HOMEWARD BOUND Creating New Paths to Opportunity
Who We Are OUR VISION IS TO CREATE A TORONTO WHERE EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. Entering into our 80th year, WoodGreen has been a beacon of hope and trusted provider of community service since 1937. Originating in the east end of Toronto, in an economically challenged part of the city, we have welcomed and responded to waves of new immigrants decade after decade since our inception. The overarching mandate has been focused on helping to break the cycle of poverty and build stronger communities. Welcoming the world at our doorstep is the foundation upon which WoodGreen s proud history is built Today, with over 700 employees and 1,000 volunteers and 36 community hub locations Toronto wide, WoodGreen provides services to over 37,000 clients annually, quite literally from every corner of the world. From infant to elder care, WoodGreen is here for our clients helping to remove the barriers that inhibit them from living healthier, more independent, productive and self-fulfilling lives. WoodGreen accomplishes this while never forgetting to put clients at the core of our programming.
Our Services WoodGreen Community Services is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto. A founding United Way of Toronto member agency, WoodGreen has grown to span 36 locations and serves 37,000 people each year. WoodGreen helps people find safe, affordable housing, seniors live independently, internationally-trained professionals enter the job market, parents access childcare, children and youth access after-school programs, newcomers settle into Canadian life, homeless and marginalized people get off the streets and youth find meaningful employment and training. The WoodGreen Foundation is dedicated to supporting WoodGreen s vital services and strengthening our work in social innovation. The Foundation provides an opportunity for donors to become meaningfully engaged in WoodGreen s work like never before, and to see the impact of our support on the community. WoodGreen enables, empowers and inspires. It creates new paths to opportunity, transforms futures and improves the lives of thousands of families each year. Foundation Chair, Michael Worb
Inviting Your Support in Creating New Paths to Opportunity through the Homeward Bound Program Piloted by WoodGreen in 2004 and unique in Canada, Homeward Bound is an innovative program to help inadequately housed or homeless mother-led families earn college diplomas, start careers, and achieve economic self-sufficiency. In our work on the frontlines of homelessness, WoodGreen Community Services has witnessed firsthand the tragic plight of some of the over 1,000 mother-led families who are living in Toronto shelters each day. With little in the way of education or employable skills, homeless single mothers find themselves and their children without any real options. The cycle of poverty is difficult to break and these mothers, and eventually their children, often have no choice but to continue to rely on social assistance throughout their lives. Homeward Bound clients often are trapped in situations that impede their ability to move forward.
By investing in these women and mothers, Homeward Bound is breaking a potential generational cycle of poverty and providing hope for the entire family and future generations of their family. - Ed Clark Many of the single mothers are are new to the country without the necessary qualifications to work in Canada. Lacking education or training severely limits the career opportunities for these women and mothers and creates challenges and barriers to success or opportunity. Homeward Bound opens doors, provides training, education and housing creating a pathway to independence and family security. By eliminating barriers one by one, Homeward Bound allows these vulnerable mothers more control over their lives. Homeward Bound designs and implements programs that provide individualized pathways for each of our clients with specific, tangible and customized support. By addressing the economic and social issues these women face and through your generous support we can end the generational poverty cycle.
Our Program in Action Women receive goal-oriented case management, on-site child care and after-school programming for children and youth. Knowing someone is there to care for their children, removes one of the biggest concerns these single mothers face in their pursuit of employment and education. Women are also provided with financial literacy education, parenting support, and psychotherapy and trauma counselling. Many of the women we see at Homeward Bound are fleeing domestic violence with their children, are living in poverty, are homeless or are precariously housed. What they all share is a sense of hopelessness, vulnerability and isolation. That s why the trauma counselling and emotional support provided at Homeward Bound are so critically important for both women and their children. Homeward Bound not only empowers the women that participate in the program, we provide a fresh start to the entire family and build stronger communities. Homeward Bound is seeing tangible results empowering these mother-led families to create lives that would otherwise be unattainable. Women who four short years ago were living on the streets, in shelters or precarious housing, are now college graduates. The comprehensive Homeward Bound approach empowers these mothers to overcome the barriers that impede their ability to find jobs, care for their children and live as contributing members of society. Our graduates are employed, empowered women earning family sustaining salaries with children that are excelling socially and academically.
