Programs

Taking on youth homelessness requires a continuum of care approach. Here are the key programs we have developed.

Emergency Youth Shelter

The Emergency Youth Shelter provides shelter, basic needs, counselling and case management for youth, ages 16-24, in the Peel region who are experiencing homelessness. Youth residing at our shelter have access to basic needs, goal planning, well-being and emotional supports, as well as connections to resources and programming. We provide shelter to youth from a wide cross-section of youth from a range of family structures, including recent immigrants, and others who are escaping abusive relationships and trauma-driven home environments. During their stay, youth are provided with many of the basic needs they otherwise may not receive. Our aim is to have each youth meet with a care worker who helps support their personal goals with a primary focus on how to manage housing after leaving our shelter. Our Place provides a supportive environment where youth can be themselves and develop goals to work towards family or natural support connections and housing. The shelter has clear expectations and structured programming to support youth to be successful in achieving their goals.

Resource Room

The Resource Room, located within the shelter, is available for youth in our programs who require support and skills development. The Program offers group and individual programming that supports with housing searches and life skills development that is focused on all aspects of the youths needs to maintain housing, from budgeting to employment, including resume and cover letter writing.

Outreach Programs

Refresh Program

What was once the “Family Reconciliation Program” has changed and expanded over this past year. While fine-tuning the scope of the program and making necessary adjustments based on both best practices, as well as input from our youth, it is now called the “Refresh Program” and is made up of 3 sub programs.

Refresh Your Network – Focuses on mediation and counselling services for youth who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and their identified family and natural support. The goal is to help youth and their ‘networks’ develop and maintain healthy, supportive relationships, and where possible, prevent youth from entering or remaining in the shelter system.

The REFRESH Zone – Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, The REFRESH Zone is a virtual ‘safe-space’ group for youth to come together from throughout the region, and connect with their peers in a space that is designed for youth to speak their minds, help each other, and receive guidance from a qualified counsellor. Though developed to support through the pandemic, the need has always been there and we are happy to be supporting youth and providing this space.

Refresh Your Skills – Refresh Your Skills is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioural training intervention. This program provides psycho-educational learning where youth will examine how they think, develop more effective skills, and use these skills in their daily lives. This program is delivered through virtual group work, and cycles a few times throughout the year.

H.Y.P.E. (Helping Youth Prepare Effectively)

An outreach and after-care program designed to support youth who have lived at the shelter as well as at-risk youth living in the community. The program offers a range of flexible and accessible community-based support systems. These support services include connecting youth to resources such as food banks, registering for school, as well rehousing, and housing sustainability support. The primary focus of our housing program is to help our youth obtain appropriate housing, while transitioning from homelessness to independent housing. Advocacy is a significant component of the work we do to ensure all youth have access to safe housing and are knowledgeable of their rights and responsibilities. This includes having our staff liaise with the landlord and/or property management to maintain a positive relationship between them and the youth. The housing team also provides ongoing support for youth living independently in the community, ensuring that they are building on their life skills and remaining on-track with their personal goals.

Home For Good Program

Home for Good is a program that has been designed to eliminate homelessness and provide stability for the most vulnerable and high-risk youth populations in the Peel Region. The priority homeless populations include youth, individuals and families experiencing chronic and/or episodic homelessness, Indigenous individuals, and individuals who are homeless following transitions from institutions. These groups, along with people who have complex mental health and/or addiction concerns will be placed at the top of the priority list. The Home for Good program has been developed based on the principles of the Housing First model. Participants receive a long-term rent supplement amount and work with Landlord Engagement Specialists to secure appropriate self-contained units for those accepted into the program. Intensive case management, counselling, employment, financial literacy, concurrent disorders services, hoarding services and a variety of workshops are also a part of the program. This allows the participants to gain quick and easy access to much needed services, which promote the overall stability, health and wellness of the individuals.

To learn more about our various programs please contact us by phone at 905-238-1383 or email at outreachreferrals@ourplacepeel.org