Community News

HOME DEPOT CAMPAIGN BENEFITS THE RAFT

RAFT SAW ITS LOWEST OCCUPANCY IN ITS SHELTER IN 2021

ABBY GREEN agreen@metroland.com

St. Catharines-based "The RAFT" has one mission: to prevent youth homelessness.

The Centre Street facility's mission is benefitting once again from Home Depot's Orange Door project, which RAFTs operations manager Lindsay Mackinnon said helps keep their programs running.

"The funding (is how) we are able to do our prevention programs. So we have Youth Reconnect program, Shelter diversion, and External routes," she said.

The Shelter Diversion program works with youth between ages 16 and 24, and helps them avoid having to stay in shelters by accessing other options.

"Accessing other housing options ensures shelter beds are used as a resource only when absolutely necessary,"

reads RAFTs website.

The Youth Reconnect program helps youth without secure housing access services and supports within their own community.

"By helping youth remain in their home communities,

these young people can give back both socially and economically," the website says.

External Routes is RAFTs family-finding program.

It "connects youth unable to live with their parents and Crown wards aging

out of foster care with relatives who would be willing to provide the youth with the support they need to transition into adulthood and avoid homelessness."

Mackinnon said their Fresh Feed program is also supported by Home Depot

and helps provide employment opportunities for youth who had previously experienced homelessness.

Donations were accepted at the St. Catharines Home Depot checkout up until Thursday, with funds going to support the

RAFT's programs.

"I just can't say enough about the positive energy that that store and associates brings to the campaign," Mackinnon said. "They have supported us year after year. I think we're approaching almost 10 years of support, which is great."

Mackinnon said the point of all these programs is to prevent youths from ever needing to use their shelters.

"We go out to meet youth where they're at to try to work with them on solutions before they ever try to access our shelter," she said. "We want that to be last resort ... it's really making those attachments back to family, schools, and community. I think we like to highlight those natural supports and attachments."

While use of their resources is consistent, Mackinnon said their shelter saw its lowest occupancy in 2021, serving 94 people.

"In comparison, in 2008 we had served about 475 individuals in shelter," she said.

Since its inception in 1994, the RAFT has helped thousands of youth in Niagara become independent.

IN NIAGARA

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2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281590949242200

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