Community Helpers Unite opens overnight safe space for youth

North End

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This article was published 18/12/2024 (473 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Community Helpers Unite — a North

End-based, not-for-profit organization which specializes in providing hot meals for those in need — is ending 2024 with a special expansion, the opening of Ombishkaawak Migiziwak (Rising Eagles), an overnight, walk-in safe space for youth at unit 4, 585 Jarvis Ave.

The space opened up for its first night on Dec. 12, and will continue to be open from Thursday to Sunday, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., every week. In the future, CHU aims to expand the service to seven days a week, and then to eventually remain open 24-7, similar to Rossbrook House, according to Brandy Bobier, CHU executive director, who added that there aren’t enough spaces like it in the city.

Rising Eagles is open to kids aged 12 to 18, and will soon offer regular, scheduled programming facilitated by experienced staff. At the moment, staff members are having round-table conversations with youth to see what they like and what they want to see from the space.

Kids are different depending on where they’re from in the city, Bobier said, as she wants to “tailor things as much as we can for youth living in the vicinity of this space.”

“We want to build it around and for them,” she said.

The programming will “help build youth’s capacity for independence and to advocate for themselves in a good way,” according to CHU. There will be regular opportunities to attend sharing circles, as well as outings for land-based healing and education.

Counselling and mentorship will be available on-site, and volunteer opportunities will also be open for youth taking part.

“The primary goal is to help youth find a space where they feel safe and heard … and be able to make decisions and advocate for themselves,” Bobier said, adding that this will be achieved through empathy and support.

Rising Eagles is primarily funded by the Building Safer Communities Fund, a Government of Canada program.

Bobier said Rising Eagles is planning a grand opening event on-site, with a date to be announced.

For more information, visit @wegotchu_wpg on Instagram, the Community Helpers Unite page on Facebook, or chuinc.ca