All Bissell Centre services are delivered at no cost with the exception of the summer camps where a nominal amount is charged. Click on the links below to read more about the services offered at Bissell Centre.

To access services, please call (780) 423-2285 extension 110.

Essential Needs
Drop In
Adult Support
Community Liaison Program
Employment Services
Family Programs
Well Communities Well Families
Thrift Shoppe
Seasonal Events
Special Projects

Essential Needs
People facing a crisis can obtain assistance with food, clothing, and household goods. Other forms of help are also available depending on the situation. In addition to solving the immediate crisis, our intake workers try to identify the cause of the crisis and look for ways to find more permanent solutions.

A short-term solution is used to solve a crisis while the individual is encouraged to seek the cause to find solutions for underlying problem.

Read an Essential Needs real life story
Read our report "Living Without Food"

Robert Tegler Friendship Room (Drop-In)
Over 350 people come to the Robert Tegler Friendship Room (Drop-In) every day. It's the place many inner city residents consider as their "living room". Coffee, sandwiches and snacks are served, and meals are prepared and served. Telephones are available, as are shower and laundry facilities, and volunteers give haircuts weekly. Workers from other agencies such as Legal Aid and the Health Centre provide assistance on a regular basis. Activities are planned regularly and a movie night is offered weekly. Many participants borrow books and magazines, play card and board games or read the daily newspaper. The Drop-In gives people a place to relax and socialize in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

Read a Drop In real life story

Adult Support
Support is available to help adults with many different aspects of life. Bissell Centre offers assistance with things like completing government forms, landlord/tenant issues, advocating for fair treatment, and referrals to other community resources.

Educational and recreational programs are held regularly to give people the opportunity to develop skills and experience new things. Every week Bissell Centre holds cooking classes to teach ways of preparing nutritious meals on a low budget. Ingredients are provided and participants take a meal home with them. A Collective Kitchen is also offered monthly, where participants plan a menu for five days, shop for the ingredients, and prepare the meals together. Outings are also held every weekday during the summer months to places of interest and seasonal festivals.

Bissell Centre also assists with issues relating to Supports for Independence and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped. With Bissell Centre's support and guidance, many individuals who suffer from chronic and persistent mental health issues and those affected by Hep C are able to live independently and well in the community. Individuals receive assistance with life skills such as banking, personal hygiene, housing, and nutrition.

The emphasis of adult programs is to assist individuals to be as self-reliant as possible and to build community among the participants.

Read an Adult Support real life story

Community Liaison Program
The Community Liaison Outreach Program provides assistance to individuals with mental health concerns and those who face multiple barriers to independent living. The program helps people to function successfully in the community by reducing the barriers involved in meeting their economic, social and personal needs. The program offers assistance to find appropriate housing and support service needs of individuals who are homeless and often considered to be among those who are "hard to house". Outreach workers provide long term programming for those who need the support.

Program components include:

• Supporting individuals who have mental health concerns, and often concurrent addiction issues, and who do not have appropriate supports to address their daily living needs
• Assisting program participants to seek and maintain appropriate housing
• Providing landlord support surrounding residency issues, behavioural challenges, eviction prevention
• Ensuring the provision of flexible supports to participants with an emphasis on meeting housing needs and developing and maintaining daily living skills
• Program participants report they are accessing resources, making healthier life style choices and they have an improved quality of life.

The primary goal of the program is to ensure participants have a home and a community where they feel accepted and respected.

Watch videos on homelessness in Edmonton
Read our report "You Never Know If You're Going To Wake Up Dead: Living Without a Home"

Casual Labour:  Men and women 18 years and older are placed with employers needing workers on a day-to-day basis.  Workers are paid $10-$15 per hour depending on the job, are covered by Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) insurance, receive a healthy bagged lunch, and receive work equipment as it is available.  These casual labour placements often lead to full time employment.  There is no charge to the employer or the worker for job placement.

Worker Training:  Moving Up Work Preparedness Program, Strengthening Our Spirit 3-Week Pre-Employment Program, H2S Alive, Standard First Aid, Level “A” CPR, and Forklift Training are some of the trainings offered at no charge on a regular basis.  Additional services include support with resume writing, faxing and photocopying, and supported job search.

Employment Counselling:  Employment support staff provides one to one counselling to workers that assists them with developing general work and life skills that may be more effective in reducing barriers that contribute to underemployment or unemployment.

Employers: To place an order for a worker, call (780) 424-4385. 
Workers: To register, come to Bissell Centre West (10530 96 St) between 7:00 am and 7:30 am, Monday to Friday. Doors close at 7:30 am.

