OUR MISSION

Empowering youth facing homelessness to reach individual potential.

ABOUT YWS

YWS is Etobicoke's singular emergency residence and referral agency serving youth experiencing homelessness between the ages of 16 and 24. The 33 bed Emergency Residential Program meets the immediate needs of the youth by providing safe shelter, crisis counselling, mental health support, nutritious food, clothing and hygiene products.

Residents are given access to life skills training sessions and workshops through YWS's Life Skills and Housing & After-Care Programs.

An Employment Program aims to alleviate the obstacles youth encounter in finding and maintaining employment.

A Stay in School Program offers longer-term transitional accommodation for up to 20 youth while they focus on completing their education.

An Educational Outreach Program breaks down stereotypes, and builds knowledge and empathy with a preventative approach.

WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT

Since our founding over 30 years ago, YWS has developed a model of care that identifies and builds on our clients’ strengths and resiliency. We do this by providing them with opportunities to develop their confidence and key skills they’ll need to navigate life and overcome challenges. We don’t just provide a warm bed for a night; we offer practical advice and guidance from trained staff, wrap-around support programs, and a safe, comfortable home. Our goal is to move young people out of homelessness, towards independent, stable living.

We have become known as a house where a youth’s culture and needs are understood, and where each youth can receive individual-needs-based support, practical guidance, and training through a wrap-around model of programming. All operations are trauma-informed and designed to be youth-centric, build self-esteem and resiliency, and focus on personal strengths. 

Youth Without Shelter's vision is to end youth homelessness, one youth at a time, one step at a time.