Posted on: December 10th, 2023. Posted by: Newmarkettoday Staff, newmarkettoday.ca, Original Article.
Funds raised at the Newmarket, Aurora, Bradford Home Depot locations until Dec. 17 will support the redevelopment of the shelter to provide additional housing and support to youth experiencing homelessness
On any given night, more than 300 individuals experience homelessness in York Region, one in seven of whom are young people between the ages of 16 and 24. As we enter the winter months and temperatures plummet, many of our community members are in dire need of a safe and warm place to sleep.
Initiatives such as the Orange Door Project campaign ran by The Home Depot Canada Foundation have never been more important. The nationwide initiative aimed at addressing youth homelessness and supporting vulnerable individuals in our community will be running until Sunday, Dec. 17. All funds raised at the Newmarket, Aurora, and Bradford Home Depot locations will support the redevelopment of Kevin’s Place and ensure that York Region’s vulnerable will not be left out in the cold.
“The Home Depot Canada Foundation has a deep understanding in that in order to truly end youth homelessness, we need to prevent new youth from entering into it.” says Michael Braithwaite, CEO of Blue Door. “The Orange Door campaign is a great way for the community to be part of the solution in homelessness prevention. Funds from the campaign allow organizations like Blue Door to create deeply affordable and supportive housing, that keeps youth off the streets and out of shelters and shows them a path to a better future.”
Located in Newmarket, Blue Door’s Kevin’s Place provides emergency housing and supports to vulnerable male youth between the ages of 16 and 24. The program offers a variety of supportive services including but not limited to education support, employment training and preparedness, housing retention, and financial planning.
By engaging in thoughtful dialogue, Blue Door and community partners have decided to redevelop the underutilized 100-year-old property. The redevelopment of Kevin’s Place will be a 14-unit townhouse development, providing additional housing and support to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Visit the Newmarket, Aurora, or Bradford Home Depot Canada locations by Dec. 17 to support Blue Door and The Home Depot Canada Foundation. Customers can donate $2, $5 or $10 in-store or online at www.orangedoorproject.ca. All funds will support Blue Door and the Kevin’s Place Redevelopment Project.
To learn more about Blue Door and Kevin’s Place, or to make a direct donation, please visit www.bluedoor.ca.