Just the facts
Housing and supports
Houselink owns and operates 22 properties and manages 20 other locations through partnerships with private landlords.
Whether it’s in our own housing, at Toronto Community Housing, or within a private landlord setting, our individualized supports equip tenants — including those that have been homeless for many years — to keep their homes and take charge of their own lives. We also work to overcome poverty, food insecurity and isolation. All services adopt a harm-reduction, trauma-informed approach.
This year Houselink supported:
Jeff was in such deep physical and emotional pain that he would call 911 many times every day — logging the second most calls among anyone in the GTA. Our Housing Transitions Team co-ordinated wrap-around services and arranged a daily wellness call. After three month of support, Jeff went an entire month without a single 911 call.
Programs
Food Program
Serving 7,841 meals, 325 participants were more food secure, and more socially connected – all within a safe, friendly environment.
Social Recreation/Drop-in Program
266 participants made use of a rich array of programs in our welcoming space to learn, work, socialize, receive meals and support – made possible with our many community partners.
Road to Employment
This year, thanks to City of Toronto funding, 245 participants we aided along their path to employment, accessing employer information, and taking part in skills assessments, resumes and cover letter preparation, career counseling, and referrals to educational opportunities.
Fostering a Voice and Social Action
This year participants became informed about the issues leading up to the federal election, and contributed poems, artwork, and stress management ideas to “The Link”, a community-led newsletter that “links” the Houselink community together.
Mental Health Peer Support
129 participants connected with our relatively new peer support program; fostering health, connection and resilience through social activities, community meals, training forums and physical exercise activities.
This year, Houselink’s Recovery Workers led or co-led 139 group sessions — up 74% from last year!
Supportive Employment Program
75 Houselink participants were employed in occasional cleaning, maintenance, landscaping, cooking and administrative jobs – jobs that promote recovery, advance career goals, increase a sense of belonging and put money in their pockets
We’ve been serving weekly breakfasts in two buildings in Moss Park for 7 years. This year we added a new building. It was an immediate success. Some tenants even brought food to share with others!
The Dream Team
Houselink is honoured to act as the sponsoring agency to The Dream Team
This mental health consumer/survivor group advocates for more supportive housing as well as erase stigma and discrimination through the power of storytelling and facilitating numerous workshops to tenants, front-line staff and agencies across the GTA.
This year members became Pen Pals with University of Toronto medical students. It proved to be an eye-opening experience for students as they read about the day-to-day experience of living with mental health issues or being precariously housed.
The Dream Team also built on its research on Housing Unit Takeovers, where vulnerable tenants lose control of their homes to exploitive guests.
For more information visit thedreamteam.ca