From Homelessness to High School Graduation: A WRYM Success Story 

Just a year ago, Aaron wasn’t thinking about graduation.  He was thinking about survival.

After years of abuse and abandonment, Aaron found himself completely alone, without a home, without support, and without any belief that he could ever finish high school. School had always felt out of reach.  When you’re focused on where you’ll sleep or when you’ll eat next, getting a diploma feels like something "other people" do.

Then, Aaron came to The Windsor Residence for Young Men.

With a safe place to stay, daily meals, and the caring support of our team, he began to rebuild his life.  Through our Youth Independence Program, Aaron learned essential life skills and gained the confidence to set goals and follow through.  Slowly but surely, he started to believe in himself again.

This June, Aaron will graduate high school.

It's more than a diploma. It’s a symbol of resilience, healing, and hope.  It’s proof that when young people are given stability and support, they can overcome the trauma of their past and move toward a brighter future.

At WRYM, we don’t just provide shelter, we provide second chances. 

And Aaron’s story is just one of many.

Thank you for making moments like this possible.

Invest in Citizenship:  We are Across the Halfway Mark!  

With Canada Day around the corner, we’re all thinking a bit more about what it means to be Canadian. For us at The Windsor Residence for Young Men, it’s not about waving flags or buying local products, it’s about helping people in our community thrive.

At WRYM, we work every day to support young men experiencing homelessness, helping them move from crisis to stability, and from simply surviving to contributing to society.

Our Invest in Citizenship fundraiser is about more than meeting immediate needs.  It's about building futures.  It’s about giving young men the chance to become employed, housed, educated, tax-paying citizens who give back to their communities.
So far, we’ve raised $5,280 toward our $10,000 matching pot, meaning every dollar you give is still being doubled!

When you donate, you're not just providing a roof or a meal.  You're helping create productive, independent adults who are proud to be Canadian, and who prove that good citizenship starts with someone believing in you.

As we near July 1st, let’s do more than celebrate citizenship, LET"S INVEST IN IT!
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 Click the link below to donate online.

CYMI: WRYM on CJAM’s "Word on the Street" 

In case you missed it, or had trouble finding the right spot to start, our Executive Director, Jason Weinberg, was recently featured on 99.1 CJAM’s community-focused radio show, Word on the Street, hosted by Hasan Ghafoor.

The conversation dives into the realities of youth homelessness in Windsor, what makes The Windsor Residence for Young Men unique, and how we help vulnerable youth move forward with dignity, independence, and purpose.

We’ve heard from a few of you that there were some technical hiccups when trying to find the interview’s start point, so we’re making it easier:

Just click the link or button below, no scrolling or skipping needed. The interview will play from the beginning.

 Click below to listen.

Thank you for supporting WRYM and staying engaged with the issues that matter in our community.

The Windsor Residence for Young Men Featured on “Word on The Street” 

We’re proud to share that our Executive Director was recently featured on 99.1 CJAM’s community-focused radio show, Word on The Street, hosted by Hasan Ghafoor.

In this powerful interview (beginning at the 27:30 in the link below) they dive into why The Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM) is so essential, what youth homelessness really looks like in our region, and how we all play a role in the solution.

From personal stories to systemic challenges, this conversation is an eye-opener, and a reminder of just how urgent and human this issue is.

 Don’t just take our word for it, hear it for yourself.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview (starting at 27:30 in the following link) and gain a deeper understanding of why helping vulnerable youth matters, now more than ever.

We’ve partnered with The Home Depot Canada Foundation to help raise funds for Windsor

DID YOU KNOW?  The Home Depot Canada Foundation is committed to preventing and helping to end youth homelessness.  In 2024, The Home Depot Canada Foundation achieved $82M in their commitment to $125M by 2030. 

Together, this support works to break cycles of inequity and enable at-risk youth facing homelessness to achieve positive development outcomes and realize their full potential.  The Orange Door Project campaign is The Home Depot Canada’s national customer fundraising campaign. 

From May 27, until June 22, 2025, The Home Depot Canada customers can make a donation in-store or online in support of a local youth-focused housing charity. 

All funds raised at the Walker Rd. / Division Rd. Home Depot store during the campaign will support The Windsor Residence for Young Men.  Encourage your friends, family members, neighbours and colleagues to support the campaign today! 

Learn more below!