Mike

by Dakota Halfpenny on January 8, 2019 Comments Off

A drop-in centre helped Mike find stable housing—and a community too.

Coming home

Mike lived his life on the streets, selling scraps to survive. Then a United Way drop-in centre helped him find a home.

“On the street, I became an easygoing, loveable guy. I walked everywhere with a shopping cart and collected scrap. But it got to a point where I was getting older and couldn’t walk around pushing carts. Plus, I was lonely—if you don’t have a place to go, you’re a lost soul.

That’s why, when a friend told me about a United Way drop-in centre, I decided to check it out.

My life is much better now. The staff helped me get sober and find an apartment. I’ve spent time on the streets in the winter and it’s hard—every day, you have to hunt to find somewhere warm and safe to spend the night. You get to a certain point in your life where you’ve got to be warm.

I don’t care who you are: Everyone deserves a chance to have a roof over their head. Now I have that. I even have a cat!

Coming to the drop-in centre has changed me. This place has become my community and my family. It has also helped me learn to cope with people who have their own problems and can be easily triggered. Now, others come to me when they want to talk about a problem. I’m helping people too.

My advice to others? Have compassion when you see people out there who have problems. Offer a few nice words instead of turning a blind eye. Who knows—by making somebody smile, maybe they’ll make somebody else smile. And if everybody starts smiling, life gets better.”

Together, more than ever.

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“Everyone deserves to have a roof over their head.”

Mike

There’s an issue
Homelessness affects everything from employment to personal safety, mental health and access to healthy food. It’s difficult to fully participate your community, keep a job or go to school if you don’t have a safe place to sleep.

A 1.8 per cent vacancy rate across our region drives rent costs higher and makes it even harder for people and families living in poverty to find decent, affordable housing.

You can help
United Way supports a housing-first approach that quickly moves people experiencing homelessness in to independent and permanent housing with appropriate supports. We invest in programs that help people obtain and maintain a secure and stable long-term home.

Here’s how:

$52 allows 5 community palliative care clients to make social connections at St. Joseph’s Hospice
$365 provides an annual subsidized membership at Horton St Seniors Centre for a low-income senior
$1,200 provides 12 sessions of personal counselling for a person struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma or other challenges to their mental health

Nuhaa

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 14, 2018 Comments Off

An after-school program helped Nuhaa feel more comfortable in Canada.

A place to find comfort

When Nuhaa’s family first moved to Canada, it was a difficult adjustment. But a United Way program made it easier.

“I was born in Syria, but when I was four, my family had to leave because it was too dangerous there. So we went to Jordan. I liked it there because my grandparents and aunts and uncles would spend summers with us. When I was eight, we moved to Canada because my parents thought we could have a better life here.

Coming to Canada was not good and not bad. I was excited about meeting other people, but I missed my family and I was scared of going to school because I was shy. I was afraid nobody would want to play with me or be my friend because I didn’t speak English.

Our neighbour told my mom about a United Way after-school program where I could get help with homework and do activities. I was so excited to go there! I have fun, and all the new people I meet are really nice, like my friend Reema. I love her because she’s kind. My favourite part of this program is when we have circle time. That’s when we can play a game, draw or colour. We have a lot of fun together, and now I feel less shy. I’m happy that I get to go to this after-school program.

I feel more comfortable in Canada now. I can speak English, and I’m more confident. I even got to be part of a student art exhibition at the art gallery in my city.”

SHOW YOUR LOCAL LOVE.

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“We have a lot of fun together, and now I feel less shy. I’m happy that I get to go to this after-school program.”

Nuhaa

There’s an issue
Many children and youth in our community face significant barriers to accessing post-secondary education and employment opportunities, particularly those who are immigrants, racialized, Indigenous, LGBTQ+ or from low-income families.

Children who live in poverty have lower literacy scores and less access to after school programs. They’re also less likely to graduate high school, resulting in real barriers to future employment and participating fully in their community.

You can help
Success early in life can have a direct impact on building a good life later. United Way invests in vital supports for kids and their families as well as youth engagement programs that set young people up for lifelong success and economic security.

Here’s how:

$52 or $1/week sends a youth to Homework Club where they get extra help from a qualified instructor in a safe and supportive environment
$1 invested in mentoring programs returns $18 to society. Kids matched with an adult mentor build self-esteem, confidence and social skills.
$1,200 provides 75 at-risk youth a hot, healthy breakfast for two months encouraging regular attendance at school and improving academic success.

Rebecca

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 12, 2018 Comments Off

Do you know what your donation looks like?

It looks like me.

I grew up in an angry home. My parents fought a lot, and when I was 10 years old they divorced. It was the saddest day of my life. My heart broke.

My parents decided I would live with my dad. I don’t know why. Things became really unsettled at home and I didn’t see my mom very often anymore. Then one day, my father came home and told us kids that we were moving to Canada.

