Our residential program provides safe, warm beds and three nutritious meals each day for up to 32 young people. Since youth often arrive at our doorstep with little more than a small bag of belongings, the residential program also provides laundry facilities, emergency supplies of personal hygiene items and a clothing bank.
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The housing and outreach program helps residents to secure long-term or permanent housing. Our housing worker assists youth with issues related to housing and helps them achieve their ultimate goal, independent living.
The drop-in program provides a warm, safe haven for both clients and community members. We offer a hot meal, access to the clothing bank and respite from the outside elements, all in a relaxed environment. Youth can socialize with peers, confer with a staff member about pressing issues and receive non-judgmental, supportive advice. We also provide counselling referrals, offer social and recreational opportunities, and teach life skills.
Employment Program
The employment program assists residents and youth in the community with resume writing, job searches and replacing personal identification, and teaches both job-readiness and independent living skills.
In May 2009, Touchstone developed a
Youth Engagement Model, designed to allow TYC to collaborate with youth and strengthen the programs and services we provide and they access. There are 10 representatives that sit on the Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Each representative works endlessly…
Richard Louv (2005), author of
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, introduced the theory that children and youth who were “alienated from nature… experience diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illness”
The Touch of a Goddess (TOG) Program is an internal initiative designed to reach the needs of female youth who suffer from the effects of low self-esteem and negative body image. The program is held at 1076 Pape Avenue (Touchstone Youth Centre) in the Multipurpose Room of the main floor.
The Dreams Under Construction Project focuses on allowing youth to ‘dream’ of what they want their community to be in the future. This act of dreaming is then channelled through the power of the arts where youth explore expressive ways to invite other youth in sharing their dreams.
The Stone Edge Challenge is a multi-focused program that challenges the physical abilities of youth. Participating youth will be exposed to several different activities over a 2-month period where they learn and develop physical skills that promote self-care and self-esteem. These activities include…
