A New Haven for Youth Haven: The Home Where Hope Lives
An urgent, ever-growing need
Youth Haven’s current house on Wellington Street in Barrie is more than 100 years old and beyond repair. Today, up to 1,000 young people are relying on Youth Haven for emergency shelter, transitional housing and outreach services.
There is an urgent need for a home that is better equipped to address and meet the needs of at-risk and homeless youth. For too long, young people in desperate situations have been seeking healing and hope in a place that is unable to support personal dignity or privacy.
The existing Youth Haven home has been maintained over many years with the bare minimum of essential repair work. Furthermore, clinical philosophies and standards for congregate settings have changed significantly in 30 years and Youth Haven has not been able to keep pace.
In Simcoe County, we all share the responsibility to ensure at-risk, homeless young people can access the crucial help they need at a critical time in their lives.
Supporting the New Haven for Youth Haven Campaign is one of the most visionary investments you can make. Your generosity and compassion can be the key drivers in strengthening and empowering our next generation.
There is no better time to invest in Youth Haven!
At the heart of our new home
- Same location on Wellington Street, Barrie
- Increased capacity for 31 youth (compared to the current 20)
- 2 residents per room instead of 6
- 14 bedrooms (each with 2 beds, plus 3 private single rooms)
- Day use facilities for youth on the street (washrooms, kitchen, laundry)
- Study areas equipped with computers
- Lounge spaces
- Private counseling spaces
- Dedicated medical and dental spaces, staffed by volunteer professionals from Royal Victoria Hospital
- Commercial kitchen
- Recreational spaces
- Garden plots
To provide the best possible caring, supportive environment and transform Youth Haven into a safer, more comfortable home – with space to accommodate more at-risk young people—the need is real, and the need is now.
The new, purpose-built Youth Haven will have close to double the capacity to operate effectively today—and tomorrow.
We invite you to join us by supporting our $2 million fundraising campaign
The Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association (SCHBA) is generously donating their time and professional expertise to transform Youth Haven into a welcoming, modern, suitable space for at-risk and homeless youth—a gift equivalent to more than $1 million.
In an incredibly powerful partnership with the SCHBA, Youth Haven is poised to make a giant leap in addressing and meeting the diverse, complex needs and challenges of one of the most vulnerable populations in our community.
Directly improve the lives of youth
Some examples of what your donations will help to build
Bedroom
Donors can choose male, female, or non-gender specific room.
Laundry Room
Donors can choose to add a plaque to the room.
Recreation
Help provide our youth with indoor and outdoor recreation equipment. In-kind donations accepted.
Food Locker
Help feed our youth. Donate to fill the food locker for a year.
Donors will be recognized at their giving level on the Donor Wall in the new shelter
| Giving Level | Gift Amount |
|---|---|
| Visionary | $500,000+ |
| Leader | $250,000 – $499,999 |
| Champion | $100,000 – $249,999 |
| Builder | $50,000 – $99,999+ |
| Investor | $25,000 – $49,999+ |
| Patron | $10,000 – $24,999 |
| Partner | $5,000 – $9,999 |
Naming and sponsorship opportunities are available and the Campaign Team will be happy to discuss them with you. A charitable tax receipt is available.
The New Haven for Youth Haven Campaign is an unprecedented opportunity to build on our successes and help more young people overcome homelessness.
For more information on the New Haven for Youth Haven campaign, or to join the Campaign Team, please contact
Lucy Gowers, Executive Director
705-795-7423
lucy@youthhaven.ca