Barb never imagined her final chapter would begin on the streets. Facing a terminal diagnosis and with nowhere to call home, she thought her journey would end in loneliness. But when she came to Journey Home Hospice, everything changed.
“Everyone here sees me as a person instead of as a problem for someone else to deal with. I didn’t choose to be homeless, but I’m so glad I was given the choice for the care I’m now receiving,” Barb said.
Sadly, Barb’s story is not unique. Across Canada, thousands of people living in homelessness, poverty, isolation, or rural and remote communities face their last days invisible to the healthcare system—overlooked when compassion and care should matter most.
At Saint Elizabeth Foundation, we believe that every life, every journey, and every person matters—every step of the way. That’s why we created the National Centre for Equity and Innovation in End-of-Life Care. Through the Centre, we’re transforming how care is delivered to structurally vulnerable populations by offering care that reflects who each person is, what they value, and what they need, while ensuring that every decision made about their care is guided by the person’s voice and choices.
The inspiration for our Centre comes directly from what we’ve learned from residents like Barb at our Journey Home Hospice locations. Here, we have developed proven, compassionate models of end-of-life care, rooted in lived experience and evidence, ensuring care is truly person-centred. We are recognized leaders in health care and specialized end-of-life care, known for excellence, innovation, and advocacy. With extensive experience in research, consultation, and training, we continuously improve care quality and outcomes.
Our strong national and international networks foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of best practices. With access to education, research, and technology through our national infrastructure, we are building scalable and sustainable solutions that extend far beyond a single program. For more than 115 years, we have been delivering personalized care in all the places people call home—reflecting our deep expertise and commitment.
This includes launching innovative pilot programs in diverse and challenging settings such as social housing, shelters, and correctional facilities. Our holistic, trauma-informed, culturally safer, and harm-reduction approach ensures we can meet the unique needs of structurally vulnerable populations, so that no one is left behind at the end of life.
This work is grounded in more than 115 years of personalized service, guided by the pillars of listening with compassion, honoring dignity, empowering communities, and advancing equity in end-of-life care. We know we cannot do it alone. With your help, we can ensure that people who have nowhere else to turn receive warmth, dignity, and compassionate care—whether in hospice, on the street, or wherever they call home.
This holiday season, please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation to the Saint Elizabeth Foundation National Centre for Equity and Innovation in End-of-Life Care. Together, we can bring compassion, hope, and happiness to those most in need across Canada.
Now more than ever, you can make the difference. Your gift will bring comfort, dignity, and peace to people like Barb—because every life matters, to the very last moment.
Sincerely,
Nancy Lefebre, COO, CNE, SVP
