On this cold day we write to you with warmth in our hearts for the continued support we see for our biggest fundraising event, The Coldest Night of the Year. On February 25th, this year, we can walk together or apart! This event has become a time where our community has united with a common goal of supporting youth at risk of homelessness. It has been a time to walk and a time to share a warm meal. This year, we will honour the event by joining together or apart, as these youth still need our help (in fact, they need it more than ever).
Last year, this area raised over $200,000 and ranked 3rd out of over 160 communities across Canada. This year we are aiming to repeat this GOAL! We are incredibly humbled how this community comes together to help drive change and to provide these vulnerable youth with hope, opportunity and ultimately a chance to succeed.
Lately we are receiving a higher number of calls for young teens in the 16–19-year-old age range in need of shelter or housing supports. Youth are struggling to live in family situations that are stressful and conflictual causing them to leave or be asked to leave home. The nearest youth emergency shelter is in Barrie, unfortunately putting youth in the position of being displaced from our community. We’re extremely excited about the expansion at the Barbara Weider House, increasing the number of rooms to 10, as it will give these youth the opportunity to stay where their school and support systems are.
Homelessness comes at a cost to both the individual, the family, and the community and Home Horizon has seen a dramatic increase in the need for their support and programming due to the pandemic. “Home Horizon’s social return on investment is multifaceted. “Says Executive Director Steven Pelletier. “Not only are we ensuring the health and wellbeing of youth today, we are also making a significant investment in our community’s future for decades to come.”
With your support, we can continue to work with youth facing complex and challenging barriers including poverty, mental health and addictions, sex trafficking, racism, trauma and conflictual home lives. We have already helped over 150 youth and will continue to help more as we expand our reach.
With your support we can change and transform lives from poverty and trauma to independence and hope.
Walk with us on February 25th for our annual Coldest Night of the Year.
Register here: cnoy.org/collingwood
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