The Windsor Residence for Young Men is expanding its systems navigation program to offer the service to young men living outside their residence.
The program was first piloted after COVID-19 to help men aged 16-24 navigate bureaucratic systems to put their lives on the right track.
"It's really about helping youth navigate the complexities of the systems that exist, making sure that they young person can get the right help, at the right time and that there's people who are supporting them through the eligibility, the waitlist, the applications and all that process," said Jason Weinberg, executive director.
The WRYM received a three-year $552,000 Grow Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to expand the program.
During the two-year pilot, the program helped support over 50 homeless youth, with the majority securing long-term housing upon exiting.
"We've realized that the people in the community are in need of the same assistance. There's a lot of young people who aren't supported the way they could be because they don't know how to navigate the supports available to them," said Weinberg.
The WRYM offers transitional housing, aftercare and outreach sercvices for young men at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
