The path to homelessness is complicated, paved with trauma and loss. Every night in Toronto, 3,000 men sleep in shelters. As housing prices soar in Toronto and access to affordable housing continues to decline, more men are aging on the city’s streets.

At one time, Alvaro had been living a 'regular’ life with a home, a job as an industrial roofer and a family. But one crisis can change everything ­— whether it’s a health crisis or an emotional one. Alvaro faced a series of catastrophic issues, and eventually had to turn to living on the streets of Toronto. He had attempted several applications for housing, but was repeatedly denied. He was losing hope. But that all changed when Alvaro got connected to WoodGreen’s First Step to Home, and began the next chapter of his life.

“I was sleeping on the street... in and out of shelters for so long. After so many applications, so many housing denials, I got one appointment. And within that day, I had my new home at WoodGreen.”

Launched in 2010 and a first in North America, First Step to Home is an intensive, four-year, transitional housing program that offers a unique combination of safe and affordable housing and a wide range of wrap-around supports for previously homeless men 55 and older with concurrent disorders. Vulnerable men arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs and live in 28 fully furnished bachelor apartments with everything they need to begin to stabilize their physical and mental health.

“At First Step to Home, we are trying to create a place where people can find value,” said Tom Krause, Manager of the program. “For men who have been through the system and have been homeless for a long time, we are trying to provide the opportunity to rebuild their lives.”

Residents have access to a variety of on-site health care and harm reduction supports, nutrition programs, counselling, social and recreational activities, life-skills retraining and volunteer opportunities in addition to being able to access the full basket of services WoodGreen provides. After four years, these men have the skills they need to move to independent housing in the community.

NOVEMBER 2016

marked the launch of the Toronto Seniors Helpline.