Read an Employment Services real life story

Family Programs
A variety of support is available for parents to support and guide them through their experiences as moms and dads. It starts with expectant mothers - family workers give support and advice before the birth of the baby, and offer parenting advice after the baby is born. Bissell also gives assistance with formula, diapers, food, clothing, and baby equipment. A parent Support Group meets weekly, and several family camps are held every summer to help build strong family bonds.

To have a happy and healthy home, Bissell's housing worker helps parents find and maintain stable, affordable housing. This is a special challenge in Edmonton's current economy where there are very low vacancy rates and rents are always on the rise.

Free childcare services are available one day per week. Children are cared for in a stimulating and educational environment, allowing parents to keep appointments, tend to other tasks, or just have some time to themselves. This program works closely with the other services offered to parents at the Centre. Close links are maintained with a local health clinic, and nurses make regular visits to Bissell's Child Care to immunize the children or assist parents with health-related issues.

For more information about these programs, contact Patti at 423-2285 Ext 162 or at pviolette@bissellcentre.org.

Support offered to expectant mothers, children and parents helps them break the cycle of poverty

Read a Family Programs real life story

Well Community Well Families (WCWF)
WCWF is a partnership program between Health for Two and Bissell Centre, with the case management component offered at Bissell Centre.  Long term, intensive relationships are built and maintained with adults living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), women/youth at risk of delivering a baby with FASD, and their communities.  Within these relationships, advocates provide a broad range of intensive support services to program participants. These may include: provision of information, access to vocational/academic education supports, advocacy, goal setting and crisis intervention.

Two WCWF Community Educators present information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and coordinate training to community groups, residents, agencies, systems and schools.  They endeavor to work collaboratively with community organizations in order to strengthen the capacity of service providers to address gaps in support and build relationships among community residents and service providers.

A WCWF Transition Worker assists identified Aboriginal female offenders impacted by FASD who are incarcerated at Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre. The Worker conducts case planning and provides support to ensure each woman's successful transition back to the Edmonton community following her release.

For more information about the WCWF program, contact Beverly at (780) 423-2285 ext 132 or ballard@bissellcentre.org.

Bissell Centre Thrift Shoppe
Clothing, furniture and household goods - both new and gently used - are sold at Bissell Centre Thrift Shoppe for low prices for individuals and families needing a more economical place to shop. Antiques, collectables, jewelry, and other interesting, one-of-a-kind items are also available. Thrift Shoppe revenues support not only the Thrift Shoppe, but also the Community Closet and many other Bissell programs. This is a direct program of Bissell Centre.

Bissell Centre Thrift Shoppe is located at 8818 - 118 Ave. Donations of clothing and household goods can be made at the Shoppe's Sorting Depot. Pick-up services are available for furniture by phoning (780) 471-6644.

For more information about Bissell Centre Thrift Shoppe, contact Don Corness at (780) 471-6644 or dcorness@bissellcentre.org.

See pictures of Bissell Centre Thrift Shoppe

Seasonal Events
Throughout the year, Bissell Centre holds seasonal and special events to ease loneliness and give people the opportunity to celebrate in the company of their friends.

During the Christmas season, Bissell Centre programs host parties for their participants - both children and adults. Entertainment and a festive meal are provided and Santa always drops by to give out presents. Over 1,500 people received gifts and attended parties last Christmas. A dinner for over 1,000 people, prepared and served by volunteers, is held on New Year's Day. And the giving is not limited to the holiday season. Throughout the year, businesses and organizations in the Edmonton community donate and serve special meals to Bissell Centre program participants.

During the summer months, Bissell Centre programs run weeklong retreats at Moonlight Bay Centre on Lake Wabamun. Retreats are held for families, children, adults and individuals with severe mental health problems. Special programs are planned including crafts, sports, nature walks, boating and other lakefront activities. A special training program designed for 14-18 year olds gives young people a chance to learn leadership skills and to volunteer at the summer camps.

Moonlight Bay Centre is available for rental during times when it is not being used for Bissell Centre programs. It is an ideal setting for groups or families to rent. Contact Kristy at 423-2285 Ext 114 or by email at kberryman@bissellcentre.org.

If you can help Bissell Centre make one of its seasonal events a reality - through a financial donation or volunteer time - please contact Cathy Cross at (780) 423-2285 ext. 123.

Special Projects
Through the Inner City Youth Housing Project's five homes, Bissell Centre and three other community agencies operate housing for 20 at-risk youths between the ages of 16 and 18 in Edmonton's inner city. The aim of the project is to provide a stable environment where youths are encouraged to lead productive lifestyles.

The Inner City Pastoral Ministry, an ecumenical church, holds weekly Sunday services at Bissell Centre. Services are followed by a lunch prepared and served by volunteers. The Ministry's staff also offers pastoral and spiritual care.

For more information about Bissell Centre's special projects, or to help by donating time or resources, contact Cathy Cross at (780) 423-2285 ext. 123.