Shelter Support Worker Certificate Program
5 weeks · Online · Evening classes
Support people experiencing homelessness to move toward stable housing. A 5-week online micro-credential with evening classes.
Questions? Call admissions at (416) 631-8298, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
- Duration 5 weeks 10 modules
- Class schedule Mon & Wed 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Delivery Online Live classes with your instructor
- Tuition $1,499 Payment plan available
- Credential Certificate Issued by Alpha Career College
Compassionate, trauma-informed support
Shelter Support Workers create a client-focused environment that helps residents move from homelessness to independent or supportive housing.
You will learn trauma-informed care, harm reduction, crisis intervention and de-escalation, case management and Indigenous competency, so you can support residents with their case plan goals.
- Live online evening classes that fit around work and family
- Practical, career-focused learning with experienced instructors
- Admissions support from application to your first class
5 weeks, three milestones
Study online from anywhere, on a schedule built for working adults.
Learn
Live online classes
- Mon & Wed, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Tests and assignments online
- You need a laptop, desktop computer or tablet
Practise
Case practice
- Practise crisis response, de-escalation and case planning through scenarios
Graduate
Start your career
- Earn your certificate from Alpha Career College
- Career support from our team
10 modules built for the job
Select a module to see what it covers.
MODULE 1 Orientation, Toronto Shelter System & Responsibility
This module provides an overview of the Shelter Support Worker course, student expectations and a brief history of housing and homelessness crisis in Ontario.
MODULE 2 Equity, Diversity & Human Rights
Students will learn about oppression for various communities and other intersectional groups in this session.
MODULE 3 Conflict Resolution & Effective Communication
In this module, students will learn about effective communication.
MODULE 4 Trauma-Informed Care & Wellness
Trauma-Informed Care understands and considers the pervasive nature of trauma and promotes environments of healing and recovery rather than practices and services that may inadvertently re-traumatize others.
MODULE 5 Ethics, Confidentiality, Boundaries & Disclosure
In this module, students will learn the moral principles shared by a group.
MODULE 6 Facing Fears & Self-Sabotage
This module will discuss fears and ways to face them.
MODULE 7 Harm Reduction
In this module, students will learn about harm reduction, which refers to policies, programmes and practices that aim to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts of drug use, drug policies and drug laws.
MODULE 8 Case Management & Documentation
Case management is a professional and collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet an individual's health needs.
MODULE 9 Crises Intervention & De-Escalation
In this module, students will learn about crisis intervention and how to de-escalate situations where someone is highly annoyed, angry or afraid and may react with hostility.
MODULE 10 Indigenous Competency
Students will learn about Indigenous culture to recognize, comprehend, and appreciate Indigenous peoples' values, traditions, and belief systems.
Low tuition, fast results
A short, affordable certificate you can finish in weeks.
Program tuition
You save $501 on the regular tuition
Spread your tuition over monthly payments
Plus a $75 registration fee .
Enrol NowAt a glance
Talk to admissions about the option that fits you.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $1,499 |
| Registration fee | $75 |
| Payment plan | Monthly |
What you need to apply
- 1
Prior education A Grade 12 OSSD, foreign credentials assessed for Grade 12 equivalency, or a mature student score of 11 or more on the Wonderlic SLE
Good to know
- Classes are live and online, so you can study from home
- You need a laptop, desktop computer or tablet
Not sure where to start?
An admissions advisor can review your documents with you.
Where graduates work
Graduates of the Shelter Support Worker Certificate work in settings such as:
- Emergency shelters
- Family and youth shelters
- Drop-in centres
- Transitional and supportive housing
- Harm reduction centres
- Food banks
- Women's shelters
- Government and municipal programs
"The Shelter Support Worker program gave me practical tools I could use right away: how to respond calmly in a crisis, how to set healthy boundaries, and how to support people with dignity. In just five weeks of online evening classes, I felt ready to work in a shelter setting. I'm proud to be an SSW graduate of Alpha Career College."
Samuel O., Shelter Support Worker graduate More student experiencesQuestions about the SSW program
How long is the program, and when are classes?
The program takes 5 weeks. Live online classes run Mon & Wed, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The next intake starts November 9, 2026.
Is the program online?
Yes. Classes are live and online with your instructor, so you can study from home. You need a laptop, desktop computer or tablet and a reliable internet connection.
How much does it cost?
Tuition is $1,499 (regular $2,000) plus a $75 registration fee. Payment plans are available. See Grants & Bursaries.
What do I need to apply?
A Grade 12 OSSD, foreign credentials assessed for Grade 12 equivalency, or a mature student score of 11 or more on the Wonderlic SLE.
What do I receive when I finish?
When you complete all program requirements, you receive a certificate issued by Alpha Career College.
Start your SSW career at Alpha Career College
Enrol online today, or talk to an admissions advisor about the next intake.
This program does not require approval under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005. Alpha Career College reserves the right to modify start dates before classes begin. Schedules, offerings, tuition and program details are subject to change without notice.
