StepStones for Youth
Toronto, ON
The Organization
StepStones for Youth, an award-winning and Charity Intelligence Canada A+ and 5 Star-rated organization, serves equity-deserving young people who are or have been involved, through no fault of their own, in Ontario’s Child Protection Services and who have significant histories of trauma, abuse, and neglect. Their intended objectives for our target population are to create positive and meaningful connections with family, community, and culture; strengthen a sense of belonging; increase school engagement, high school graduation, and post-secondary enrolment; improve mental and physical health; secure long-term and stable housing; and build strong support networks young people can rely on for life. Meeting these objectives leads to reduced educational disenfranchisement, homelessness, poverty, and dependence on social services.
The Project
StepStones for Youth has reached an agreement to purchase a building that will become a thriving and permanent hub to meet the increased need for their services and ensure the sustainability of our organization. The first of its kind, this property will include innovative and supported housing for youth aged 18-25, focusing on the vulnerable and marginalized population transitioning out of care and at risk of homelessness, a full commercial kitchen to support cooking workshops and weekly dinners, and StepStones’ offices, comprised of private spaces for counselling StepStones wraparound support, as well as spacious, open areas for events, meetings, and social gatherings.