer all the essentials plus a clean towel or two to shelter visitors, but this reputation has outgrown itself; it's become more uneven these days, & this goes for the program facilities as well as the shelter portions, which can be, at times filthy. While this can be remedied by stricter enforcement for conduct, the staff just don't seem to have it in them to bother, so the shared spaces get dirty & wait until the morning for the cleaning staff, & even then this basic level can be reserved for the shared spaces with the sleeping quarters not even cleaned. They attribute this to a shortage of cleaning staff which means this isn't a budget issue.
The kitchen is another matter. They are quite generous with offering food and some of the staff do try and do care, and it would be nice for guests to offer more appreciation. Then again, the homeless already have enough problems, and can be forgiven if their minds are on their own issues (stays for the homeless here are only for a month and you can't come back for at least two). But these once-proud standards have slid a bit. It's a roll of the dice, w/ some staff quite nice & others who almost resent the people they are meant to serve. Of note is how those who work or volunteer are much better fed than the clients they are supposed to feed, & the obviousness of this in the dining room seems oddly incongruous for a charity. Breakfasts are good & generous, lunches & dinners become paltry (except for the staff). Word is the issue is not donations, there are plenty (& plenty wasted).
Because it's not safe as advertised, w/ staff apathy & fading standards, it gets this rating. The worst part? This is the best of all of the facilites. Hopefully management can turn things around.
Fellow donors, please step up pressure to remedy this.

Belkin House has great staff, and caring case workers. It caters to 60 men and 35 woman and families in need of shelter. It also houses the PDP, or Personal Development Plan program. Men/woman/transgender/refugees pay $375 dollars rent per month for there own little suite. A transitional housing program, for up to 18 months, to further better there lives and to establish permanent housing down the road. It has changed so many lives this program....for the better good. Applicants can request an application form at the front desk. It is a drug/achohol free, zero tolerance, safe program. It has changed my life.....after spending 11 years on the downtown Eastside.....I have a new life....all from my hard work, and the help of the Salvation Army Belkin house......

I called on behalf of someone in need and I got treated horribly over the phone and got hung up on .
No need to make people feel so low in life.
Not everyone is fortunate in life

It was okay, I stayed 30 days then got the boot but I knew the rules going in. Didn't get an extension because I'm to well put together and too smart and capable. Good food, free laundry, 6 bunks to a room. Sucked having to stay downstairs staring at each other all morning until 12:30 each morning. I can't go back for 60 days so I'm shelter hopping because I can't afford to pay rent and eat ect. on minimum wage never mind social assistance.