Victoria Cool Aid Society - Sandy Merriman House

Greetings! I stumbled upon Sandy Merriman House & have to admit I was afraid at first, being in a new city and all. The staff there were comforting and reassuring. They provided me with all the tools I needed to start a new life. I was safe at last. Thank you so much for everything.I hope to volunteer in the near future.Regards,Mz.Durga

This is a gorgeous, sprawling heritage house revamped into a shelter for women, and those who identify as female. As shelters go, this TOP notch! Clean, comfortable and welcoming; Merriman House is staffed 24/7/365. Meals are also prepared on-site, by said (friendly and empathetic) support staff. It's worth noting that this shelter is 19+.

i have to admit two things, one the stay was nice while i was there and i got lot of x mass gifts at the door, but they also threw me out on the freezing cold after my 30 days was up, without giving me or my room mate an extension. she was also getting sexually harassed by other women.I am sorry but to throw someone out on the freezing cold is brutal. i hope the people who have no heart and can do this should become homeless themselves to see what it is like.my room mate went to sleep in the park.

I ve never been in a shelter before. I m sixtyTwo years old and I m appalled at what these people have subjected me and otherWomen to. Then have the audacity to tell me that they re helping me. Since when isPutting an old woman outside with full blowBlown pneumonia punishment. Unless youWant to kill them. More to come. Since when does compassion kill.

Despite this being a shelter, the house is well-maintained and the kitchen and other facilities are really clean and sanitary. But the way they keep dangerous people out of the shelter and the way they determine what the rules are and who breaks them is either trivial or non-existent. If you witness someone and try to make a complaint, it is likely you who will be disciplined and punished. I've had 2 or 3 friends harrassed by the same person and the both of them were moved to other rooms, while this person was allowed to stay and do whatever she wants. Drug, alcohol, and substance use are not only allowed, but often prevalent on the property, and I've witnessed 2 instances of overdose and countless other instances of intoxication while I was staying here, and yet, the staff don't care. Especially the head staff Micheala, who almost encourages and enables intoxicated people in a way. The most ridiculous thing I have heard from her was when I reported someone who was drunk and harrassed me at 3AM, and she interrupted me; You can't speak to the fact that someone came back drunk because substance use is allowed here!!!". Big Oof

I became homeless and the staff there are great. The staff are really good people. You get the best food compared to anywhere that I have stayed . This the best for support and cared.

I wanted to update my review for Cool Aid, and this is regarding Sandy Merriman House directly. I've never been treated so unbelievably unkindly. Not only have i been misinformed, if at all i might add about services being made available to me. Sandy Merriman has/had made it so hard for women to get back on their feet, and i personally have witnessed the staff kick women out in the middle of extreme weather with nowhere to go. 2 ladies almost died as a result of this. There have been multiple deaths in that house as a result of lack of due diligence from staff. So if you are thinking of donating to cool aid, please rethink it and find another agency to donate too. Anything these guys receive does not go to the clients they help (seriouly dont help). I almost forgot to mention that countless amounts of women have been negatively impacted by this house/ agency. ( kinda sad actually)

They helped me a lot when I was new in Victoria and knew no one. Offered me a roof over my head, food on my table and good people around me. I was surrounded by love. Left few weeks after when I got a job and a place. This is 2 years ago!

I have heard horror stories about the treatment of clients and inproper use of power as well as general health and safety issues. The cleaning lady has had many complaint regarding how she treats people with no changes occurig. She should have been fired a long time ago. Resources and opportunities to move forward are not offered and when they are it is with little effort in the clients best interest. His plave needs to be taken over by a new organization and an overhaul of staff. This is a sad state indead.