Sistering was founded early in 1980, when a small group of social service agency representatives, women living in hostels and community residents came together to discuss the needs of homeless and transient women in downtown Toronto.  Particularly women’s need for a safe and welcoming women’s only space during the day, and a space where women could access food, support and information.

Women were being discharged from mental health facilities without adequate community support and employment opportunities for unskilled women were scarce. Even those healthy enough to work could not readily become self-supporting. Women leaving abusive family situations, women widowed and pensionless and younger women involved in sex-trade and substance use - and remain - among those for whom Sistering was created. These realities have not changed for the women who come to Sistering today, twenty years later. In addition, low levels of social assistance and the persistent shortage of affordable, safe, and permanent housing continue to undermine women’s hopes for independence and dignity.

Sistering’s Drop In first opened three days a week in the Family Residence, an emergency hostel at Bathurst and Dundas in the fall of 1981. In January 1982 the Drop-In moved to Scadding Court Community Centre where it operated seven days a week. In September 1993, Sistering moved again (to College and Bathurst) as the space available at the community centre could no longer safely meet the needs of the more than forty women who were coming each. In 2007 Sistering moved to its long term home at 962 Bloor Street West. This location houses the Drop In Centre and the Administration offices.

In 1987, following a process of program review and needs assessment, a second centre was opened at Masaryk Cowan Community Centre for an outreach program. The Parkdale Outreach/Drop In provides transportation and a structured day program to women living in poverty in Parkdale who are socially isolated and cut off from community life. Most of the women live in area boarding or nursing homes.

The Drop-In Centre and the Parkdale Outreach/Drop In Program are primarily funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care as well as the City of Toronto, and its initial funding was sponsored by community partner St. Christopher House. Sistering has been a member of the United Way since 1984. Sistering also receives short-term project money for a variety of projects and programs. Finally, we depend on the support of hundreds of individual donors, businesses and foundations to help us meet the growing demands for our services. During 2007, over 1,200 individual women visited our programs!

Founding Members

Sistering honours and acknowledge the work of its founding members:  Carmelina Barwick, Margot Breton, Margaret Bryce, Raquel Marziala, Susan McDonald, Chris Mounsteven, Ruth Schembri, Connie Schwenger, Nancy Sidle and Susan Vander Voet.