November 18, 2024
LONDON, ON – To help address the rising challenges of homelessness in London, Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) is opening the doors to the new location for its new Community Youth Hub located at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC)’s Victoria Hospital on Monday, November 25. The hub will offer vital support, resources and care directly on LHSC’s property to young Londoners living without housing. It is a key component of London’s Health and Homelessness Whole of Community System Response.
The Community Youth Hub offers 15 beds and serves as a secure, supportive environment where youth aged 16 to 24 can stabilize, access health care, and connect with wraparound services as they transition toward stable housing. The hub’s services are centered on trust, safety, and hope, empowering youth to move beyond trauma while providing critical access to care, housing, and social services. The hub has been offering services at a temporary location while renovations were underway at the LHSC location.
“The Whole of Community System Response emerged from a crisis. People are living unsheltered, facing life-threatening situations on our streets,” says Mayor Josh Morgan of the City of London. “This initiative brings together organizations from all corners of the community, driven by research, experience, and a shared commitment to help. The Community Youth Hub is a critical part of this response, offering youth a path forward and an opportunity to succeed.”
The Community Youth Hub aims to address complex needs that go beyond housing. Youth currently make up 26 per cent of the homeless population in London and Middlesex, highlighting the critical need for targeted support.
“Youth experiencing homelessness are dealing with intense trauma and high levels of health-care needs,” explains Steve Cordes, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Opportunities Unlimited. “It's incredibly exciting to see the full vision of the Community Youth Hub come together. Since the funding announcement last December, we've been able to offer interim hub services at our youth shelter, but this next step marks a transformational moment for many young people. When health care and support services are integrated into one cohesive model, it has the power to truly change communities.”
Those living without housing, including youth, are more likely to frequently visit the emergency department (ED) or need hospitalization. Previous data has shown that 1,683 patients of all ages are living unsheltered, and they account for more than 7,100 emergency department visits each year at LHSC. Of those patients, 280 are youth under the age of 24 who accounted for 642 ED visits last year.
“We believe that housing is health care,” says Nash Syed, Vice President of Children’s Hospital and Women’s Care at LHSC. “By supporting the Community Youth Hub, we’re partnering to advance our community’s health and wellbeing. This model of community integration will give youth a true opportunity to heal and rebuild.”
The Health and Homelessness Fund for Change supported YOU’s Community Youth Hub with $3 million towards the cost of refurbishing the building to serve the needs of youth. Spearheaded by a transformative $25 million commitment from a London family who wishes to remain anonymous with additional support from Londoners, the Fund for Change is administered by London Community Foundation in partnership with the donor family.
“Through the incredible generosity of the donor family and Londoners from all walks of life, young people experiencing homelessness will have access to essential wraparound services to support them on their journey to stable housing, which is essential for health and wellbeing,” says Diane Silva, President and CEO, London Community Foundation.
The Community Youth Hub will expand to a second location at Joan’s Place, a safe and affordable home for youth, young mothers, and mothers-to-be who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness in downtown London, once construction is complete in 2025. YOU anticipates helping up to 60 youth annually through the hub by offering a wide range of services including shelter, life skills development, and housing supports based on the individual needs of each young person.
“Our goal is to provide young people with stability and support, and to show them that homelessness doesn’t have to define their lives,” adds Cordes. “Through this partnership, we’re giving youth a chance to reconnect with family, build a sense of community, and plan for a stable future. The hub is more than just a place to stay; it’s a place to grow, heal, and see a brighter path forward.”
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