Woodgreen AR 04 5 10/12/04 12:56 PM Page 2 WOODGREEN COMMUNITY SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2003/2004 WOODGREEN COMMUNITY SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2003/2004 Because Everyone WOODGREEN Deserves the COMMUNITY SERVICES 835 Queen Street East Essentials of Life Toronto, Ontario M4M 1H9 Tel: (416) 469-5211 www.woodgreen.org Charitable Registration No. 10822 0435 RR0002 Woodgreen AR 04 5 10/12/04 12:56 PM Page 4 Maintaining independence and dignity Mary is a retired professional with Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband, who works full time, could no longer leave her home alone during the day because Last year, WoodGreen provided she needed constant supervision. Mary’s essential services to more than husband did not want to admit her to 6,000 seniors and caregivers in the community. a long term care facility – he wanted to keep his wife at home and in their familiar neighbourhood. Mary and her husband turned to WoodGreen’s Adult love to hold the hand of our staff, go for a walk in Day Program so Mary could be in a safe environment the garden patio and participate in activities with during the day, where she could be helped to maintain other seniors in the program. the best physical and cognitive functioning possible. Thanks to WoodGreen, Mary is one of more By participating in the Adult Day Program, Mary has than 70 seniors in the Adult Day Program who are made friends and she has lots of opportunity for able to continue to live at home with their families social interaction. While she may have lost a lot in and loved ones – helping them maintain dignity terms of her cognitive functioning, she continues to and independence. A special note to readers: While we are fortunate to be featuring some of WoodGreen's wonderful clients in this Annual Report, none of the photos depict the actual clients whose stories are told throughout these pages. Annual Report 2003 • 2004 3 Woodgreen AR 04 5 10/12/04 12:57 PM Page 6 Providing a safe Now 60, he finally has a stable home of his own and he has stopped taking drugs. His health has improved and stable home dramatically and he feels safe, no longer having to worry about the security issues of being on the street. A recent study of the ex-residents of Tent City showed Nearly 20 years ago, Brian lost his wife, two children that since getting off the streets 70 per cent had cut their and his mother in a fire. Struggling to cope with his use of drugs and alcohol, 15 per cent had gone back to Achieving tragic loss, Brian ended up losing his job and becoming school and 11 per cent had found part-time employment. homeless. During his last 10 years on the street, he This same study also showed that helping people with Important Life Goals lived in Tent City, an illegal squatter community in a history of homelessness through rent supplements the east end of Toronto, and started using drugs and and housing support is much more cost effective – 28 developed multiple health issues. When Tent City was per cent less – than supporting the same individuals closed down in the fall of 2002, Brian was evicted in the shelter system. from his trailer along with the approximately 100 Sadly many people still die on the street every year Last year, WoodGreen provided residents who had been living there. because of a lack of affordable housing. That's why employment support and training Thankfully with the assistance of WoodGreen, the more programs like this one are needed. For Brian, programs to more than 7,000 City of Toronto and Toronto Community Housing it has meant that for the first time in 20 years, he has Corporation, Brian has been able to find and maintain hope for the future. youth and adults seeking jobs. housing in the private rental market. The City of Toronto’s rent supplement pilot project for the ex-residents of Tent City ensures that Brian’s monthly rent is paid, while WoodGreen provides housing support to ensure that he keeps his apartment. As a Opening the door to new opportunities, WoodGreen’s events and visiting seniors. He says that this experience result, Brian’s life changed dramatically for the better. Employment Services help people set and achieve “inspired him to become more involved as a youth” as important life goals. Rupert is one of these people. he went on to become the vice president of external A student at the University of Western Ontario, affairs at his high school and a member of the Toronto Rupert was recently chosen as an Ambassador on District School Board’s Super Council working to Last year, WoodGreen assisted the 2004 Junior Team Canada Mission to China and ensure that students’ concerns were being addressed. more than 1,700 individuals with a Hong Kong. Rupert believes that WoodGreen has Today Rupert is studying business and international history of homelessness to access played an important role in helping him