Welcome To Start Me Up Niagara | Programs and Resources for People and Families Facing Challenges in the Niagara Region.

Start Me Up Niagara is an inclusive and supportive community that helps the people that need it most.

Start Me Up Niagara is a registered charity and a connected system of low-barrier support. Through the Drop-In Resource Centre, Food Program, Mobile Closet, Bike Me Up and the Work Action Centre, people can access food, clothing, hygiene items, affordable transportation, employment support, referrals, resources and community connection.

Different entry points serve one purpose: to remove everyday barriers and restore dignity. We meet people where they are, offer practical support delivered with a trauma-informed approach without judgment, and help them take the next step forward.

How We Help

Learn more about the programs and services we offer to help individuals set goals and to achieve success.

Resource Centre & Activities

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Employment Services & Support

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Niagara's Mobile Closet

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Bike Me Up Niagara

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Welcome to Start Me Up Niagara

At Start Me Up Niagara, we offer services and programs to support people facing significant challenges such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, disabilities, addictions and mental health issues.

Our goal is to provide opportunities for these individuals to help them increase their level of self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life. Our services range from daily drop in, community lunches, health care, income maximization, arts, and employment development.

Together, we are working to build a community where all are included.

About SMUN   Our Services

  • The team at the Work Action Centre were a pleasure to work with. We had a diverse group of applicants and will definitely be moving forward with second interviews.
    - Employer
  • This is to express my gratitude for all the time and resources you spent helping me secure a job. My family and I are forever grateful for your guidance, care, and patience throughout these very difficult seven months without a job. Hopefully, this Job will be the beginning of greater opportunities.
    Innocent
  • The staff are welcoming and work well with community partners. I’ve had a drop-in centre worker work consistently with me over the last few months connecting me with my gateway housing worker and helping me remember my appointments.
    Brendan Butcher
  • I am forever grateful for the work that Start Me Up Niagara does, and I cannot thank them enough. Your support and dedication have made a tremendous difference in our lives. Thank you all so much, your assistance is truly appreciated.
    Alicia Harper
  • I was able to provide a client with warm clothes when they were being discharged to an emergency shelter during the cold winter months. This client presented at the ED with very little belongings and the mini closet ensured that they were able to be properly clothed when they left. They expressed immense gratitude for this program.
    Anonymous

Resource Centre Details

Housing referrals, support and resources for people experiencing or are at risk of homelessness in Niagara. 

 Location

203 Church St., ON L2R 3E8 (Map)

 Weekday Hours

Monday to Friday  |  9:00AM - 12PM, 1PM - 4PM

 Weekend Hours (door service only)

Sunday | 11:15AM to 1:00PM

How To Help

Our dedicated volunteers, donors and supporters are dedicated to our mission to support and provide opportunities for individuals facing hardships in Niagara. ​If you're interested in getting involved, there are many ways to help. 

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News & Updates

Stay connected with the latest news and updates from Start Me Up Niagara. 

NEW Drop-In Resource Centre Hours come to Thursday this Winter

Posted Oct 5th, 2026

Extended Thursday hours will provide people experiencing homelessness with a warm, welcoming space and connections to community services throughout the winter.

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Start Me Up Niagara’s 2026 Annual General Meeting

Start Me Up Niagara’s 2026 Annual General Meeting

Posted Aug 17th, 2026 in News & Updates

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM203 Church Street Start Me Up Niagara invites our community, partners and supporters to our 2026 Annual General Meeting.

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A Little Later, A Lot More Connected

A Little Later, A Lot More Connected

Posted May 14th, 2026 in Resource Centre

Something good happened at the Drop-In Resource Centre this week. We stayed open later on Wednesday. The coffee was on. The games were out. The foosball table got loud. People laughed, cheered, played, watched, joined in and stayed awhile. It felt like exactly what the space is meant to be. Starting this week, Start Me Up Niagara’s Drop-In Resource Centre has expanded Wednesday hours to create more room for connection, recreation and community. New Wednesday Hours 12:00 PM to 3:...

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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.

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