“I arrived at the YWCA Residence after spending several months with no real home because I had left home to escape family violence. I was exhausted from all the moves. It was wonderful to be in a clean, safe, and comfortable environment. The Residence was a turning point for me. The group activities and common spaces made me feel less alone. I learned to be useful by volunteering for lots of activities. Thanks to a team of wonderful professional counselors, I felt safe enough to become more independent, continue my education, and find my own place. Here, we are not pushed into following a pre-set path. We receive support, are listened to, and we have a say in the decisions concerning our living space. We are encouraged to choose our own lifestyle and use our own means to move forward.”
For our residents, (re)building a stable life in independent housing is a process comprising a multitude of actions, all of them essential steps along the path to social reintegration.
Living in a safe environment and participating in a vast array of workshops, conferences, personal development and physical activities, as well as weekly counselling sessions with a team of multidisciplinary professionals, allows residents to regain control of their lives at their own pace, work toward a stable life in independent housing, and break free from the cycle of homelessness, exclusion and violence.
Thank you to Moisson Montreal for the food they provide to our residents.
