Wiseman Centre

Care for the homeless & disadvantaged in St. John’s, NL

Wiseman Centre 

About Us

Mission, Vision Statement, and Core Values

Wiseman Centre Mission Statement: The Salvation Army Wiseman Centre exists to provide an emergency shelter and supportive housing for homeless persons through a holistic, client-centered approach that promotes independence and improves health and well-being.

Wiseman Centre Vision Statement: The Salvation Army Wiseman Centre seeks to end the cycle of homelessness for those in need in our community.

The Salvation Army Mission Statement: The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

The Salvation Army Vision Statement: We are an innovative partner, mobilized to share hope wherever there is hardship, building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus.

The Salvation Army Core Values: 

  • HOPE: We give hope through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • SERVICE: We reach out to support others without discrimination.
  • DIGNITY: We respect and value each other, recognizing everyone’s worth.
  • STEWARDSHIP: We responsibly manage the resources entrusted to us.

History of The Salvation Army

  • The Salvation Army is an international religious and charitable movement, organized and operated on a military pattern. As a branch of the Christian Church, the Army is active in over 100 Countries worldwide.
  • Love for God and a concern for the needs of humanity are the driving motivation for the organization. This is expressed by a wide variety of social services extended without discrimination for race or creed, and by a spiritual ministry of preaching the Gospel to draw people to Christ.
  • Led by divine compulsion and compassion for the unchurched, the erring, the bewildered, and the unfortunate, Reverend William Booth set out to preach the Gospel in 1865. Monumental hours were spent in London, England following this calling that he felt from God, as he became the Salvation Army’s first General. He was supported by his gifted wife, Catherine, who influenced multitudes by her dynamic preaching. Together, along with others who helped lay the foundations, they began what is known today as a worldwide organization.
  • The International Headquarters for The Salvation Army is located in London, England. The Territorial Headquarters in Toronto has the responsibility for overseeing of all The Salvation Army’s work in Canada and Bermuda.
  • The Army has a quasi-military form of government. Its members are referred to as adherents, soldiers, and Officers. Officers are the equivalent of ordained ministers in other denominations. Officers hold ranks by a system of seniority and position. The position of female Officers is equal to that of males.
  • The Salvation Army has been providing residential services in Canada for over 100 years, specifically to homeless persons. The Salvation Army strives to employ professional employees who are able to provide support and programs that will assist people to work their way out of homelessness. The Salvation Army views every individual as a ‘possibility’ and provides services and programs to help that individual become self-reliant.
  • In 2014, The Homeless Task Team of the National Advisory Board and the Territorial Social Services Department of the Salvation Army hired a consultant to define new operating principles for Salvation Army emergency shelters throughout the territory, in accordance with the “Housing First” philosophy.

History of the Wiseman Centre

  • The Salvation Army Wiseman Centre opened in 1986, in partnership with the then provincial Department of Social Services. The Centre was named for Clarence Wiseman, a Newfoundlander who became a International Leader of The Salvation Army. Its purpose was to provide basic needs, including food and shelter, to homeless men.
  • Between 2005-2007, the building was completely renovated and the program and staffing model was revitalized. Ten supportive housing apartments were also added at that time. Since then, almost 2500 individuals have been assisted. In 2012, in response to the needs of the community, The Salvation Army Wiseman Centre starting accepting women clients by opening the women’s wing, which provides private shelter rooms for five women.
  • The Emergency Shelter operates under a “Housing First” mandate in partnership with our funders, the Newfoundland Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), and in collaboration with other community homeless-serving agencies as represented by End Homelessness St. John’s.
  • The Wiseman Centre has been a part of the End Homelessness St. John’s Coordinated Access to Homes since its launch in November 2017.

Philosophy and Operating Principles

The Salvation Army currently operates over 50 shelters in the Canada and Bermuda territory. The Wiseman Centre adheres to the following Salvation Army Emergency Shelter Operating Principles, which have been developed to align with the “Housing First” philosophy:

  1. We take a person-centered, holistic approach and ensure that people with particular vulnerabilities are supported.
  2. We help people experiencing chronic and episodic homelessness to access stable, positive, and appropriate supports.
  3. We use harm-reduction principles to guide services to clients and behaviour-based criteria for restricting access to shelter.
  4. We ensure people who have high needs receive accompaniment and follow-up services.
  5. We aim to make every discharge from the shelter an organized departure.
  6. We coordinate services and participate in planning with community partners.
  7. We track and analyze outcomes to inform planning and policy decisions and continuously improve services.