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 Matter of Confidence “You’re never going to make it.” “You’re not good enough.” “Get a real job.” These were the types of comments that Chris was used to hearing from his parents before they kicked him out of their home, leaving him feeling unloved and hopeless. Chris came into WRYM looking to escape the verbal abuse he was experiencing from his parents, and forge a life for himself as an "up and coming" artist. Although the talent was there, Chris’ low self-esteem, mental health concerns, lack of confidence, and uncertainty with his future had restricted his progress. Chris was quick to get frustrated with himself and would be the first person to tell you why he would not succeed. We are happy to tell you that this young man who came into the residence is not the same Chris that you would meet today. Since joining the Transitional Housing Program, Chris has been so successful with his art sales that he has been removed from Social Services for making too much money! Not only has he started paying his own way, but Chris is even looking at starting his own business and has been connected to the resources that can help make that happen! While his dream job is being made a reality, he was also able to get his own apartment, that he moves into next week! With his self-esteem at an all-time high and his mental health concerns being managed by the amazing community organizations he was connected with, Chris is a success story of the very best kind. Without your support, and the tireless effort of our staff, Chris would never have been able to work himself off of Ontario Works and get back on his own two feet. We are very proud of you Chris!  A Franciscan Benediction I am reminded of a few words from “A Franciscan Benediction” May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection and hunger, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children, the troubled and the poor.  WRYM’s Golf Tournament (Fundraising crucial to WRYM’s continued existence) It’s at Sutton Creek Golf Club, 2135 County Road 12, Essex, on Sunday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m. to tee off with a shotgun start, and Dinner at 6:00 p.m. In an effort to streamline the use of credit cards for people registering for the tournament, we are recommending you use our secure online registry site for this event at https://tournamentcaddie.com/golfWRYM2019 If you still prefer to mail in a cheque with a registration form, attached to this e-mail is an UPDATED fillable golfer form and a sponsor form. Please make the cheque payable to “Windsor Residence for Young Men”, note "Golf Sept 29" on the cheque, and mail the form(s) and cheque to Windsor Residence for Young Men, 1505 Langlois Ave, Windsor ON N8X 4M3. Again, thanks very much for your kind support! If you have any questions please let me know. Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD (ret.) Executive Director, (pro bono)
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The Giovanni Caboto Club has chosen WRYM  The Giovanni Caboto Club (http://www.cabotoclub.com) has chosen WRYM to be one of two charities to benefit from the 2019 Italian of the Year Gala, honouring Stefano (Steve) Riolo, on Friday, 25 October, 2019. The Windsor Feminist Theatre and The Windsor Residence for Young Men will share in the proceeds from the Italian of the Year Gala. The Giovanni Caboto Club advises that it is proud to support our two organizations. Please join WRYM and the Giovanni Caboto Club, the Italian Women’s Club, the Italian Community and the Community of Windsor and Essex County as they honour Stefano (Steve) Riolo, 2019 Italian of the Year. Please reply to me directly at greggoulin@cogeco.net for tickets, $95 each, if you wish to join Bonnie and I at the WRYM table(s). Tragedy Avoided – We Hope  I regret to inform you that the windows in WRYM’s dining room and staff office were shattered in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 17,18, & 19 July, by rather large rocks, ( not stones, with the last one of the same size and weight of a shotput or cannon ball), scattering large shards of glass inside our home. The guys, on an upper floor, slept through all of it; and, fortunately, staff on duty were not in these rooms at the time. Police reports and attendances were made. Jason, our Program Director, and I did the midnight shift on the last night. Jason was inside; and, I was the outside “lurker” in the bushes. While I was unable to detain the middle aged man, I was at least, figuratively, able to catch him in the act, not prevent it, give him a surprise, and supply a description to the police. From what I saw of him and the repeated nature of these acts, I believe this man to be mentally ill. There seems to be no connection to past or present residents; and, there have been no re-occurrences. On July 21st , not having further contact with or inquiry from the Windsor Police Service, I emailed the Chief of Police, which read in part, “We seek your assistance to elevate this matter from property damage complaints to a serious investigation involving the continuous use of deadly force, in order to prevent significant injury.” I have yet to receive a response. New significant and strict safety protocols are in place. A new security system has been contracted for, and our windows are being re-enforced with lexan to avoid shards, at the very least. All broken windows were temporarily replaced the same day. A private security firm was hired to sit in a vehicle outside the window area from 11pm to 5am on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd, without significant observations reported. This “ain’t gonna be cheap”, about $7,500 for repairs, private security and up-graded security systems; but, it was and is absolutely necessary for our residents’ and staff safety. We are not afraid; nor, will we be intimidated. We will defend, alone if necessary, the right of “our guys” to have a chance at a decent life; And, at 70 years of age, “I’m in the prime of my strife.” Greg Update to Tragedy Avoided Consequent upon reasonable inquiries, I must advise that there is no insurance coverage for the damage and security measures taken as a consequence of the dangerous incidents of 17, 18, &19 July, 2019, for the following reasons:
A possible financial benefit is reduced insurance premiums in the future due to these security upgrades. Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD (ret.)
