Expanded Youth Shelter Helps Young People Get Education
Posted January 24, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Six months ago, 21-year-old Matthew Haig was out of school, out of money and occasionally spending nights out on the street.
But a newly expanded shelter in Etobicoke has helped him turn things around, and now he’s hitting the books with a roof over his head, aiming towards a career as an engineer.
“I never thought this was going to happen,” he admits from the Youth Without Shelter facility. “Now that it has, it’s really a good achievement on my part I think.”
There are about nine youth-only shelters across the G.T.A. so the expansion was sorely needed.
It includes a new computer lab and a 20-bed stay in school program that allows homeless youth to continue their education.
“The youth that go through the ‘Stay In School’ program, hopefully with a strong educational background, will be able to get the jobs where they can earn the income to sustain themselves long term,” said Wendy Horton, the shelter’s Exec. Director.
Last year’s street needs assessment found that Toronto had a minimum of 5,052 homeless people.
Matthew hopes some of them can find a new life through the shelter.
“There are these opportunities out there and you just have to find them,” he adds.
