The Christmas wish of someone experiencing homelessness is this: a home, an apartment, four walls and a roof to keep them safe during these tough times.
Blue Door’s 2021 Holiday Campaign is in urgent need of donations this holiday season to support vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness.
According to Blue Door’s CEO Michael Braithwaite, the reality is thousands of people are still struggling, experiencing employment loss, addictions, mental health challenges and homelessness.
“In 2020, Blue Door was lucky to be supported with donations to keep people facing homelessness safe during the pandemic; these donations saved lives and our team is incredibly grateful,” said Braithwaite.
Blue Door — York Region’s largest emergency housing provider — is seeking donations that are urgently needed to help roughly 1,500 people this holiday season.
Warm winter coats, clothing and footwear are some of the most urgently needed items right now, according to Blue Door’s Gift Guide.
Donations of gift cards are also accepted since they provide incredible support to emergency and supportive housing programs. As part of Blue Door’s Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program, youth, men, and women accessing the overnight program are provided Tim Hortons gift cards to help them warm up and get a meal during the day.
Anyone who would like to donate a gift card is encouraged to do so to Blue Door’s administrative office located in East Gwillimbury at 18838 Hwy. 11.
Donations of any size offer life-saving support to youth, men, women and families experiencing homelessness by providing:
• Emergency and seasonal housing (Porter Place, Leeder Place, Kevin’s Place, and Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold)
• Supportive housing (Abode, Forward, and INNclusion)
• Health and wraparound supports (housing retention, on-site volunteer physician, psychotherapy, in-reach worker)
• Employment opportunities and training (Construct — A Social Enterprise by Blue Door)
About Blue Door
Blue Door has been serving the York Region community for over 39 years, providing supports and services for families, men, women, children, and youth that are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.