By Bailey Sherrah
Youth Opportunities Unlimited 30 bed Youth Shelter (Photo provided by YOU)
“In a time where many services have been reduced or eliminated, Youth Opportunities Unlimited continues to offer all of its programming,” explains Youth shelter manager at Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Max Doucet.
While continuing to respect COVID-19 health and safety best practices, Doucet says if there’s a way to offer support to youth who need it, Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) is certain they’ll find a way.
On Aug. 17, 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic, YOU opened a 30 bed youth (ages 16-24) homeless shelter in hopes to help tackle the youth homelessness obstacle in London. Since Aug. 30, 2020, Doucet says YOU Housing First Youth Shelter has almost always been at maximum capacity.
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A London research project aimed at preventing hospital patients from becoming homeless has launched two new initiatives, one focused on youth and one on how city hall can improve its access to housing system.
“We have been searching for answers, how do we solve homelessness, and we have found good solutions that we have implemented,” said lead researcher Dr. Cheryl Forchuk, of Brantford.
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“But we’re not satisfied with what we’ve done in the past. We keep researching to see how we can make this better.”
Collaboration, flexibility and technology were key to survival this year, according to six nonprofit leaders from the SouthCoast. Though most of them miss the human element of hugs and in-person events, they say certain tools and lessons born of necessity are here to stay.
Technology becomes a tool to increase reach
Before COVID-19, the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center never provided care virtually, known as telehealth or telemedicine, said CEO Cheryl Bartlett. Now, she said care is about split between in-person and virtual visits.
The United Way of Greater New Bedford was forced to hold its largest fundraising event virtually this spring, but due to its success, Victoria Grasela, the vice president of marketing, said they want to include virtual elements for all future fundraisers.