St. Catharines Resource Centre

The Start Me Up Niagara Resource Centre is located at 203 Church St. in St. Catharines. It is a welcoming safe place, open five days a week, with a pick-up lunch service on Sundays.

About The Centre

The Centre has hosted 33,000 drop-in visits and served 14,000 hot lunches in the past year.

Our staff is always available, and visitors have access to a variety of services, programs and activities. 

Contact The Centre

  • Start Me Up is hope for the future. They provide help getting a place to live, help finding work, help getting food and clothes. Without Start Me Up, I would have no chance in life. Everyday I need and use the services here. Thank you!
    Dave Stewart

Drop-In Services

Visitors can expect the following:

  • Daily refreshments & coffee always freshly brewed
  • Hot lunches at no charge on weekends and holidays
  • Doctor and nursing services
  • Mental Health services one-on-one
  • Access to phones, computers, restrooms, and mail services
  • Assistance with applications and other paperwork
  • Connections to other community services
  • Information on housing and employment programs
  • Quest and Positive Living visits

Programs & Activities 

The following activities and programs are available to everyone:

  • Healthy Kitchen & Community Garden

    Our community garden program allows us to bring fresh vegetables and fruits from the garden to the tables of the people in the community.

    Learn More

  • Art Supplies & Classes 

    Daily activities ranging from crafts, drawing and colouring, visual arts, art therapy and painting. Art materials are supplied.

  • Music

    A piano and guitar are just some of the musical instruments that are always available at The Centre.

    Participants frequently entertain others, especially on birthdays and special events.

  • "Giveaway" Library

    SMUN has a variety of books in its library for our participants to have. Books are restocked as available. Daily newspaper and magazines are sometimes available.

    Donations of current books are welcome especially magazines and paperbacks.

    How to Donate Books

  • Recreational Activites

    SMUN offers many fun recreational activities including BINGO, movies, crafts, and exercise. Everyone is invited to relax, take a break and join in!

  • Volunteer Opportunities

    Develop skills and build your resume by getting involved. Participants are welcome invited to join the team and help keep Start Me Up Niagara running smoothly. 

    Community participation and court ordered service placements are available.

    Volunteer Opportunities

Support Our Work

Your donations go directly to frontline service and supports for our participants who experience homelessness and other mental health and addictions issues.

Donate Now