About Eva's
Eva's: Providing Shelter and Hope to Homeless Youth
Eva’s is a non-profit organization that has been providing shelter, transitional housing, and programming to help young people build brighter futures free of homelessness for over 25 years. Founded in 1994 by Eva Smith, the organization has grown from a small shelter in Toronto to a multi-faceted program that serves hundreds of youth every year.
At Eva’s, the focus is on providing more than just a roof over someone’s head. The organization believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances. That’s why they offer comprehensive programming designed to help youth develop life skills, access education and employment opportunities, and build supportive relationships with peers and mentors.
One of the key components of Eva’s programming is their transitional housing program. This program provides safe and stable housing for up to two years while youth work towards achieving their goals. During this time, they receive support from staff members who help them develop life skills such as budgeting, cooking healthy meals on a budget, job searching techniques etc., as well as connect them with educational or employment opportunities.
In addition to transitional housing services offered by Eva's , they also provide emergency shelter services for those who need immediate assistance due to homelessness or unsafe living conditions at home. The emergency shelters are open 24/7 throughout the year so that no one has to spend even one night without a roof over their head.
Eva's also offers an innovative harm reduction program called “Harm Reduction Works”. This program aims at reducing harm associated with drug use among homeless youth through education about safer drug use practices like using clean needles etc., overdose prevention training (Naloxone), counseling sessions etc..
Another unique aspect of Eva's programming is its focus on art therapy which helps young people express themselves creatively while building self-esteem and coping skills. Art therapy sessions are facilitated by professional art therapists and are offered to all youth who access Eva's services.
Eva’s has received numerous awards for its work, including the prestigious “Order of Canada” in 2019. The organization is also a leader in research and advocacy around issues related to youth homelessness, working closely with government agencies and other non-profit organizations to develop effective solutions.
In conclusion, Eva’s is an organization that provides much more than just shelter. It offers comprehensive programming designed to help young people build brighter futures free of homelessness by providing them with safe housing, life skills training, education and employment opportunities as well as supportive relationships with peers and mentors. With its innovative approach to harm reduction through education about safer drug use practices like using clean needles etc., overdose prevention training (Naloxone), counseling sessions etc., Eva's is making a real difference in the lives of homeless youth across Toronto.