CLOSED Our Mission is to provide comprehensive housing education and unique moving supports to youth
08/09/2023
It is with a profound sense of sadness that I must inform you that Creating Roots will be ceasing operations, effective September 18th, 2023.
Creating Roots was incorporated in 2020 with the singular vision of diverting youth from homelessness into stable, safe, and affordable housing. Our initial dream was to build tiny homes for each youth to call their own. When the Pandemic hit shortly after, we had to rethink how we were to achieve our vision in a world upside down. From those ashes arose our wrap around holistic program to educate and empower youth to attain safe housing long term. 100% of the youth we have served, as of this writing, are still housed, in school or employed full time. This is something that we are very proud of.
It’s no secret that life has become unaffordable for so many in Canada. The rising cost of everything, coupled with decreased investment has put us in the position where we are unable to sustain our operations.
To all our supporters and donors please accept our sincere thanks. We really could not have accomplished saving the lives of the young folks we’ve met without your generous contributions. Each like and comment on social media raised spirits and kept us going through very challenging times. Every dollar was a reminder that there really is a community behind these youth, wanting to be a part of the solution. We thank you for it all.
Sincerely,
Charlene April,
on behalf of the Board of Directors of Creating Roots
07/25/2023
Bottom line: You don't have to leave if you get served an eviction notice. Only the Landlord and Tenant Board can do that. It takes 8 months to a year, or more, for a online (since covid) hearing.
Tenants in Ontario have several options if a landlord wants to sell their rental home and chief among them is they don't have to move out.
07/20/2023
One of my young folks, who got an internship and has stable housing, sent me this. 💙
I'm so proud, they've worked so hard!
06/23/2023
🇨🇦 Ontario - Some only the GTA
Helpers in your community! You are not alone.
03/23/2023
Creating Roots has been awarded a $11,000 coaching grant from Innoweave! Hard work paying off!
02/07/2023
To all our Donors and Supporters. We honestly couldn't be doing what we're doing without you.
In the past month, 4 of our graduates have reached out to us needing support not only relating to housing, but also deep dark places they've been emotionally.
Because of your generous help, We've been able to step up to the plate and continue to create roots for these young adults. This is part of our lifetime mentorship we offer.
Donors and supporters, thank you so very kindly. ❤️
01/21/2023
Love this!
12/05/2022
63.1% of youth who are homeless report experiencing childhood trauma, abuse, and/or neglect - a key cause of involvement with child welfare.
12/02/2022
**YOUTH UPDATE! ** We moved this young person less than a year ago and they were having troubles with the neighbors that couldn't be resolved. This youth did everything they needed to to legally end their lease, find and move into a new, better place all on their own with very minimal support from Creating Roots.
We couldn't be prouder and OUR EDUCATION WORKS!
This also isn't the first time for our youth to move a 2nd or 3rd time with minimal support. So proud!
11/30/2022
Sometimes this extends to adolescence and that's why we work to provide all our youth a brand new queen bed of their very own.
Daeyr Neely and his mom had been homeless for several years, after which they bounced around different shelter homes.
11/28/2022
No relationship should ever have an expiry date, and ours won't. Youth will have us in their lives FOREVER. If they need us in 6 months or 6 years - we will be there to guide them.
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Contact The Organization
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Creating Roots will always ultimately dream about tiny homes for former youth in care, however during these times we have had to adapt as many former youth in care have had to. Creating Roots will continue to advocate and bring awareness to the need of graduating youth in care and are pleased to announce our new direction.
For youth who are graduating foster care, Creating Roots will provide needed housing, financial, career and other transitional supports that will help bridge the gap where nearly half of Canadian foster youth fall into homelessness, addiction or are trafficked and sold to be never seen again. Only 3% go on to secondary education which shows the staggering difference between the transitional support those from care receive and their peers.
Creating Roots is unique because the board of directors consists of those who were directly involved in the resounding success of the founder, a former foster youth herself. Her social worker, foster mother and foster sister have all come together to form a special and serious collaborative with exceptional skills including, real estate, finance, insurance, child and youth work, education administrator, community security and social worker amongst countless other skills and qualities. Our combined experience and education make us a strong combination to elevate as many former foster youths as we can before they have a chance to fall or disappear. By creating roots and building a web of support for each recipient, these former foster youth will be given a fighting chance to obtain permanent and safe housing, financial skills and stability, a career trajectory and resources to supplement their unique, individual needs.
Here is what Creating Roots will offer transitional foster youth up to the age of 29 under a voluntary contract of service.
1. CAREER COUNSELING
Utilizing the Strengths Finder 2.0, Myers Briggs personality profile assessments, these young adults will be able to discover their strengths and values and how to use them to thrive as well as gain complete insight into their personalities in order to understand themselves and where in the world they fit in. We believe in a strengths-based approach and use all findings as a guideline to support each person to discover themselves and what their “why” is in life.
2. HOUSING HUNT
Securing a first apartment is a severe challenge as a young person. Especially when you come from foster care. Not very many people are willing to “take a chance” on former foster youth, and the good ones are few and far between. While we are unable to provide actual shelter in the form of tiny homes, at this time, we can help locate a secure and safe home. Creating roots can aid in your search for a rental in Ontario by providing you with free access to quality local realtors willing to also advocate for you. Creating Roots also understands what landlords need and want from prospective tenants and the steps to help ensure a tenancy can be secured.
3. VIRTUAL ONLINE REGULAR CHECK IN
Simply knowing that someone will be aware that you are missing, hurt or in trouble is important. Creating Roots will instigate regular check-inʼs with a youth to ease feelings of anxiety and build confidence that someone is concerned about their safety.
4. BILLS AND MONEY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE Sorting through bills and balancing a check book can be a particularly daunting task for youth. Understanding how to maintain and obtain credit, deciphering loan applications, and budgeting are some of the skills that Creating Roots will instil. We understand the importance of being educated financially in order to secure a more solid future through to retirement. Youth will learn investment strategies and what programs are available to help them along the way.
5. HELP WITH READING FORMS, DOCUMENTS, AND COMPLEX MAIL
Many youth leaving care have learning disabilities which may make complicated reading assignments, forms, bills and mail all the more difficult. Creating Roots will help to review anything complicated virtually online and through email, on an as needed basis. We are not a substitute or to be construed as legal advice, in any way.
6. FINDING COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Navigating through the maze of government agencies and myriad of social service programs is difficult at best even for a resourceful adult. Creating Roots can help the youth make a list of useful resources in the community and offer to contact them together.
7. CREATING ROOTS VOUCHERS FOR LAST MONTHS RENT
Most of us have experienced the struggle for last months rent. With so many other expenses like furniture and utility set up, youth coming from care usually lack this important “safety net”. On top of being encouraged and educated on how to create a financial safety net, Creating Roots vouchers will also be available to help a former youth in care with last months rent. Having access to last months rent is a barrier to many former youth in care who are trying to secure housing. These will be provided on a case by case basis we aim to help at least 25 youth in 2021 obtain housing in Ontario.
In 2021 Creating Roots will aim to help as many youth as possible virtually, and strive to cover the last months rent for 25 youth in Ontario.
