Resources for Homeless Youth in Toronto

Resources for Homeless Youth in Toronto

Homelessness among youth, not just among those in Toronto but throughout the whole world, is a growing issue. Many struggle to find aid that can help them on their path to success, and have a hard time accessing resources that might seem simplistic or obviously available to more privileged parts of the populace.

Emergency Shelters

A safe place to live, work, and sleep is crucial for anyone to find success in life, but is not available for many homeless youth. In Toronto, notable shelters that aim to provide safe places for these youth include Covenant House (http://www.covenanthousetoronto.ca/) and Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth (http://www.evas.ca/ ). Both of these organizations strive to supply nutritious meals, hygiene facilities, and counselling services, all targeted at supporting young individuals who need a lifeline the most.

Drop-in Centers

Drop-in centers serve the purpose of offering a safe and welcoming environment where homeless teens and children can explore more of their immaterial needs. Organizations Sketch (http://sketch.ca/) and Sanctuary Toronto (https://www.sanctuarytoronto.org/) provide resources that tend towards the spiritual, such as art therapy, but also extend to important access to computers and job training to teach youth how they can escape their dire situations. They hope to foster a kind and supportive community, with an atmosphere that encourages growth and success in all their participants.

Employment Services

In order to better their situation, self-sufficiency is the key for many homeless youth. Organizations such as the Youth Employment Services (YES) (https://www.yes.on.ca/job-board/) and WoodGreen’s Employment and Training Services (https://www.woodgreen.org/) provide job search support, which includes resume building, interview training, and job placement services, all to bolster the chances of youth finding successful employment. These programs can empower homeless youth to be financially independent, and able to support themselves, so they can work towards a better future.

Health Services

Health services are a very sought-after and vital resource to assist struggling youth. Healthcare clinics, such as Sherbourne Health (https://sherbourne.on.ca/) provide free medical care and counseling services to address the immediate healthcare needs of many vulnerable individuals. Other organizations, such as SCHC (https://schcontario.ca/) focus on more personally tailored specialty healthcare (e.g. internal issues, podiatry, diabetes, etc.) to provide important personalized care for marginalized members of society.  These are indispensable resources that offer youth a safe and understanding environment where they can find help for their issues, and have the chance to heal and rest in a break from their usually turbulent lives.

While Toronto has made many recent developments in regard to the availability of benefits to assist the homeless, we must continue to campaign for resources. The homeless are often underrepresented, with voices that are silenced or ignored, so it falls to those who do have a voice and opportunities to spread awareness of the struggles they are facing.