get to development, and is involved in many extra-curricular and maintain stable housing. where he is today. and volunteer activities at school. He is also the Rupert’s first summer job placement working recipient of two provincial scholarship awards. at the CNE was through WoodGreen’s Youth Job “WoodGreen’s services have had a positive impact Centre which aided in his resume building and job on my career and leadership development,” says search process. He also began volunteering for Rupert. “Getting involved as a youth has propelled WoodGreen in grade 12, helping at fundraising me to achieve my goals.” Highlights of Community Care & Wellness Employment Services highlights: Housing & Homelessness Services highlights: for Seniors highlights: • provided support and training programs to more than • provided affordable housing and support to 452 households WoodGreen’ s 2003/04 • provided essential services to more than 6,000 7,000 youth and adults looking for employment • assisted more than 1,700 individuals to access and/or Accomplishments: seniors and caregivers in the community • provided FREE access to computers, phones and maintain stable housing • connected seniors through more than 25 recreational job search information to thousands of job seekers • prevented 100 families from being evicted due to rent arrears and wellness activities each week • delivered more than 2,000 individual job • worked in partnership with the provincial and city • helped hundreds of Mandarin speaking seniors to coaching sessions governments to assist more than 100 Tent City residents understand the issue of elder abuse and its prevention • found part-time, full time and summer employment to obtain stable housing • provided transportation to more than 5,000 seniors for close to 1,500 adults and youth • advocated for more affordable housing in Toronto so they could access essential health services • supported hundreds of new immigrants through • delivered meals and Christmas gifts to more than job search workshops 80 isolated seniors 4 WoodGreen Community Services Annual Report 2003 • 2004 5 Woodgreen AR 04 5 10/12/04 12:57 PM Page 8 Last year, WoodGreen provided high-quality child care and enriching learning opportunities to more than 400 children and their families. Building hope and a better life In the summer of 2003, after years of being moved and taken to France and then to Canada. While Promoting healthy around and brutalized by their father and his relatives, reunited with their mother for a few short years in two teenage brothers were referred to WoodGreen’s her homeland of Zimbabwe, she died suddenly there. child development Immigrant Services by the Children’s Aid Society in So the brothers were sent back to live with their Toronto. Having first immigrated to Canada in 1999, father in Canada who abused them both physically they were being treated as illegal immigrants and being and psychologically, and refused to feed them. In asked to leave the country, after their father (born part, as a result of the abuse, the younger brother routines and other children. She stresses that her in Zaire) had withdrawn his sponsorship of them. developed a schizophrenic condition. daughter is much more comfortable going into new Their lives had taken them from an early childhood WoodGreen intervened to keep the brothers in situations and generally more excited about going in Switzerland, to being kidnapped by their father Canada. Assembling a team of individuals, including to school than her older sister, who did not have the a refugee lawyer, the boys’ guidance counsellor at benefit of the program. school, a staff psychiatrist at the Hospital for Sick When Keri, a mother of four, enrolled her daughter in While the results of a recent study on the program Children and their Member of Parliament, WoodGreen the Bruce/WoodGreen Early Learning Centre, she could have not been released yet, initial data indicates that helped to convince Citizenship and Immigration to see the advantages of the program almost immediately. children within this new model are advancing quickly allow the brothers to become protected persons of One of five Toronto First Duty Projects, Bruce/ academically and that they are thriving both socially the Government of Canada. The brothers are very WoodGreen combines kindergarten, child care and and emotionally. Keri attributes the program’s success excited about becoming citizens of Canada – the one parenting supports into one comprehensive program. to the ongoing support available to parents and to place they feel truly accepted and safe. It has given Lower teacher-to-child ratios, available parental the excellent communication between staff, who meet them a sense that they really belong somewhere and supports and regular communication between all weekly to ensure that they are accommodating the that they can now finally go on and build their lives.