Charli the dog's positive effect at Canberra's St Vincent de Paul Samaritan House

The director of special works credits one special member of the Samaritan House family for the change from crisis centre that was "a bit sterile" to a home. Her name is Charli and she's a 10-year-old spoodle.

It's been about a year since Ms Shortis first realised the centre needed a dog and after some consideration- and realising that a service dog would be too expensive - it was decided that some of the staff could bring in their dogs.

Charli is one of four dogs that are allowed at the centre and comes to work with owner and case manager Krystal Reid.

"Wellbeing: that's the main reason why we've done it," Ms Shortis says.

"If you think about it, if you come from corrections or you're homeless and you're in crisis, you'll come in here and the dog - especially Charli - doesn't care who you are. But if you give her affection and love her, she's just going to give it back in spades.

"We had someone who had come through from corrections and said Charli just loved him and made him feel human again and that he was valued.

"And that wellbeing helps with their mental health, it helps with addiction, it helps with a lot of things."

Ms Reid says Charli has a way of bringing a calmness to a stressful situation.

The spoodle will regularly check up on residents - particularly if they have mental health issues - and will act as an icebreaker and support system for people when they first arrive.

"When we have a new person come in, I've noticed ... because there are 13 men here they don't know where to stand," she says.

"She just breaks the ice for them to get in with the rest of the men as well. I noticed this morning, we had someone new and I'm sure he didn't know where to stand or what to do and she was like 'I'll hang with you until you know where to go'.

"I've also been noticing of late that it just gives the guys a bit of responsibility because they seem to love taking care of her for me. I think for me, knowing that my dog is safe with them, makes them feel valued."

For Samaritan House residents, Charli has been an integral part of dealing with the emotional side of transitioning out of crisis and into permanent accommodation.

But more than that, Ms Shortis says Charli has also taught those around her about prejudice.

"For me personally I think it's something us human beings should all take a bit of note of because a dog won't judge," she says.

"They won't care what colour you are, what religion you are, they don't care what race you are.

"As long as you are kind to them they will give it back in spades and I just think that tolerance, it's actually taught us a lot."