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MPP Percy Hatfield Receives the WRYM Community Awareness Award
The Board of Directors of The Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM) has presented MPP Percy Hatfield, Windsor-Tecumseh, with the WRYM Community Awareness Award for his early recognition and support of WRYM’s mission in the community. The award recognizes individuals, corporations and groups who have recognized the community need for the provision of transitional housing and life skills to homeless male youth. Until the Windsor Residence for Young Men opened its doors in October 2012, Windsor/Essex had no transitional housing or life skills program for homeless male youth. Concerned citizens, including the current WRYM Executive Director Greg Goulin, began working to raise community support and funding in the year 2000, but it would be another 12 years before WRYM was able to purchase and renovate a suitable residence. Even then, the hiring of program staff was conditional on the provision of federal funding through the City of Windsor. Previously a sympathetic journalist, Percy Hatfield had by 2012 been elected as a Windsor City Councillor, and he worked with other Councillors to guide WRYM’s staff funding applications to success. “At that time, we were the only community of our size in Canada that did not have transitional housing services for young men,” says Greg Goulin, who now volunteers his time as WRYM’s Executive Director. “Percy was one of the champions of WRYM when it came to obtaining municipal funding support when we first started off.” In presenting the award, WRYM President Susan Freeman told Hatfield, “I think it is a wonderful thing to recognize the work you have done for us. Thank you, and congratulations on your award − it is very well deserved!” “I am flabbergasted,” said Hatfield. “I am so honoured that I have received this award. This is a big deal and I am going to proudly display it!” Windsor Residence for Young Men is a charitable organization that supports young men 16-24 years of age as they leave homelessness behind to build new lives. WRYM provides a transitional place to live, a supportive functional family atmosphere and a program that includes individual counselling in life skills. WRYM is an effective operation that depends on community support to fulfill its mission. For more information about Windsor Residence for Young Men, or to discuss donations or volunteering, please visit www.wrym.ca, e-mail executivedirector@wrym.ca or telephone 226.221.8464.
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