Youth Support
Emergency Shelter
The emergency shelter provides shelter, basic needs, counselling and case management for youth, ages 16-24 experiencing homelessness. Residents can make use of this program for a 30 day residency. We provide assistance to youth from a range of family structures, including recent immigrants, and others who are escaping abusive relationships and trauma-driven home environments. We help support their personal goals with a primary focus on how to manage housing after leaving our shelter.
It is all about moving forward positively.
Programming
TARGETED INDEPENDENT LIVING
The Targeted Independent Living Program is aimed at educating our youth. This program will be mandatory for every resident at Choices Youth Shelter. The Targeted Independent Living Program consist of:
LIFE SKILLS
Our Life Skills Program will focus on teaching our residents
Finances
manage their finances,
Opening a bank account
set realistic goals through finance and budgeting,
Maintain a home
housekeeping,
laundry
Personal care
proper hygiene
Education
seeking educational advancement.
Employment
resume writing
job interview preparation
WELLNESS PROGRAMS
Our Wellness Program will focus on
Managing stress and anxiety
yoga/meditation,
health & fitness,
nature trips,
equine therapy,
Building healthy relationships,
Managing conflicts and conflict resolution through art therapy,
Understanding and dealing with mental health.
Staying positive,
By providing opportunities and facilitating life enhancing experiences, our Wellness initiatives will address youth's needs in a holistic manner.
FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAM
Our Food and Nutrition Program will focus on
teaching residents how to prepare meals,
budget for meals,
creating meal plans
understanding healthy nutrition.
Youth Care Program
Our youth care program is 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 bank, registering for school, as well referrals to mental health supports and other community care partners. The primary focus of our program is to help our youth obtain appropriate supports, while transitioning from homelessness to independent housing.
Resource Links and Crisis Lines
EMERGENCY SERVICES - (DIAL 9-1-1)
OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) - 1(888)-310-1122 - [information and Help Dial 211 or 211.ca]
Ontario Poison Centre - 1-(800) 268.9017
DCAF (Dufferin Child & Family Services) - website
Family Transition Place - website
HERE 24 SEVEN - website
24.7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin - website
Kids Help Phone - website
24.7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin - 1-(888) 811.2222
Crisis Line 24/7 - (Family Transition Place) - 1-(800) 265.9178
Caledon / Dufferin Victims Services - 1-(888) 743.6496
Kids Help Phone - 1-(800) 668-6868
Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7, national support service. We offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.
Canadian Mental Health Association of Peel (CMHA) Quick Guide Visit site
Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) - 905-278-9036
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline - 1-833-900-1010 - Visit Site
Financial Aid
Ontario Works: To apply for financial assistance - Visit Site
ODSP - Visit Site
Ontario Human Rights Commission - 416-3269511 or 1-800-387-9080 - Visit Site
Legal Aid Ontario: For eligibility criteria and list of offices. - 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258 - Visit Site
Community Outreach Service
This program provides an educational aspect to the shelter programs. We provide guest speakers to community service clubs, youth groups and school classes who can inform the groups about the problems and issues of homelessness. Our goal is to lessen the need for our services by educating the youth and public to healthy alternatives.