AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT PROJECT

Every year Choices sees up to 800 youth come through the doors of the Youth Services Centre. For many of those youth living in unstable, unsafe living conditions has been the only life they’ve known. Since the Young Men’s Shelter opened in 2002 the percentage of youth who cycle back through the shelter has reached over 50%. These young men will continue to cycle through shelters, boarding houses, apartments, and living with friends and relatives. These youth often have fragmented educational experiences and have been unable to find and maintain employment.

There is a critical link missing for these youth – they need a stable, safe place to live in a community environment with staff and peers to help them make healthy lifestyle choices.

The program will take a multi-faceted, holistic approach and combine a supportive housing environment with on-site educational opportunities and employment preparation and training. This model has already been successfully implemented in the creation of Eva’s Phoenix in Toronto (a project of Eva's Initiatives).

Once operational, the site will contain:

1. Housing: One- and two-bedroom apartment-style units to accommodate 12 youth. This set-up will encourage community living and peer support.
2. Employment Training: A pre-employment program based on a model inspired by the Skills Zone program operated by Youth Link in Toronto. 
3. Educational Training: A basic literacy program (Youth at Promise) which will help youth overcome educational barriers.

While the site is under construction youth in the program will actually work side-by-side with the contractor to learn valuable employment skills.

BUILDING A HOME TOGETHER

Help Make it Happen!

Homeless and at-risk youth experience a catch-22 – they cannot get a job without a stable living situation, and they cannot stabilize their living situation without a job.

We need the help of the community to make this project a reality.    

BECOME A PARTNER

• Donate – does your organization have a corporate giving policy? What better way to give back to the community than to invest in the future of young person?
• Give a young person a chance - Help youth gain valuable employment skills by looking within your organization for employment opportunities for youth
• Become a mentor – youth can't do it alone, like everyone, they need the guidance and support of others who they can look up to and learn from.