About Abrigo

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Our MOTO

Connecting People to Possibilities

Mission Statement

To build community capacity in west Toronto by helping individuals and families achieve their full potential.
VISION

VISION

To ensure our collaborative efforts result in socially integrated and empowered individuals, families and communities.
Goals for Fiscal 2021/22

Goals for Fiscal 2021/22

Plan and implement a return-to-work strategy that will keep staff, clients and volunteers as safe as possible as the agency continues to contend with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Develop and incorporate a new hybrid model of client service delivery that effectively combines traditional in-person services while embracing the use of virtual platforms for future counselling service delivery. 

Embark on a renewed strategic planning process that will produce an updated Strategic Plan and blueprint for Abrigo until the year 2025.

Welcome back and celebrate the return of clients to Abrigo’s “Life and Hope” seniors’ program offering new, expanded facilities that will make their time spent in the program more engaging, rewarding and enjoyable.

OUR HISTORY

OUR HISTORY

A Brief Overview
1990
All Start Here
Abrigo began

Abrigo began with four full-time staff in 1990 as a resource for women and children facing abuse in the Portuguese community. Our agency soon became a registered charity and in 1993 became a member of the United Way Greater Toronto.

1994-1996
Counselling Services
Counselling Services

In 1994 Abrigo began to expand its counselling services with the funding assistance of what was known then as the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. In 1996 Abrigo started our Partner Assault Response program to assist Portuguese-speaking men who were ordered by the court system to attend counselling sessions to address issues of abuse.

1998
Success by Six
Success by Six

In 1998 Abrigo started its very successful “Success by Six” program for new mothers and caregivers. Funding then and now from the United Way Greater Toronto keeps this program alive and vibrant in person or currently online during the pandemic.

2007
Father’s Program
Father’s Program

In 2007 Abrigo, along with Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto started a Father’s program to help men become better dads. This program continues to flourish today under this partnership.

2010
Seniors Program
Seniors Program

In 2010 a few seniors in the Portuguese language community came to Abrigo with the idea to start a new agency group specifically for seniors. Since that day the volunteer-led “Group Vida e Esperanca” or the “Life and Hope Group” have been an important part of the programming at Abrigo growing to more than 150 regular users.

2012
Store-Front Space
Store-Front Space

On July 31st, 2012 the Abrigo Centre opens its doors to its new store-front space at 1645 Dufferin Street (our current location). That same year the Canadian Women’s Foundation provided a one-year then subsequently four-year grant to work with local high schools on targeting gender-based violence through an anti-abuse / healthy relationship three phase initiative. This quickly became known as the Teens Against Gender-Based Violence
(TAG-V) program.

2014
University Health Network
University Health Network

University Health Network and its Portuguese Mental Health and Addictions Services department struck a formal agreement with Abrigo in April 2014 to start a co-facilitating an Integrated Behavioural Group Therapy (IBGT) program.

2017
New Elevator
New Elevator

The fall of 2017 saw the installation and grand opening of a new elevator that enabled full access to all the programing taking place on our second floor.

2020
Virtual Counselling
Virtual Counselling

The spring of 2020 saw Abrigo move to virtual counselling services because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This quickly became a revelation as many of our clients embraced phone or virtual counselling and appreciated the fact that they did not need to leave their residence to receive care and counselling.

2021
Ontario Trillium Foundation
Ontario Trillium Foundation

In 2021 a $110,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the overwhelming generous support of Manuel DaCosta, owner of Viana Roofing & Sheetmetal Inc., made the total renovation of our second floor a reality. Today, the seniors in our Life and Hope program can look forward to a brand new kitchen and multiple refurbished rooms with new furniture upon their return to the program.

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