Homeward Bound: Creating new paths to opportunity The Homeward Bound Campus includes 76 affordable apartment units. Through a four-year holistic program, women and their children live at WoodGreen s campus in affordable two or three bedroom furnished apartments. This helps to eliminate the worry of keeping a roof over their family s head and provides a sense of comfort and security so they can concentrate on furthering their education. Since 2004, 189 women and 299 children have lived at Homeward Bound. The innovative programs and services Homeward Bound develops and delivers offer these vulnerable women and children the opportunity to regain a sense of belonging and provide stability and hope. I was accepted into the Homeward Bound Program. This was the opportunity of a life time, and I was getting a new start on life. My future for my kids and myself looked bright. - Homeward Bound Participant
Homeward Bound Success Rates* The Social Return on your investment is impressive Every $1 invested in the program yields a return to society of $4* The human impact of your generosity is immeasurable. HELPED OVER 50% OF HOMELESS WOMEN FIND HOMES FOR THEIR FAMILIES LOWERED THE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUTS BY 70% REDUCED UNEMPLOYED WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY BY HALF INCREASED THE NUMBER OF COLLEGE GRADUATES BY 90% *2013 - Boston Consulting Group Homeward Bound Study
The Power of Philanthropic Investment: Building on Our Success Building on the success of Homeward Bound in Toronto, WoodGreen has developed a replication model and supported one initial partner community in piloting a scaled down replication of WoodGreen s Homeward Bound program. This project was successful and in 2014 the first Homeward Bound Replication launched in Halton, Ontario. Homeward Bound Halton is operated by local lead agency, Home Suite Hope, in partnership with Halton Region, Sheridan College, YMCA Oakville, and other local organizations. $50,000 = one life changed......one family transformed Each year we accept 20 students for a cost of $1M WoodGreen is now supporting two new lead agencies and their local partners with the development of HB Replications in Peterborough and Brockville, Ontario. With donor support, we hope to triple the impact and reach of our program over the next 3 years. In addition to the replication work, WoodGreen, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre (OFIFC) and Friendships Centres in Timmins, Niagara, Dryden, Hamilton and London are continuing to move forward with community engagement, feasibility studies and developing an adapted Urban Aboriginal Homeward Bound program model. 4 Phase Program Phase 1 Skills Training Phase 2 Formal Education Phase 3 Internship Phase 4 Employment Program Cost Life Skills, Computer Training, Financial Literacy, Academic Upgrading Two-year College diploma granting program 14 Week Internship Program Job Placement Assistance and Transitional Planning
Although WoodGreen and Homeward Bound receive some government support, the program implementation is reliant on philanthropic support to realize the vision of creating a place where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. We are seeking an investment of $3M a year for the next three years to maintain stability in our current programs and expand the reach of Homeward Bound to rural and Indigenous communities across the province.
Creating New Paths to Opportunity These quotes were taken from Life as a Journey essays that participants from the program wrote. Eighty percent of women complete the milestones for the program and become self-sufficient. With your support, you will not only be directly impacting the future of the mothers participating in the program and the health and wellbeing of the families, you will be providing a lift to the Toronto community and rural communities across Ontario. Your support will ensure these single mother-led families feel safe and the moms feel confident and empowered, self-sufficient and independent, and become involved members of our community. Most of all, I see a difference in myself. Four years ago, I knew I had to take responsibility for myself. I ve always understood that. Now though, I know that I will and I can. - Homeward Bound Participant The path to becoming self-sufficient, successful and be happy comes with hard work and dedication. It is a long road but I have started with the first and right step. I can say that I am part of the school of thought that says if you can dream it, then it is achievable and also it is not how long the journey takes, but rather how well you complete it. - Homeward Bound Participant I am really thankful to Homeward Bound for being a great support in securing a brighter future for my daughter and me. I believe my life will be filled with more confidence. I am a mature woman, and I am ready to do the next big step starting now. - Homeward Bound Participant
WoodGreen undertakes consultation with the community and clients, measures effectiveness, research the root causes of the complex issues and bring an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the ideation process. Homeward Bound: a Program Worthy of Investment. As one of the largest organizations of our kind in Toronto, WoodGreen brings the same level of rigour to each of our projects to ensure best in class methodology and outcomes. We focus on the following philosophical pillars that guide program development: effective programs must be developed based on extensive research, all elements contributing to a complex social problem must be factored into a solution, the quality and effectiveness of the program must be of the highest standard, and models can be replicated in other communities. A special thank you to our Board WoodGreen Community Services Board of Directors Jasmine Tehara, Chair Ian Tait, Vice Chair Thomas Hofmann Kris Krishnan Dave Pryce Heather Dawson Peter Fuller Lara Shohet Michael Conradi Antonella Ceddia Lauren Millier Shelley Quinn Judy Pfeifer Akwatu Khenti Dereck Bailey WoodGreen Foundation Board of Directors Michael Worb, Chair Leo Salom, Vice Chair Anne Babcock, Secretary/Treasurer Rose Cammareri Anil K. Kapoor Larry Morassutti