Story highlights:
- Merveille came to Canada from Congo as a teenager, looking for a better life, but he soon found himself homeless, living in local shelters and struggling with his mental health.
- Powered United Way East Ontario, the YMCA’s Second Stage Housing Program provides youth with shelter, guidance from social workers, and the resources needed to work towards their goals and build a stable future.
- This program provides the support youth aged 16-24 need for such a critical time in their lives – the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
- Now graduated from the program, Merveille has successfully finished school, secured a job, and is now living independently in his own apartment.
When Merveille left the Congo for Canada, he was young, didn’t speak English, and was leaving behind everything he knew – his family, his home, and his community.
Not long after arriving, he ended up living at a downtown Ottawa shelter. But for a young person needing support, safety, and security, it quickly became clear that this environment was not right for him.
“When you're living in a difficult environment, it affects you in different aspects, even your perception of things changes.”
Then, Merveille found the YMCA’s Second Stage Housing Program for Youth, powered by United Way East Ontario. This transitional, supportive housing program is designed for young people aged 16 to 24 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or are unable to live at home due to various circumstances.
It was through the support of the YMCA that Merveille was able to gain his independence and create a stable life for himself.
“You have a lot of social workers here and work support. I finished school, I learned English, I got training to work as a security agent in Ontario, and I even got my own apartment,” shared Merveille.
The importance of youth transitional housing
Natasha Hanley, Director of Youth Housing Programs, YMCA National Capital Region, says there’s a huge gap in services for young people in this age group. As she says, people aged 16 to 24 are at a unique stage in life – they are no longer children, but they are also not ready to thrive in an adult environment.
Many young people in this demographic face challenges that are not fully addressed by services designed for children or adults.
At United Way, we believe everyone deserves a place they can call home – where they feel safe and secure. By supporting programs like the Second Stage Housing, we are providing young people like Merveille with resources to thrive.
“The goal while they're here is that we give them a stable, safe place to stay so they can continue, or even start, working on individual goals. We also teach them life skills so they're able to live independently, successfully.”
Collaboration vital in addressing homelessness
Homelessness is deeply interconnected with other social issues, such as poverty, mental health, and food insecurity. Addressing these challenges requires a collective, community-wide effort. By working together, we can provide more comprehensive solutions, ensuring that individuals facing barriers receive the resources necessary to rebuild their lives.
“When we're focusing on meeting the outcomes for youth and young people, it's very hard to do in a silo. So, support from the United Way helps us to work in partnership with others with the same goal and helps us to provide that seamless service to youth.”
We know that collective action ensures that all aspects of a person’s needs are met, creating a stronger foundation for lasting change.
Everyone deserves a place to call home
Without a roof over your head, it’s nearly impossible to take care of your mental health, stay focused at work, or plan for the future.
Finding affordable housing is even harder for newcomers to our country, youth forced to leave home, women fleeing violence, and many others struggling to make ends meet.
No one should have to face this alone. With the right guidance and resources, we can help youth like Merveille take meaningful steps toward building themselves a better life.
The YMCA’s Second Stage Housing program provides youth with shelter, life skills, education, and mental health services that help them thrive.
