Eva’s Initiatives works with homeless and at-risk youth ages 16 to 24 to get them off the streets permanently. We operate three shelters in the Greater Toronto Area that house 114 youth each night.
Our shelters provide homeless youth with emergency and transitional housing, harm reduction services to address drug and alcohol use, counselling, employment and training programs, housing support and services to reconnect youth with their families. Each year we help over 2,300 homeless and at-risk youth to get off the street, find housing and community supports, and begin to rebuild their futures.
Jack suffers from mental illness. He is also homeless and 19 years old. After being kicked out of his foster home in Kingston he got on a bus to Toronto. Confused and alone he didn’t know where to turn. Jack arrived at Eva’s Satellite last July. For him, like many new residents, the shelter was just a bed and a meal; respite from the streets. The other opportunities and activities being offered somehow weren’t for him.
Weeks passed. With gentle and regular encouragement from Eva’s staff Jack agreed to join the peer-mentorship group. The peer program gave him the chance to get involved with other residents. Jack blossomed as a leader. His self-confidence grew. He was given a position supervising the Resource Centre at Satellite. Things were looking up.
Despite all this, Jack wasn’t feeling good. The voices in his head were growing louder.
Fortunately, Satellite has an in-house clinic with a doctor and psychiatrist. Jack was quickly diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder and prescribed the appropriate medication. Jack is now able to continue his progress and build upon his achievements. Jack has hope for his future.
