When *Christopher first arrived in Toronto, he faced the extremely challenging experience of not having a safe and stable place to stay.
The 19-year-old couch-surfed for a short while, but he struggled without the care and stability that a home provides.
He soon discovered Covenant House’s winter respite program, which provides 16-24-year-olds with safety, warmth, hot meals and offers youth a vital entry point to critical services that help break the cycle of homelessness. There, Christopher met supportive staff who helped him apply to university and scholarship programs, and to find an apartment.
“They helped me navigate my life at that time,” he said. “I was so grateful.”
Soon, Christopher was stable enough to move out on his own and enrol in an engineering program at a local university thanks to a scholarship. He was on his way to living out his dreams.
But then, he experienced a serious mental health crisis that landed him in hospital.
“I didn’t know what to do, school had fallen apart,” he said. One bright light was the continued connection with Covenant House, specifically his worker, Nathan, who visited him regularly.
When it was time to leave the hospital, Christopher was still not well enough to return to live independently at his apartment. Covenant House welcomed him once again and provided the support he needed to help him get back on his feet until he was ready to return to independent living – a critical move that helped ensure he would not return to homelessness.
“That was two times I had hit rock bottom and Covenant House was there to lift me back up.”
Today, Christopher is stable, well, and has returned to university where he is top of his class. He is looking forward to completing his program and moving forward towards a future of his making.
“There are a lot of young people like me who need support, who are looking for someone they can lean on,” he said. “I’m so grateful Covenant House was here to help me stand on my own two feet.”