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Chapter 1 - What is Eva's Phoenix?
Chapter 2 - Eva's National Initiative
Chapter 3 - Homeless Youth - Who Are They?
Chapter 4 - Effective Programs
for Homeless Youth
Chapter 5 - Developing the Vision
for Eva's Phoenix
Chapter 6 - Turning the Vision into Reality
Chapter 7 - Developing Strategic Partnerships
Chapter 8 - Working with Funders
Chapter 9 - Youth Goal-Setting and
Case Management Approach
Chapter 10 - Working with Youth
Chapter 11 - Mentorship
Chapter 12 - Working with Staff
Chapter 13 - Making the Transition
to Community
Chapter 14 - Social Enterprise
Chapter 15 - Evaluation
Chapter 16 - Policies and Procedures

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Chapter 1 - What is Eva's Phoenix?

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The main components of
Eva's Phoenix include:

Employment program - Staff help youth to identify their interests, abilities and potential. They work with youth to develop a plan that addresses general skills and attitudes (e.g. budgeting skills, teamwork, etc.), as well as job-specific training and experience (through job placements in a variety of areas). The objective is to help the youth to increase their employability, provide them with opportunities to gain some real employment experience, and help them to connect with resources and support along the way.

For more information about the employment program (OPENS NEW WINDOW)
(including admission requirements and the step-by-step process)

Social Enterprise - One specific employment initiative is the Print Shop. Eva's Phoenix operates a social enterprise commercial print shop on-site. Social enterprises are businesses that also work to achieve social goals - in this case, to provide training and employment opportunities for the youth. There is a high demand for workers in the printing industry, and there is a potential to earn good salaries, so youth participating in this program have a very good opportunity for long-term employment. The youth in the print shop program receive: life skills training and counselling; on-the-job print shop training in graphic design and offset printing/finishing); and job connection (with partner businesses in the printing industry) and career development assistance.

For more information on the Print Shop (OPENS NEW WINDOW)

Housing - It is almost impossible for anyone to make progress in areas such as employment and education if he/she is bouncing between living on the street, in shelters, rooming houses and couch surfing. Eva's Phoenix provides a stable, supportive living environment that encourages self-sufficiency. Youth can stay at the collaborative, home-like environment for up to one year, learning the skills necessary for independent living and sharing accommodation with others. The innovative structure includes shared townhouse-style units along an interior “main street” as well as common areas, a kitchen, grocery store and laundry and computer facilities. Support is provided to help youth move into the community.

For more information about the housing program (OPENS NEW WINDOW)

 LINK to Housing program description

Mentorship programs - Homeless youth are often anxious about moving from a familiar situation - even if conditions are unsatisfactory, they know how to survive - into “the great unknown”, where they do not know how they are going to cope. Mentors are especially important in helping youth to make critical transitions in their lives, such as entering the program, moving from the program back into the community, or moving into a new job. One role of the mentors is to help build self-esteem. Several mentorship programs are offered including:

  • One-to-one mentorship with individuals in the community, which pairs youth with adults based on their specific needs and interests.
  • Project-based mentorship, which allows youth to work with professionals in specific industries.
  • At-work mentorship, which matches youth who are beginning a work placement with an on-site mentor who can help them integrate into the workplace..
  • Peer mentorship, which match graduates of the program with current youth participants.

For more information about the mentorship programs (OPENS NEW WINDOW)

The experience of Eva's Phoenix demonstrates that an integrated model of support can be very effective in helping homeless youth to reintegrate into the community. The youth are supported to enter or re-enter the world of employment/education and to stabilize their housing, as well as build a broad base of support to move forward with their lives. Because of its innovative and integrated approach, Eva's Phoenix has received a number of awards and many requests from other communities for information and support to reproduce this successful program.

For a profile of Eva's Phoenix as an effective practice of social and economic inclusion, published by the Canadian CED Network click here (PDF 112 kb)

For more information, including sample application forms for new or returning youth, as well as general information about Eva's Phoenix (OPENS NEW WINDOW)

 

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