In 1989, the Housing for Youth in the City of York Committee was established to advocate for and develop emergency housing for youth, as a result of the increased need for a youth shelter in the City of York. A survey completed by the York Inter-Agency Network in 1989 found that there was at least one young person every day in the City of York who needed emergency housing. From a total of 360 young people identified in 1989, 280 of those young people were 16-20 years of age.

This Committee’s goal was to create a shelter for over 30 youth per night within their own community. The objective of the emergency housing project was to help youth get re-established with family, on their own or in some other supportive arrangement while providing them with safe and secure shelter. The Committee was successful in its mission and evolved into an incorporated charitable organization in 1990, managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Building funds were received from the Ministry of Community and Social Services in 1990, and the shelter was completed in September of 1994.

Thanks to support from community members, the Board of Directors and staff members, Horizons for Youth opened our doors to youth in December of 1994. Located near Caledonia and Eglinton, a High Priority Area as determined by the United Way, youth will find our shelter nestled within a residential community. When we first opened, Horizons for Youth provided shelter and supportive programs to 35 youth per night.

However, due to the youth homelessness crisis in Toronto, the City asked Horizons for Youth to provide shelter to 10 more youth per night in 2015. While Horizons for Youth is happy that more youth have a safe place to live, the increase from 35 to 45 youth per night has put a strain on our resources because of the higher number of youth accessing meals, hygiene facilities and supportive programs and services.

We have been members of the Ontario Association of Youth Hostels and the Youth Shelter Interagency since we opened, and have received support from the United Way of Greater Toronto since 1997.