Impact Numbers

We’re committed to providing for the health and safety of youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. That looks like…

Youth Voices

Our impact is best reflected in the lives of those we serve. These are just a few of their stories…

“My whole life became dependant on substance use and I didn’t know how to get out. Drug abuse isolated me; I lost my friends and family and I was losing my health. I became pretty hopeless – unloved and unlovable. It felt like I could never do anything meaningful in life and I became very suicidal.

At eighteen I decided I wanted to go down a different path in life. In that time, I was staying at oneROOF — they helped me find a rehab program. Their staff listened to me when I had nothing, and oneROOF continuously took me in, time after time, failure after failure. People cared for me there and encouraged me to make good choices.

The Lunchbox Program was great and provided a means to financial aid; I worked there and used the money to pay my orientation fee for rehab. Once I was there, everything changed. I got my high school diploma, discovered who I was, and started doing comedy. I rebuilt my relationships with family, had my life back and friends back, started to do hobbies like art and creative speaking, and decided to go back to school to study addictions counselling.” – Male, Age 23

“oneROOF staff went above and beyond. They’ve helped me more times than I can count over the last six years” - Female, Age 24

After suffering profound abuse at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, including getting hooked on his drug of choice, Lisa found safety and solace at oneROOF Youth Services. Unable to maintain stable housing due to her addiction, Lisa had been on and off the streets for six long years of her young life. After suffering a near-death experience, she stated…

“Since getting sober, my whole outlook on life has changed. oneROOF knew everything about me and no one judged me. They treated me like a person; they treated me like I mattered when most people looked at me like I was just another dead kid in the streets.”

Lisa went on to work part-time at oneROOF Youth Services as a peer-worker, helping others make the same changes she did and rebuild their lives. – Female, Age 23 (Alias: ‘Lisa’)

“Without oneROOF Youth Services, I don’t know if I would be alive today… That is the most difficult thing I have ever said.” – Male, Age 18

“I want to inspire and show other girls that they can do better, they can become who they want to be. When they see the change in my life they want to listen, and it’s awesome to be able to be a good influence on people. It makes me really happy.” – Female, Age 24

“oneROOF helped me believe in myself again and understand that I was worth staying alive.” – Male, Age 23