Housing Support
Is it for me?
If you are between 16 and 24 years, and are living outside, with friends or in a shelter downtown, our housing workers can help you to deal with the challenges of finding affordable housing.
What can I expect?
When you come to the Drop-In, a housing worker will talk with you help you identify your goals for housing, including accessing Ontario Works, getting you ready to meet with landlords, and making furniture bank appointments to help you find what you need to set up your apartment.
How do I get there?
You can find us at 7 Vanauley St. on the 1st floor, around the back of the building. We are two blocks west of Spadina, just north of Queen. You can get to us via the 501 Queen streetcar. You can also call us at 416-703-3361 if you have any questions.
There are considerable barriers facing street-involved and homeless youth. One of the biggest challenges is securing and sustaining housing. YouthLink is a partner in the City of Toronto’s Streets to Homes program which uses a Housing First approach in working with homeless and street-involved youth. At Inner City, Housing Access and Follow-up Support Workers help youth to find, secure and sustain housing by providing a broad range of support services.
We have three full-time housing workers at Inner City whose role is to help youth get housing and keep it, and continue to provide support to them as they stabilize their lives. Our staff specialize in supporting youth with complex needs related to health, mental health, substance use, employment, training and education.
Last year, housing services were provided to over 200 youth and 90 youth were housed and supported in maintaining their housing with the help of our Housing Support Team. Staff members assist youth in locating affordable housing, accessing Ontario Works (social assistance) and housing subsidies, negotiating with landlords and maintaining housing over time. In addition to housing access, Housing Support staff members ensure that youth are supported in improving their income, employment status and educational status. Many youth participate in life skills programs. In the past year, 25 youth have become involved in the QWYCC (Queen West Community Coalition) Project a community revitalization project.
Our housing workers also accompany youth on appointments, introduce them to services such as the Furniture Bank, and help them set up bank accounts or obtain identification.
