Covenant House Toronto
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| Founded | Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1982) |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit |
| Location(s) | |
| Services | Food, shelter and a variety of services to homeless youth between the ages of 16 and 24 |
| Website | www |
Covenant House Toronto is a nonprofit organization that serves at-risk, homeless and trafficked youth between the ages of 16 and 24. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is one of many Covenant House locations based in North America. The Toronto location is the largest agency of its kind in Canada, with 80 per cent of their annual funding coming from donors. [citation needed] The house serves as many as 300 youth a day regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or the circumstances that have brought them to their doors. Covenant House also offers services such as education, after-care, counseling, health care, employment assistance, and job training. The organization has also offered their services to more than 95,000 young people since its start in 1982.[citation needed]
Covenant House began its operations in Toronto after Cardinal Carter gathered the local community to support children sleeping outside his office. The 30-bed shelter opened in 1982 and became the second international site established by the childcare agency.[1] In the late 1980s, the house had achieved a big milestone by opening an on-site health clinic and school. In the 1990s, Covenant House managed to open up programs such as an employment service program, increasing the size capacity by 48 per cent and providing access to long term residence. During the 2000s, the house had started its own culinary arts program, and built a rooftop garden for therapeutic services. In 2006, the organization launched the “Arts and Minds” program, which provides day programs for youth with mental health issues. In 2010, the shelter achieved another milestone by launching a renovated job center, on-site adult education, and an Urban Response Model, which is an anti-sex trafficking plan. Since then, Covenant House has established itself by employing 200 professionals at the facility to support the youth of Toronto in any issue that seems fit.[2]
Issues
According to a study by Covenant House, youth homelessness, child welfare, sex trafficking and youth employment are the biggest issues youth in Canada face today. [citation needed]
Youth homelessness
Youth homelessness is one of the growing issues in Canada. Case studies argue that the issue of street kids is largely misunderstood. In Canada, there are many youths who struggle to call a place home. Actions such as couch surfing, sleeping in shelters, parks, alleyways, or even random doorways are very common.[3] Research shows that many kids who live on the street left their homes because they did not want to live under their parents' rules. Some fled their homes due to mental health, trauma, or sexual abuse.[3] Mental health issues are a major factor in youth homelessness. Covenant House makes sure that mental health is one of their top priorities, because 40 per cent of youth that enter the facility have some form of mental health issue. Covenant House has seen a reported demographic shift from the aboriginal community, black youth, and LGBT youth that make up between 25 and 40 per cent of youth unhoused in Toronto.[4] A recent study showed that around 40 per cent of youth unhoused that were under 16 experienced their first form of homelessness. Without proper housing, full-fledged meals, clean clothes and showers, it is hard for a youth to mobilize towards a good future because they suffer from a lack of basic necessities.[5] At Covenant House, it is their mission to end youth homelessness by offering a wide number of services and support.[6]
Leaving child welfare
Some children and youth live under the child welfare system when a family is in crisis. This can include youth who have suffered from abuse, neglect, and trauma. There are children who go into foster care and end up with new families.[3] According to research, that is not always the case due to the experiences and trauma that plague a child's mind of not being comfortable with their current living situation. This situation leads to many youths running away from their homes and living on the streets. In Ontario, the age limit to be eligible under the child welfare system is 18. In some cases, a child can receive support up to the age of 21. The main issue lacking in the system is the opt-out age of 16. One study has shown that youth lacking maturity tend to leave the system because they feel that the system never cared for them in the first place.[3] The study conducted by the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth found that many youths are leaving care and struggling to live independently. In the study, it states that 60 percent of the youth unhoused reported having had some form of involvement with the child welfare system.[3]
Sex trafficking
Sex trafficking in Canada is a widespread issue with 63% of human trafficking victims in Ontario being Canadian citizens.[7] Covenant House views sex trafficking as modern-day slavery. Youth unhoused have become the biggest target of exploitation. Most of the sex trafficking victims were young Canadian girls.[8] The average age of sex trafficking is reported to be 17 years old. Many of the victims suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. Since 2014, Toronto Police have brought the issue into the limelight by formalizing an anti-trafficking team. Since the beginning of the operation, Toronto has seen an increase of over 113% in occurrences and have made arrests 360% more than in the last year.[9]
Youth employment
Another big issue that leads to youth homelessness is youth unemployment. The main cause of this issue focuses on how the homeless lack basic education, life skills, job experience, and stability to keep their employment. The drop-out rate for youth unhoused is at an all-time high of 53%. Covenant House believes that kids who do not have a support system and necessities have a hard time seeking a job and keeping employment.[10]
