YMCA

Vanauley Street and Sprott House

YMCA: Welcome

History

Vanauley Street YMCA

In 2012, the YMCA replaced YouthLink at 7 Vanauley Street to meet the rising demand in the Queen West and Spadina community for male youth living with homelessness.

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YMCA Sprott House

Since its opening in 2007, Sprott House is a 25 person transitional house for youth between the ages of 16 to 25. In 2016, the YMCA Sprott House became one of two shelters founded by the Toronto City Council specifically catering to the needs of homeless 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

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The Youth They Serve

Age

Vanauley St YMCA

offers youth ages 16 to 24 emergency shelter and other employment, housing and health support programs.

Sprott House YMCA

offers youth ages 18 to 24 a holistic housing transition program with

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Sexual Orientation

Vanauley St YMCA

welcomes all self-identifying male youth. A trans-positive space.

Sprott House YMCA

exclusively welcomes 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

Religion

While the YMCA has protestant roots in the 19th century, youth of all religions are welcome and are free to practice their faith.

Ethnicity

The YMCA welcomes youth of all origins, especially new immigrants in need of a temporary shelter

YMCA: Clients

Programs

Vanauley Street YMCA

Emergency Shelter

Age 16 to 24

The Vanauley Street YMCA provides 40 spots for emergency shelter for young men between the ages of 16 and 24. It is a trans-positive space.

Pre-employment development program

Age 18 to 24

A 12-week employability training program for youth on social assistance programs.

Employment Supports for Youth

Age 16-24

An intensive 9 week employment program which follow the steps of assessment, program completion, action plan making. Participants are provided with12 weeks of support post-completion. Surrounding supports including housing, substance abuse management, food and mental health services are provided as needed.

Drop-in programs

Age 16-24

Services are provided in collaboration with other community partners to provide medical, mental health, employment, housing and legal support. This is meant as safe space for homeless youth to rebuild community relationships.

Outreach Program

Age 16-24

Staff reach out to youth on the streets in the Trinity/Spadina area.

YMCA: Programs

Sprott House YMCA

Age 18-24

A comprehensive single-occupancy transitional house for 2SLGBTQ+ youth with 25 spaces available.
Every youth is given access to a Case Manager, an Outreach Counsellor and other youth workers, to help them navigate the intersectional barriers brought upon by adolescence, homelessness and 2SLGBTQ+ identity.
Youth are expected to participate in house activities
Eligibility is determined via an application and interview process.

YMCA: Programs

Questions and Answers from a Vanauley Street Staff Member (Paraphrased)

Why does Vanauley Street YMCA only accept men? Are there shelters for female youth?

Although it is trans-positive, the Vanauley youth centre only accepts male youth, and at the present moment the greater Toronto area YMCAs only provide general womens shelters provided by the YWCA. This may be the result of the YMCA traditionally being founded for young men living with instability.

Do the youth at the shelter require ID? I heard an account where a youth didn't have their ID before she left home because of frequent displacement.

The Vanauley Street YMCA requires a form of ID within 3 days of entry for stay for the safety of other residents. They will provide youth access to and funds for paid ID clinics to achieve this in a timely manner. Leniency will be given depending on the situation.

What cultural/ethnic diversity of youth do you find?

The number of Black male and newcomer male youth is relatively high compared to the number of White male youth. There was no mention of culturally sensitive protocols, however newcomer males are assigned a case manager and appropriate community partners to help them settle. The priority at the emergency shelter is to ensure food, safety and warmth.

How do you ensure that youth are provided with education?

For mature youth, especially with newcomer youth who have a foreign education, the priority is for them to successfully complete a GED test. Case workers are responsible for this aspect. School-aged youth are enrolled in public high schools.

How has COVID affected your services?

COVID has certainly forced several services to grind to a halt. It has become increasingly more difficult to provide essential services like the previously mentioned ID clinics. The focus is now on the essentials.

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