exit
     
 
spacer
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

 Site Map

 Welcome Centre

Logo Eva's Initiatives 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3 - Homeless Youth:
Who are they and why are they on the street?

section:  1  2  
backnext
sub-section:a  b  c  d  

EVA’S PHOENIX PROGRAMS

FOR HOMELESS/AT-RISK YOUTH-16-29
LIFE SKILLS
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS-16-24
ALL PROGRAMS LISTED ABOVE
HOUSING PROGRAMMING
ONE ON ONE COUNSELLING

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLOR
COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER

11 Ordnance Street, Toronto, ON M6K 1A1
Phone 416-364-1674 ◊ Fax 416-364-2985
(near King and Strachan)

Eva’s Phoenix Housing Program

Eva’s Phoenix is a co-ed shelter that provides housing for 50 youth aged 16-24. The maximum stay for each youth is up to one year.

The physical environment of Eva’s Phoenix is comprised of ten town house units, and approximately five youth live in each house. Each youth has their own bedroom, and is responsible for sharing common living areas with their housemates. The goal of the Housing Program is to assist youth in developing the skills that they need so they can live independently. The Housing Program offers a supportive and safe living environment, counseling, advocacy and guidance to the youth that reside at Eva’s Phoenix.

The main focus of the Housing team is one-on-one counseling, where the youth will be supported to make positive changes in their lives. The Housing team focuses a great deal of energy on a one-on-one counseling model, and works closely with the Employment and Mentorship teams to bring innovative and creative approaches to counseling. The Housing Counselors work very closely with the youth to establish individual plans of action and offer support and guidance to help articulate those goals into manageable steps.

In addition to creating their own goals, youth are involved in many aspects of the shelter community. There are a number of resident-involved committees that run inside the shelter. There is a Maintenance Committee that works with the Property Manager to maintain the physical appearance of the shelter and complete minor repairs. Generally, the residents interested in this committee will also have an interest in the Construction or Carpentry Employment Program. There is an Events Committee that focuses on the community events in the shelter. Residents on this committee explore ideas for community events and assist in the planning and execution of those events.

There is also a Governance Committee where the residents discuss and inform policy and procedure decisions in the shelter. Often, this group will explore responses to different issues that arise in the shelter and inform resolutions.

Eva’s Phoenix has a strong commitment to involve youth in all aspects of their journey at Eva’s Phoenix. Residents are given the opportunity to make mistakes and figure out the best way to avoid those mistakes in the future, and to make amends for them in the present.

The housing team facilitates house meetings periodically to encourage youth to establish rules and boundaries for their units. The staff also work with individuals, as well as households to resolve conflicts and encourage a sense of community among housemates.

There are also many workshops offered by the Housing team. These workshops include:

  • Community meals: where a group of youth plan, shop, and prepare a meal to eat together. These meals offer guidance on issues such as hygiene, budgeting, co-operation and community building.
  • Shopping; where staff accompany residents on shopping trips to offer guidance regarding budgeting, nutrition, meal planning, etc.
  • Health
  • Substance use
  • Tenant’s Rights/Landlord Responsibilities
  • Housing Search
  • Budgeting
  • Anger/Stress Management
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Anti-oppression
  • Communication
  • Safe/Healthy Sex
  • And many more……

The Housing Program also works closely with youth to prepare for leaving the shelter. This may include connecting youth with a local food bank and/or furniture bank to help get them started. Youth are also provided with community information and also one-on-one counseling and support.

Once youth leave the shelter, we offer community support if problems arise with Landlords or Tenants. We also encourage our Ex-Residents to stay in contact with the shelter and are given open invitations to community and special events in the shelter.

The goal of Eva’s Phoenix is to be the last social service stop a youth will have to make before living independently. The Employment and Housing teams work together to ensure that the youth have the skills required for independent living to be successful.

 

top

 
backnext