For young people facing homelessness, having a safe and supportive place to live can create the space they need to focus on what comes next.
Amira* came to Wesley Youth Housing after leaving home while still in Grade 12 due to a series of traumatic events that severely affected her confidence, stability, and sense of direction. She spent time in a shelter, unsure of their next steps. After learning about Wesley through a shelter worker, she filled out a self-referral application and was accepted into Wesley’s Diversion Program before eventually transitioning into the two-year Youth Housing program, which better suited her needs.
“Growing up in a place where I faced numerous emotional challenges and difficult experiences alone, I developed a habit of suppressing my feelings,” says Amira. These experiences deeply shaped my self-esteem and the way I viewed the world around me.”
At the time, she was already very independent and accustomed to handling things on her own. Without a strong support system at home or within her family, however, she often had to navigate difficult situations without the emotional support she needed. “They gave me basic respect and the space I needed, which helped me quiet the noise down enough to realize I still had the ability to build a life for myself.”
At Wesley, Amira found something important: a neutral, non-judgmental space where she was treated with respect rather than being defined by what she had experienced. That stability gave her room to recognize their own strengths and the ability to move forward.
Through Wesley, she was connected with the Tri-Rock program, where she’s been able to gain work experience, practical skills, and build new relationships and a stronger sense of routine and responsibility. “This also helped me recognize strengths I’d overlooked and forgotten about for years, buried under years of trauma.”
Today, Amira’s focus is firmly on the future and keeping her momentum going. She is currently completing a hands-on social services placement and preparing to begin post-secondary education in September, with the goal of building a career in social services. She wants to be able to give back to her community in ways that she received support in her own life. She is feeling positive, focused, and ready to move forward.
Their experience is a powerful example of what can happen when young people have both the right support and the opportunity to take the next step for themselves. “Ultimately, I’m most proud of the personal work I’ve put in to change my own direction.”
As Amira shared, “I want to keep turning small, daily victories into bigger ones” and build a stable, self-sufficient life where the past does not control the future.
For other young people who may be struggling, Amira offers a message of hope: “To anyone else who is currently stuck in survival mode, hiding their pain just to get through the day, I’ve been exactly where you are. It takes time, but you don’t have to stay stuck there forever.”
*Name and photo have been changed to protect privacy.
