The Wagner Green YMCA

Diverse youth from across the GTA come to The Wagner Green Y when they are street involved, transient, precariously housed, or living in shelters operated by other organizations. All young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are welcome, regardless of gender identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious heritage, and/or ability.

• Our 40 bed shelter provides harm-reduction and trauma-informed residential services.
• The facility is accessible for youth with disabilities and includes elevators and barrier-free washrooms.
• Housing supports are available to help youth secure and maintain permanent, affordable accommodations.

Working with the City of Toronto and community partners, The Wagner Green YMCA drop-in program aims to provide a safe place where youth living in vulnerable situations can rebuild their trust in people and access the services they need. Whether visiting the drop-in centre or staying in the shelter overnight, youth access a variety of wrap-around supports, including:

• Immediate crisis support and access to basic necessities, such as food, hygiene products, showers, harm reduction supports, and medical attention.
• Access to a mental health practitioner and a public health nurse who is on-site weekly to deliver mental health counseling and medical care.
• Legal professionals who are on-site twice a month to support those working through legal issues.
• A monthly clinic that helps youth secure proper identification.
• A structured Pre-Employment Program with one-on-one case management for youth most distant from the labour force.
• Access to our YMCA’s Health and Fitness centres, employment supports, newcomer and language services, and substance use program.
• Our unique Streets to Homes program, which offers youth case management with a housing-first approach. Three full-time outreach workers connect with youth who are living rough or in encampments to help them get into housing as quickly as possible, mostly in private market with rental supports or supplement. They also connect these youth with a variety of social and community services, including follow-up and eviction prevention services and post-incarceration support.

77% of youth experiencing homelessness in Toronto are unemployed. Programming at The Wagner Green YMCA helps put them on the path towards landing a job.

• The 12-week pre-employment development program is geared towards youth age 18–24 who are receiving social assistance. Participants learn the career development and employment skills they need to start a successful job search.
• The 9-week employment supports program is a highly specialized, intensive service for homeless and at-risk youth ages 16-24. Participants gain a customized action plan and up to 12 weeks of post-program supports to help them find employment.
• Specialized supports including transportation, access to food, mental health supports, and more are provided to decrease barriers to participation.

Impact

• 70—80 young people use employment services at The Wagner Green YMCA each year.
• 95% have a positive outcome, whether it's getting into employment, education, a job training program, or mental health supports.
• 1,484 youth were supported at The Wagner Green YMCA from April to September 2021.

On June 29, 2022, Toronto and East York Community Council recommended our application for approval to permit a six-storey addition to the existing Wagner Green YMCA. This addition would contain 31 affordable dwelling units for youth at risk of homelessness. It would complement The Wagner Green YMCA’s emergency shelter and drop-in centre, where youth currently access services substance including use counselling, mental health support, legal services, help finding a job or returning to education, and more.

The addition of 31 affordable dwelling units would help support The Wagner Green YMCA’s ultimate goal, which is to help young people secure and maintain permanent and affordable housing — a key piece of the foundation they need to grow into healthy adults.