My first few weeks in London were tough. Learning a new language was difficult, and making new friends at the same time was even harder. I never felt so alone. We didn’t celebrate birthdays very often, or even Christmas because my dad didn’t care about those types of things. I needed my mom through this time and I really missed our special talks.

I grew up thinking, if it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t have to live like this. If it wasn’t for him, I would have friends and birthday parties and Christmas dinners. If it wasn’t for my dad I would still have my mom. I wish I’d had someone I could talk to about it.

My dad wasn’t exactly father of the year.

My brother and sister had their own problems. My father was really rough with them. When they were old enough, they wanted to move out. I started to cry so they said they would wait for me to graduate high school before they left. They didn’t want to leave me alone with him.

When I was in grade 11 things got worse. I came home one afternoon and my brother and sister told me they were leaving — in one week.

I cried myself to sleep that night. I wish I’d had a place to go.

As time went on I began to make friends. Things got easier. I loved to play sports and was invited to join the baseball team at school. I really wanted to, but I knew I wouldn’t have a way home after school if I missed the bus. My dad didn’t like “the hassle” of picking me up.

The next day I made a decision that would change my life.

I only had one more year of school and knew I had to get my diploma. I could move out with my brother and sister but that would mean another new school and making friends all over again. I asked a friend if their parents would rent me a room the rest of the year. They agreed and I paid $120 a month.

I went to school during the day, worked in the evening and slept when I could. I made just enough to pay my rent and fill my dad’s fridge. He wasn’t working and needed to eat. I barely had enough left over for clothing, bus fare or school supplies. I wish I’d had some financial support.

It was difficult, but I finished that year and graduated high school. I was so happy, and proud too!

I went on to university and now I have a great job and a family. I haven’t heard from or seen my dad in over five years. I don’t know what happened to him. I wish I did.

Looking back, I wish I’d known there were people out there who wanted to help me. I wish I’d known about LUSO Community Services, a place I could have gone to meet other children in a similar situation. I could have practiced my English with them too.

I wish I’d known about Changing Ways. Maybe my dad could have gotten help. They teach fathers how to deal with their anger in constructive ways and not take it out on their kids.

I wish I’d known about Youth Opportunities Unlimited. I could have fled there when my dad got so angry I was afraid he would hit me.

Or maybe South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre. They would have listened when I told them how much I hated being judged by kids at school for wearing makeup. I was just trying to hide the bruises.

I support United Way because so many kids out there deserve a happier life. I am proud that I can help give it to them. They deserve it.

*Rebecca’s photo has been changed to protect her identity.

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Emily

by Dakota Halfpenny on September 6, 2018 Comments Off

Emily says a United Way high school completion program kept her motivated and accountable.

A lesson in empowerment

When I was in grade 11, I had a big falling-out with my family and ended up moving out. After I left my family home, I felt really overwhelmed by having to manage school and life. Just getting to school was a challenge on its own, even without the homework. And there was a lot of homework, because I was in advanced placement classes. I was falling behind. I would get the bare minimum done and I missed so many assignments. My attendance record was bad.

Then I connected with a United Way high school completion program and the staff really motivated me to want to be there. They were people I needed to be accountable to. I knew that if I didn’t come to school and my marks started falling, or if they thought I wasn’t going to graduate, they’d notice: ‘Hey, what’s going on? Why aren’t you getting things done? We know you can do this.’

I want to be a role model for my two younger brothers. I want to give them hope and make them believe that, even if things seem a little challenging now, they can graduate. With the help of people who can give them a safe space to work on their homework and the guidance that they need to understand their schoolwork, they can follow their dreams. They can graduate and go as far as they want to.

And I want young women to understand that, as scary as life may be and as many obstacles as we face, if they really believe they can succeed and they have the resources around them to make success possible, there’s no way they’re going to fail.

I’ve had to take a complete detour, and I’ve had to do a lot of things differently in order to get to where I want to be. It’s been very challenging, but it’s definitely been worth it.

Together, more than ever.

DONATE TODAY

“I want to be a role model for my two younger brothers. I want to give them hope and make them believe that, even if things seem a little challenging now, they can graduate.”

Emily

There’s an issue
Today’s young adults are deeply affected by the changing nature of work and many are struggling to connect with their communities, finish high school and find meaningful jobs.

Nearly 1 in 10 youth in Ontario are identified as NEET (Not in education, employment or training). In our region, this means that approximately 10,000 youth are not reaching their full potential.

You can help
United Way targets the most at-risk youth in our community, so that every young person has a real opportunity to succeed.

Your generous support fuels our investments in tutoring and education programs that build confidence, impact classroom participation and help children and youth achieve their academic goals and future career plans.

Here’s how:

$52, you can help five community palliative care clients make social connections at St. Joseph’s Hospice
$365 ensures that a child from a low-income family gets a good start to the day by receiving a healthy breakfast everyday during March break and summer holidays
$1,200 matches a young person with a mentor for 3-4 hours a week of guidance, fun and growth