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Youth homelessness is a chronic problem affecting communities across the country. The federal government estimates that 46 percent of all homeless youth experience homelessness for the first time before reaching the age of 25, and that more than a third of homeless youth come from backgrounds Indigenous people, even though only five percent of the Canadian population identifies as Indigenous.

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The Home Depot Canada Foundation organizes a biannual national conference fundraising from customers campaign to help young homeless Canadians receive the support they need. From November 12 to December 22 Tthe Foundation will support The Orange Door Project campaign, inviting Home Depot Canada customers to donate and help underprivileged youth this holiday season.

“As a housing retailer, we have seen a synergy between our business model and our social and community responsibilities,” says Amy Bilodeau, ​​Senior Director of Community Investments, The Home Depot Canada. “The Home Depot Canada Foundation is now in its 15th year with an ongoing vision to end chronic homelessness in Canada by directly supporting youth who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

The Foundation works with 127 campaign partners on the ground to ensure 100 percent funds raised are donated to a local charity that serving young people. All 182 Home Depot Canada stores are participating in The Orange Door Project, and each store is partnering with a local youth-serving charity to support young Canadians in these communities.

The Orange Door Project campaign is part of a broader initiative by the Home Depot Canada Foundation, aimed at raising funds and addressing the challenges facing young Canadians experiencing homelessness. The Foundation has launched a plan to raise $10 million to support homeless youth across Canada. In 2018, this goal was increased to $50 million. After exceeding this goal in 2021 the new goal is to raise $125 million by 2030.

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“We are on track to invest $11 million this year alone,” says Bilodeau. “We are forever grateful to our customers, our charity partners and especially our store associates for helping us expand our goals. Many of our Aassociates are general contractors with a do-it-yourself attitude, who donate their time and experience to help combat homelessness issues in their communities.

Chronic challenges for Canadian youth

Despite ongoing community efforts, youth homelessness continues to increase in Canada, particularly in large cities. The issues faced by homeless youth are complex and require dedicated support from community leaders to manage advocacy programs.

A common challenge for many homeless youth is that they age out of the foster care system, which stops caring for children when they turn 18. No longer able to qualify for temporary or permanent adoption, homeless young people do not know where to go or what. support programs are offered to them. This was the case with Emerson (the name has been changed to protect identifytYes)a young person supported by Trellis Companya strategic partner of the Home Depot Canada Foundation.

As A as a young Indigenous girl, Emerson spent much of her life in and out of the foster care system. She lost her birth mother, struggled with drug addiction, experienced mental health issues, and ultimately found herself homeless.

Eventually, Emerson was connected to a culturally based community program, which changed her life. She found steady employment and worked hard to get sober. She also found her own stable housing within an Indigenous community.

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“Dealing with past trauma or difficult experiences is a bit like organizing a messy drawer,” says Emerson. “You have to take everything out to really see what’s inside, and sometimes it seems even more complicated than before. But with time and support, you can find new meaning in each piece and gradually put everything back into a way that makes sense to you.

The homelessness crisis in Canada is multi-faceted. Charities are increasingly facing new challenges and struggling to generate sustainable funds in recent years. Through community partnerships, the Foundation works to eliminate systemic barriers youth face and create healthy pathways out of homelessness.

“Part of our efforts through the Orange Door Project and other initiatives is to connect more social workers with at-risk youth,” says Bilodeau. “Social workers can make phone calls and arrange temporary accommodation for young people so they don’t have to resort to the shelter system. By helping young people avoid shelters, they are 50 percent less likely to end up in chronic homelessness.

How can you help

“What matters most to us is that customers can have the assurance that the dollars raised in their communities are used to help at-risk youth who live in these same communities,” says Bilodeau. “Every initiative is important, and a small donation can make all the difference for an underprivileged young person in Canada. We encourage every Home Depot Canada customer to help a homeless Canadian youth in need by A donation to their local store or online.”

The Orange Door Project campaign is accepting donations starting November 12 and will continue until December 22. To learn more about The Orange Door Project campaignhow to get involved or make a donationplease visit projectporteorange.ca for more information.

This story was created by Content worksthe commercial content division of Postmedia, on behalf of the Home Depot Canada Foundation.

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