Our five mission statements serve as our roadmap to change…

To maintain the health and safety of youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness

We achieve this objective by providing hot meals, food hampers, clothing, hygiene products and more to youth who frequent our services. The main ways in which we provide for the immediate health and safety of youth is by means of our Daytime Services and Outreach departments. Our Daytime Services department includes daily drop-in, where the aforementioned essential services are provided and youth are given the opportunity to participate in daily programming. Our Outreach team is on the streets daily, meeting youth “where they’re at,” distributing essential care items and information.

To support and enable youth to get off the streets by providing resources and services needed to inform and educate

Our emergency shelter, supportive housing program, and youth enterprise opportunities are the key players here. The oneROOF Youth Services campus contains an eighteen-bed, co-ed shelter, where youth can get out of the cold and into an environment that challenges them to improve. This shelter, called Providing A Roof (PAR) meets the immediate need for safety and shelter, allowing youth to give their time and energy to other areas of improvement. Our supportive housing program, Next Steps Housing goes beyond the immediate need for shelter and gives youth a home. After opening its doors in the summer of 2022, our 44-unit supportive housing building makes it possible for youth to have independence and safety. Our youth enterprise program, Change4Change invites youth to participate in a sixteen-week paid program, funded by The Government of Canada. In this program they learn job readiness, earn certificates, and participate in workshops to add to their skill set.

To educate the public regarding homelessness, street life and related issues

This education and prevention component is provided by way of community forums, public speaking engagements, media relations and the distribution of relevant research. Our website, monthly newsletter, blog, and social media presence not only share news about all things oneROOF Youth Services, but also afford us the opportunity to share our knowledge. On this website you can find educational resources including digital brochures. Our Monthly Newsletter includes news on upcoming events, youth and/or staff quotes, donor shoutouts, linked resources, etc. Our Blog discusses a different topic each month, sharing facts and anecdotes in hopes of decreasing stigma surrounding youth homelessness. Social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram are wonderful sources of news, while our LinkedIn is a great place to find educational material and engage in conversation. We encourage you to connect with us online and join the fight to end youth homelessness.

To carry out prevention work targeted at youth, particularly those at junior and senior high school levels

Prevention-focused programs and early intervention strategies help youth, particularly those at junior and senior high school levels, build the supports and connections needed to avoid homelessness. Through our Host Homes and Family Reconnect programs, youth are provided with safe, supportive alternatives to emergency shelter while strengthening family and natural support networks. Recognized by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness as a best preventative practice, our Host Homes program has gained international recognition for its effective approach to preventing youth homelessness.

To provide an opportunity for youth to gain access to medical attention and treatment

Often youth experiencing, or at-risk of homelessness, are without the means to secure health cards and/or various forms of identification. Our multi-building campus allows for onsite visits from both mental and physical health professionals when needed. A Registered Nurse Practitioner, from the Downtown Community Health Centre, offers weekly appointments to youth who are suffering from various medical conditions and/or who are in need of medical treatment. It is important that youth receive immediate attention when wounds are sustained or illnesses occur. Additionally, the Sanguen Health Van comes to our campus once a week to connect youth with harm reduction supplies.