Ottawa’s homeless and at-risk youth should soon have easier access to jobs and housing.
Operation Come Home says it will use money generated at a Sept. 24 fundraising event to expand housing and employment programs for young adults, said Dana Reynolds, chair of the organization’s board of directors.
Centretown-based Operation Come Home provides services such as counselling, education and housing programs to young adults 16 and older.
Elspeth McKay, the organization’s executive director, said she was “very pleased with the turnout” at the fundraising breakfast, which was held in a ballroom at the Ottawa Convention Centre. She said there were more than 500 guests at this year’s fundraiser – “three times as many people” compared to attendance at previous events.
The fundraiser featured speeches from retired NHL hockey player Dennis Hull, a Chicago Black Hawks star in the 1970s, and six young adults who shared stories of how Operation Come Home had helped transform their lives.
The crowd in the ballroom fell silent as 20-year-old Shlomo Coodin recalled life before receiving support from Operation Come Home.
“I was struggling with housing, mental health and many personal challenges. And the traditional schooling just didn’t work for me,” explained Coodin. With the help of Operation Come Home, Coodin said he entered an alternative schooling program to complete his high school diploma. Today, he is a student at Algonquin College angling for a career in business.
“I’m following my dream,” said Coodin, with a smile, “and I love it.”
McKay said homeless youth in Ottawa often benefit from Operation Come Home’s support services. She added that Operation Come Home works with businesses within the community, such as the Bank Street Business Improvement Area.
“That particular BIA has actually hired our youth,” said McKay, “so we have full-time youth working for the Bank Street BIA and they also hire us for all kinds of festivals and fairs.”
Mayor Jim Watson, a guest at the fundraiser, said many youth living on the streets are based in Centretown and the Byward Market.
“In this day and age, living in a civilized society, no one should be living on the street,” he said. “I think it’s sad when that happens and that’s why governments need the help of organizations like Operation Come Home.”
On how he intends to help resolve the issue of youth homelessness, Watson said he hopes to increase the city’s housing and homelessness budget in the future.
“I just announced as part of my platform that I’m going to increase that to $16 million in new funding each year,” said Watson, “which will help even more people of all ages get into an affordable rental unit.”
Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi said the path towards resolving the issue of youth homelessness involves “providing a nurturing, caring environment for our youth, making sure they get good education and making sure that they have support necessary so that they can build their lives.
“That’s my ultimate hope,” Naqvi added, “and I will work with any organization like Operation Come Home that’s working very hard in making that hope come true.”
Towards the end of the fundraiser, McKay called the event a success. She said hearing youth share their stories was the “most compelling part.”
“I was feeling really emotional about how proud I am of them,” she said.
McKay said she hopes Operation Come Home will continue to help youth benefit from the various programs it offers, such as a financial literacy program and a youth centre for resources and information.
She added: “Our goal is to make sure that every youth that walks through our doors has an interest in one of the innovative programs in order for them reach their full potential.”