From homeless to hopeful
UNITED WAY Moms helped to finish education Program provides daycare, tuition
Every day, Karen Kindness shuts the door to her small apartment, kisses her little ones goodbye as she drops them off at the daycare centre next door and heads to class to focus on her future.
It’s a challenge juggling home, kids and school but she’s managing just fine, thank you very much. So well in fact, that some days the 28-year- old single mom has to pinch herself to make sure she’s not dreaming. Her life wasn’t on such solid ground about a year ago. Kindness was couch surfing at her cousin’s. Though grateful for the help, she didn’t want to burden her family. “I wanted to make it on my own.” Then she heard about Homeward Bound, a two- year fully integrated pilot project that’s helping 30 single mothers and their children get their lives back on track.
Established last year by WoodGreen Community Services, one of Toronto’s largest social service agencies, Homeward Bound uses a holistic approach, providing homeless mothers with an array of tools and support systems so they can get the skills they need to turn their lives around. The goal is to help them move from shelter life to permanent jobs that support their families in three years. Moms like Kindness get housing, child care, counselling, computer training and a degree from Seneca College. Those completing the course are guaranteed job placement. The program puts women on the path to a more economically stable and self- sustaining life, said Brian Smith, president of WoodGreen, a United Way agency since 1956.
“ It’s a solution, not a BandAid,” he said of the pilot project, which recently won the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association Award of Excellence for innovative solutions to poverty and homelessness. A Homeward Bound participant also received international recognition for achieving the International Computer Driving Licence certificate in difficult personal circumstances.
“ People have a lot of skills but they get trapped in situations with too many barriers,” Smith said. “ At Homeward Bound, we try to remove the barriers and provide families with housing, training and child care all at the same time so they don’t give up.” The support network at Homeward Bound has been a lifesaver for Kindness; it includes caring staff and an excellent program at the daycare centre. “ I’m confident that when I leave Michelle and Courtney at the daycare centre, they’re in very good hands,” Kindness said. That allows her to focus on
her work at school and
not worry about them.
“ I feel very lucky to be
here — to have school
paid for and daycare
services provided so I
can make it. I wish
there were more programs out there to give more people the same opportunity for a better future.” WoodGreen is one of 200 agencies supported by the United Way of Greater Toronto. This year, the United Way aims to raise $94.5 million. To date, the campaign has raised $43 million. How to donate: Go to www.unitedwaytoronto. or call 416- 777- 2001.