Sign inCreate account
Hope for All Care
Emergency: Emergency numbers by province and territory

Family connections

Stay connected — only if they choose to

Family members and loved ones can ask to connect. The person receiving the request decides whether to accept, and exactly what to share.

I’m a family memberI’m looking for support

What we promise

Consent comes first

Nothing is shared unless the person accepts the request and turns a permission on.

Separate switches

Each type of information is its own switch, off by default, and can be turned off at any time. Changes take effect immediately.

No tracking

Hope for All Care never tracks location. A family member only sees an area or shelter name if the person chooses to attach it to an update.

End or block anytime

A person can end a connection or block someone. The other person is not told why.

The permissions a person can choose

Each of these is separate. Choosing one does not turn on any other.

  • Messages

    They can send you private messages, and you can reply.

  • "I'm Safe" updates

    They are notified when you choose to share that you are safe.

  • Shelter name

    They can see the name of the shelter you attach to an update.

  • General area

    They can see the general area you choose to share (for example, "Downtown Kitchener").

  • Support milestones

    They can see milestones you choose to share, like starting a housing application.

  • Live location

    They can see where your phone is on a map, updated in the background, until you turn this off.

The “I’m Safe” button is voluntary

People who choose to can press “I’m Safe” to let connected loved ones know they are okay. They can add a short message and, if they wish, a shelter name or a general area such as “Downtown Kitchener”.

There is no schedule and no expectation. Not pressing the button does not mean anything is wrong, and nobody is alerted if a person stops sharing.

How to request a connection

  1. Step 1: Create a family account

    Choose “Family member or loved one” when you sign up, and confirm your email address.

  2. Step 2: Send a request

    Enter their email address if you know it, and a short message. You also get a connection code you can share with them directly, for example by phone.

  3. Step 3: Wait for their choice

    Your request shows “Awaiting response”. For their privacy, we never tell you whether someone has an account, has seen your request, or declined it.
Request a connectionCreate a family account

If you receive a request

  • You do not have to respond. Ignoring a request is a valid choice.
  • If you accept, every permission starts off. Turn on only what you are comfortable with.
  • You can change permissions, end the connection or block the person at any time from your Family connections page.
  • If someone is pressuring you to share, you can block them. If you are in danger, call 911 where available.