GDAR Sponsors Local Youth Shelter
May 4, 2023
Guelph, Ontario - The Guelph & District Association of REALTORS® was proud to help open the doors at the newly renovated Bellevue Youth Shelter by Wyndham House open house and ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 4. Wyndham House was also celebrating their 50th anniversary at the event.
For the past few years, GDAR has sold REALTORS Care® hoodies and tees to raise funds for the charity and during REALTORS Care® Week last November, GDAR held a bedding drive and supplied enough bedding for all 3 Wyndham House Youth Shelters.
Although GDAR has been involved with the organization in these ways, we were especially excited for the opportunity to partner with Wyndham House on this new initiative as an "Adopt-a-Room" sponsor.
GDAR's bedroom sponsorship will provide one of the eight residents with furniture, bedding, and the other comforts that REALTORS® know can mean the difference between a house and a home.
Prior to the open house and ribbon cutting, the GDAR Public Relations Committee had the opportunity to tour the new facility and set up the adopted bedroom for the new resident's arrival. This was a great opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of Wyndham House and our REALTORS® were amazed by the truly innovative renovations that have gone into making this a state-of-the-art facility.
The long-term shelter will provide private rooms for up to eight youths between 16 and 25 years of age who are experiencing homelessness in our local community. Bellevue will also provide all of the additional services that Wyndham House is known for to help youth successfully transition into independent adult life.
From Wyndham House “This unique supportive housing project is considered to be a role model for reducing youth homelessness in the city. By creating a real sense of home and life skills, youth who would normally struggle with core needs have a chance for a bright future. It truly takes a village to raise youth.”
Congratulations on this huge achievement Wyndham House and thank you to all of our REALTOR® members who continue to support housing-related charities in our community.
About Wyndham House
What is Wyndham House?
Homelessness prevention and emergency services offered by Wyndham House include two 8-bed youth focused Supportive Housing Residences, an Emergency Youth Shelter, an integrated Youth Hub, The New Way Classroom, Housing Stability, Diversion & Rapid Re-housing programs as well as youth community outreach staff. Wyndham House is an organization that provides young people 16 to 25 with the supports and services needed to overcome challenging times and difficult problems. Wyndham House has a combination of long term and short term residential beds available. If you don’t need a place to stay but are looking for other supports and services you are welcome to come to our Youth Hub, Youth Resource Centre. The Youth Hub at 133 Woolwich St. Youth Resource Centre can help you with things such as: getting or replacing I.D.; bus tickets; help with High School registration; transportation to the Food Bank; access to a Nurse Practitioner; food and coffee daily; as well as get you hooked up with a place to shower and/or get your laundry done if you need it.
What are the facilities like?
We have 3 buildings that offer residential programs. All are unique and offer a sense of warmth the minute you walk in the door. Staff are on-site in the programs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help you. Two Supportive Housing Residences
Some single rooms, some double rooms
Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided on site
Shared Kitchen, washrooms, and common spaces
Telephone
Laundry facilities (no charge)
Basic needs provided
Life skills programs
Youth Emergency Shelter
Shared rooms
Shared washrooms, common areas and dining area
Meals provided on site
Laundry facilities on site
Basic needs provided
Evening optional programming available
Who lives at Wyndham House?
Youth from all backgrounds are staying with us. Some are self-referred, some learn about us from friends and some are referred to us by community social services agencies, school guidance counselors or local health care facilities. Your unique situation and circumstances determine which program option is best for your needs. Some things to know…
Youth between 16 and 25 years of age
In need housing support
Are willing to make a commitment to actively participate with staff in setting some goals and working towards them
What is it like living at Wyndham House?
Wyndham House is a non-judgmental place that welcomes youth from all backgrounds. It is also a voluntary program:
Two, 8-bed residential homes, located in Guelph.
Our Supportive Housing Programs provide longer term stability to young people experiencing a housing crisis. The non-judgmental, trauma informed supported living environment addresses many of the underlying causes of youth homelessness through a system of age-appropriate supports.
Recognizing that there are no short-term solutions to youth homelessness, our housing programs target potential early leavers from the educational system and support them to stay in school.
Our Programs offer long-term housing to youth who are committed to getting their high school diploma.
We engage youth to take control of their own lives and offer the support and services needed to ensure that youth can make informed decisions.
While in our program, residents have direct access to housing, meals, educational opportunities, healthcare, a case manager, skills development worker, recreational programming, community capacity building activities and other opportunities that teach and enhance a young person’s ability to make healthy decisions and bring a greater level of stability to their life.