Ontario Trillium Foundation invests $40,700 to help Peterborough youth leave homelessness faster
YES Shelter for Youth and Families has received a $40,700 Seed Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario.
The grant is upgrading the systems, training and tools our staff use to help every young person and family who comes to us. That means faster help, fewer gaps and a quicker path to a safe, stable home.
Watch the announcement
Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, and Aimée Le Lagadec, Executive Director of YES, share what this investment means for youth and families in our community.
What the grant pays for
The Seed Grant funds three connected improvements:
- A better system. We are setting up our client and case management system to its full capacity. Everything a worker needs to know about a young person’s situation will be current and in one place.
- Better-trained staff. 35 staff are being trained on the upgraded system. 13 outreach staff are also completing a three-day course in case management and natural supports.
- The right tools. 11 laptops, set up by ReBOOT, are now with outreach staff who carry caseloads. They can update files and make referrals wherever they are: at the shelter, in transitional housing or out in the community.
The project at a glance
- $40,700 Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grant
- 35 staff trained on the upgraded system
- 13 outreach staff trained in case management best practices
- 11 laptops for outreach workers
- 8 YES programs strengthened
- About 225 young people and family members helped each year
Who benefits
The upgrade reaches eight YES programs, from Homelessness Prevention and the Emergency Shelter to RISE Youth Housing and Life Skills.
About 225 young people and family members each year will feel the difference through:
- Faster help
- Fewer times retelling their story to a new worker
- Fewer people falling through the gaps between programs
Why every hour counts
When a seventeen-year-old comes through our door at eleven o’clock at night with nowhere to go, the difference between help arriving tonight and help arriving next week can shape the rest of their life. This Seed Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation means less waiting, fewer barriers, and a faster path to housing, food and support
Aimée Le Lagadec, Executive Director, YES Shelter for Youth and Families
Thank you
Thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, to MPP Smith and to the people of Ontario. As Aimée puts it, “This is your investment, and it is going directly toward helping young people in this community resolve their homelessness permanently.”
How you can help
- Donate to help YES meet every young person and family who comes to our door.
- Learn more about our programs.