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Dana Youth Outreach Worker #Addictions #MentalHealth #StreetYouth #streetyouthoutreach

Shane’s Story is an eight episode blog post where Shane tells her story in her own words.  Each week in December, on Mondays and...

Shane’s Story is a eight episode blog post where Shane tells her story in her own words.  Each week in December, on Mondays and Thursdays...

Sam is a street artist who I met several years ago. He created the beautiful work of art above. I asked him  to do a wood burning...

I have known Skye for 3 years. She was one of the first street-engaged youth I met while doing outreach. I remember our first meeting...

We didn’t get her name:  it wasn’t offered and it was too early to ask.  Maybe she was seventeen, but the hard life on the streets made...

When Laura arrived at art group, she was excited to share her good news–she got her own apartment! After a year or so of couch hopping,...

When Art, a long time friend of OIM arrived at the office one morning, his famous smile was missing. “You okay?” I asked. “You’ll never...

I noticed ‘Cal’ on several occasions at the drop in, but I never took opportunity to have a conversation with him until this week. He was...

Tessa’s Home is an 8 part series running until December 27th.  To listen to the audio backgrounder from CHRI, click below. Miss previous...

Tessa’s Home is an 8 part series running until December 27th.  To listen to the audio backgrounder from CHRI , click below. Miss previous...

Tessa’s Home is an 8 part series running until December 27th.  To listen to the audio backgrounder from family radio CHRI, click below....

For the past three months I have had the absolute pleasure of working with the young artists involved in OIM’s Passion 4 Youth art...

“It happened again. I have to leave,” she told me in a panic. Laura had called me several times that week. She was always in a panic...

“If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it.” –Lucy Larcom After Day Light Savings it feels as though the weather is just...

I was talking with someone recently who had obtained housing. They have been on the street since their early teens—both sleeping on the...

Her first stop was to see Clark, who is pictured above. He was sitting outside a store, soggy from the rain. He was happy to see the...

Greg arrived at the Tuesday Drop-In looking tired and angry. He had a rough look to go with a tough demeanor. I hadn’t seen him before,...

The Ottawa Police have had a heavy presence this summer. I see them patrolling the streets, walking down Bank or Elgin in pairs, or...

Sasha’s Story is an 8 part series running until December 24. To listen to the audio backgrounder from CHRI radio, click   Episode #6...