Our Programs
1. Iron Horse Youth Safe House
Link to the Iron Horse page on Facebook: Click here
Iron Horse Youth Safe House in Maple Ridge provides a temporary place to live for youth aged 13 to 18. The youth come from all backgrounds – but the majority have been living on the streets and/or couch surfing for weeks, months, or even years. Before Iron Horse opened in 2005, many of Maple Ridge’s homeless youth were forced to go for help to a Safe House in Vancouver. This often derailed plans for family mediation and schooling, as well as introducing them to a more street-entrenched lifestyle.
The local community recognized the great need for this service and raised or contributed over $60,000 in materials, labour and cash to help with the renovations of the Safe House. Volunteers from the Ridge Meadows RCMP Community Policing Programs worked especially hard to establish the house. Many community partners also contribute to the strength of Iron Horse. Bowman Employment Services, for example, assists almost every one of our youth to develop a resume and conduct job searches. This high level of commitment is a major contributor to the overall success of the house.
The staff at Iron Horse come from a wide variety of backgrounds. As a residential facility, Iron Horse has staff members on duty around the clock, including holidays. We also have staff that are: teachers, nurses, drug and alcohol counselors, mental health outreach workers, and recreation workers. Together, we find a way to connect with the different youth that come through the doors.
The youth at Iron Horse arrive ready to work on creating a more positive lifestyle. Within 24 hours a staff member helps the youth outline their own goals and make a plan. If necessary, the youth can stay at Iron Horse for up to 30 days. Already Iron Horse housed 641 youth, 201 from the immediate Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows area. It is one of only six safe houses operating in Metro Vancouver that provide a safe refuge for youth in crisis.
Federal funding to continue operating is assured until March 31, 2011. Beyond that there is no guarantee.
If you would like further information, or if you know a youth in need of housing and support, please call 1-877-435-7233 or 604-466-2665.
(Services 24 hours a day/7 days a week)
Click here for more information
Click here to download our brochure
Click here to download our Powerpoint presentation
2. Community Outreach
The two Outreach Workers working with the Alouette Home Start Society in Maple Ridge know most of the people who are homeless in their community by name. These Outreach Workers seek out people who are homeless wherever they are – on the street or in the bush – and do their best to make a connection with each person they find.
They act as a bridge between people who are homeless and the broader community. This community includes bylaw officers, the RCMP, the local Salvation Army emergency shelter, the Iron Horse Youth Safe House, mental health services, addictions services, health services, the food bank and local employment services.
A special goal of the Outreach Workers is to link people who are recently homeless with the support services they need to get off the street before they become entrenched in street life. They also look for ways to prevent people from becoming homeless who are at risk of losing their homes because of poverty, special needs, addictions or mental illness. Because of their close connection to people living on the street, these Outreach Workers are very effective helping to educate the broader public about what is happening on the street, and in dispelling myths and misinformation about homelessness.
Federal Funding to continue operating is assured until March 31, 2012. Beyond that there is no guarrantee.
To speak to one of the Outreach Workers call 604-616-4784
Click here to download our brochure
3. Alouette Heights
Supportive Housing
Alouette Heights is now under construction, and will be ready for tenants in early summer, 2012.
Click here for more information.
“I just came here because I needed a bed for a couple days but instead found a really great open and supportive environment.”
“I don’t think there are words to express how safe and cared for I was over the past month. I don’t remember having so many reasons to smile. Thank you for everything – the lessons learned will help me with all the life experiences coming up within my near future.”
“These guys are the reason I got my life back on track.”
“Outreach helped me find housing which is better than living in the bush.”