There are not many youth-specific, drop-in spaces for vulnerable young people, in the community. It’s important that these youth have a space to come and feel safe.
Vulnerable youth struggle to get access to resources. The stigma makes it even harder for them to reach out for the services they need, and that gets in the way of offering youth the best support.
We offer a dedicated space for youth (age 16 to 24) to access a variety of services and supports.
Our Drop-In Centre is open seven days a week. Here youth can access showers, clothing, laundry, food, computers, video games, or simply rest. They can also get connected to mental and physical health supports, as well as other services.
It’s a place where youth can participate in recreational activities, such as yoga, soccer, hockey, basketball, and baseball. The Drop-In Centre is a great place for youth to escape extreme temperatures. It’s also home to Covey’s Cupboard.
Last fiscal year, the Drop-In Centre served more that 760 unique youth, with many returning. In addition, 139 youth transitioned from attending the Drop-In Centre to programs at CHV.
The Drop-In Centre is a very unique, and much needed, resource for young people in the community. However, it’s only through community support that we are able to keep this resource available to youth. CHV is over 80% privately funded. That means that we rely on individuals and organizations to keep our doors open to support vulnerable youth, in the community.
Organizations like Scotiabank, who have been supporting CHV since 2018, through their ScotiaRISE initiative and through volunteering.
Scotiabank believes that investing in young people is an investment in the future of our communities. This fall, we are grateful to Scotiabank who is contributing $50,000, to match every dollar donated, until December 31.
