Youth shelters are an invaluable resource in the fight against youth homelessness. The shelter system is integral for immediate intervention in times of crisis and long-term support of youth without support elsewhere. Without youth shelters to take on the brunt of emergency response, we wouldn’t get anywhere. Too many youths would be outright lost to the adult system or the streets.

In this three-part mini-series, we will uncover the truth of life in a youth shelter in Peel, from both a service provider and youth perspective. We’ll capture some of the rules, norms, and taboos that exist within youth shelters to keep them comfortable, practical, and secure for everyone. 

In this episode, we interview three more youths who were living in Brampton Youth Shelter in August of 2023.  We’ll hear their stories, learn their insights, and heed their calls to action.

Want to Volunteer? Want to become a Bridgebuilder? Email us at info@restcentres.org with the subject line, "I want to help!" and let us know what you're interested in doing with us.

Follow up with REST Centres:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the Organization (Canada Helps)⁠

Youth shelters are an invaluable resource in the fight against youth homelessness. The shelter system is integral for immediate intervention in times of crisis and long-term support of youth without support elsewhere. Without youth shelters to take on the brunt of emergency response, we wouldn’t get anywhere. Too many youths would be outright lost to the adult system or the streets.

In this three-part mini-series, we will uncover the truth of life in a youth shelter in Peel, from both a service provider and youth perspective. We’ll capture some of the rules, norms, and taboos that exist within youth shelters to keep them comfortable, practical, and secure for everyone. 

In this episode, we interview three youths who were living in Brampton Youth Shelter in August of 2023.  We’ll hear their stories, learn their insights, and heed their calls to action.

Want to Volunteer? Want to become a Bridgebuilder? Email us at info@restcentres.org with the subject line, "I want to help!" and let us know what you're interested in doing with us.

Follow up with REST Centres:

⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠ Linkedin⁠⁠⁠ //⁠⁠⁠ Support the Organization (Canada Helps)

Youth shelters are an invaluable resource in the fight against youth homelessness. The shelter system is integral for immediate intervention in times of crisis and long-term support of youth without support elsewhere. Without youth shelters to take on the brunt of emergency response, we wouldn’t get anywhere. Too many youths would be outright lost to the adult system or the streets.

In this three-part mini-series, we will uncover the truth of life in a youth shelter in Peel, from both a service provider and youth perspective. We’ll capture some of the rules, norms, and taboos that exist within youth shelters to keep them comfortable, practical, and secure for everyone. 

In this episode, Youth Support Supervisor Crystal Groves, Youth Worker Latoya Green, and Complex Case Coordinator Abigail Fraser-Dillon from Our Place Peel share what life is like inside the shelter as service providers. Let's learn about the services provided, their impact on the community, and the pros and cons of the youth shelter system.

Follow up with Our Place Peel: ⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠

⁠Sign up for DL4L here! ⁠

We would like to thank the Laidlaw Foundation for their generous funding of REST Centres' new "My Story, My Power" program!

Want to Volunteer? Want to become a Bridgebuilder? Email us at info@restcentres.org with the subject line, "I want to help!" and let us know what you're interested in doing with us.

Follow up with REST Centres:

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ //⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠ //⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠ //⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ //⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠ //⁠⁠ Linkedin⁠⁠ //⁠⁠ Support the Organization (Canada Helps)

When the world shut down in 2020, international student Sasha had nowhere to go. Racing against the ticking clock of her university residence shutting down, Sasha and her friends rushed to find housing in the GTA. Little did they know the nightmare they were diving into.   On this episode of Homelessness in Hiding: Our Youth Between the Cracks, we’ll hear Sasha’s story of renting in the GTA as an international student. Her experiences expose the tricky landscape of unlawful deposits, awful maintenance, and, in her words, the practice of social law versus legal law. Want to Volunteer? Email us at info@restcentres.org with the subject line, "I want to volunteer!" and let us know what you want to do with us.

Further Reading:

A report about international student fees // Lodging Houses (Brampton) (Mississauga) // International Students In Canada Follow up with REST: Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // Linkedin // Support the Organization (Canada Helps)

Homelessness and poverty are complicated issues that so often feel like they’re being overlooked by the people in charge. With the skyrocketing costs of living and the harder it's become to find deep-cut affordable housing, it's so easy to feel like everyone’s last priority.

In this episode of Homelessness in Hiding: Our Youth Between the Cracks, host Mya Moniz sits down with Councillor Martin Reid, the new councilor for Mississauga’s Ward 9, which covers Meadowvale and Central Erin Mills. Today, we get to know a little more about who he is, how he wants to his community heal from poverty, and how he plans to use his position in office to amplify the issues that matter to us. Cllr Reid's Resources:Open Window Hub

Follow up with Martin Reid:Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

Sign up for DL4L here! It's not too late! Want to Volunteer? Emails us at info@restcentres.org with the subject line, "I want to volunteer!" and let us know what you're interested in doing with us.

Follow up with REST:

⁠Website⁠ //⁠ Twitter⁠ //⁠ Facebook⁠ //⁠ Instagram⁠ //⁠ YouTube⁠ //⁠ Linkedin⁠ //⁠ Support the Show (Canada Helps)

Renting life is complicated to navigate, especially for independent youth. Even if a tenant is completely within their rights to stay in the face of a threatened eviction, beyond a certain point, upholding your rights gets complicated when your safety is in danger.

In this episode of Homelessness in Hiding: Our Youth Between the Cracks, Host Mya Moniz chats with Chev, an anonymous youth client of REST Centres who was illegally evicted by her landlord and roommate earlier this year. She’s here to tell her story, share the warning signs, and offer advice to any youth in similar situations.

Further Reading:

Official Ontario Lease Agreement (Government of Ontario)

Housing Law (Steps to Justice) (Eviction) (Eviction Process)

Call 311 or visit your city's website: (Brampton) (Mississauga) (Caledon)

Registered Two-Dwelling Units (2023): (Brampton) (Mississauga)

Want to Volunteer? Emails us at info@restcentres.org with the subject line, "I want to volunteer!" and let us know what you're interested in doing with us.

Are you interested in joining our Board of Directors? Learn more about the opportunity here!

Follow up with REST:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // Linkedin // Support the Show (Canada Helps)

One Youth shares her experience in a psychologically abusive household and her escape in this episode of Homelessness in Hiding: Our Youth Between the Cracks.

Host Mya Moniz sits with "Vee," an anonymous youth client of REST Centres who shares her story of homelessness risk, and how she found her way to REST Centres and beyond.

Vee's resources:

Reaching Adolescents in Need

Follow up with REST:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // Linkedin // Support the Organization (Canada Helps)

Let's take our breakdown of food insecurity beyond the dinner table. From social stigma to long-term impacts, food insecurity is about more than just food–especially for the next generation. Kirstin Beardsley, the CEO of Food Banks Canada, a national organization that supports food banks across Canada and advocates for the end of food insecurity, altogether. She shares the history of food banking in Canada, the importance of supporting food banks, and the systemic and societal impacts of food insecurity in the long run

Further Reading:

Household Food Insecurity (UofT) // When Food Becomes the Next Expense You Have to Cut (The Star) // Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (Simply Psychology) // Food Banks Canada's Hunger Count (2022) // Kirstin in the News about Food Insecurity (CTV News)

Follow up with Food Banks Canada:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // LinkedIn

Follow up with REST:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // Linkedin // Support the Organization (Canada Helps)