Executive Director, (pro bono)
WRYM awarded $26,186 Green Shield 6x6 Grant WRYM has been awarded a $26,186 grant from the Green Shield Canada Six 4 Six Community Granting Initiative, administered by the WindsorEssex Community Foundation for our Youth Independence Program!  Conceived by WRYM Program Director Jason Weinberg (centre, right), the new classroom-based program will teach life skills to youth 16-24 years of age regardless of their self-identified gender. L-R: Zahid Salmon, President &CEO Green Shield Canada; Jason Weinberg, WRYM Program Director; Mila Lucio, Chief HR Officer Green Shield Canada; Dave Freeman, WRYM Board Member; Greg Goulin, WRYM Executive Director; Susan Freeman, WRYM President; and Sherry Peister, Chair of the Board Green Shield Canada. Dependency fosters abuse. Independent life skills are the antidote. We will now be able to provide a meal and our program to all youth willing to participate, male and female, who are not attending school, in our classroom from 12 noon to 3pm each week day. Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD
Executive Director, (pro bono),  Invest in Citizenship - please join us for Canada Day again this year! WRYM has an Anonymous Donor who will match your donations specifically designated “Citizenship” As many of you know, much of the program of the Windsor Residence for Young Men is founded on citizenship: teaching our guys to meet their own needs, social responsibility, with rights come responsibilities – not entitlement, education, work ethic and the continuing support of our “family”. PLEASE NOTE - if you wish to donate to Invest in Citizenship in another fashion, options are available on our WRYM Your Help page - please be sure to specify "Citizenship" or "Invest in Citizenship" in your note so that matching funds may apply. Did you know? The Windsor Residence for Young Men only assists those male homeless youth who want to “get off the street”. Its program was designed by those involved in our criminal justice system and broke all the research theories prevalent at the time. Specifically, “Housing First” does not work for youth without life skills; and, definitely not when our community does not have public housing available. WRYM’s program is 90% successful, now qualifies for a high school credit; and, its concept is becoming recognized across Canada. It remains the only supportive transitional housing program for male youth in our community, while there are three for young women. It functions on the principle that “You can give a man a fish and feed him for a day; or, you can teach him how to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime.”  Homeless male youth 15-25 years of age are 8 times more likely to die “on the street” than their peers; but, they are hard to “hug”. Male youth 15-25 years of age are the most violent demographic in any society; but, they are also the largest group to present with the most serious injuries and wounds at Ontario’s emergency wards. They also silently suffer 38% of the sexual assaults within that age range. As of May 1st this year, there were 235 homeless people on the streets of Windsor. On average we get about 45 off the street each year by teaching independent life skills, modeling a functional family, and accessing, not duplicating, existing specialized community services to meet the needs of “our guys”. We teach them how to stand on their own two feet; and, they are using them to walk away from the negative peers and abuse they would otherwise have to accept to survive on the streets.  About 1/3 of “our guys” are re-united with family, 1/3 are placed in supportive living due to intellectual and mental health challenges, (usually both), and 1/3 go on to truly independent living. A former resident, now an employed graduate engineer, sits on our Board of Directors. We are funded by the individual and corporate citizens of our community. All administration and most maintenance is provided voluntarily without charge by professionals in their own right. Our entire budget, presently at $364,000, is $25,000 less than the Downtown Mission spent on Public Relations in 2016. If we are to continue, however, we need your help now. Thank you!
 Not a success story, but a lesson on what family is all about I could not bring myself to edit this resident's story down to a couple paragraphs; so, it’s attached here for you to download - “WRYM’s a family home.”
Youth homelessness in Kingston - and how their United Way reacted Quote - "One important learning that emerged from this process was a deeper understanding of how youth homelessness differs from adult homelessness. The key differentiator is that where homeless adults have nowhere to live, most youth who are homeless still have the option of returning to their family homes. A plan to address youth homelessness, then, must consider making a return to the family home a viable option. Unlike adult homelessness, youth homelessness can be viewed as a temporary condition rather than a chronic one, and the set of solutions can include educational components that may not be as effective with a chronically homeless older population. Another important consideration that applies uniquely to youth homelessness is that young people are still developing. The risk-taking and reactive behaviours and poor impulse control that are often associated with developing minds are a contributing factor to youth homelessness, making addressing developmental issues critical to any solution.” Sound familiar? This is what we do at WRYM! Read the full report: https://www.homelesshub.ca/resource/report-youth-homelessness-2019  WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) 2019 Vital Signs survey On behalf of the WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF), I am requesting your assistance with the 2019 Vital Signs survey. The Vital Signs survey is an annual community check-up conducted by Community Foundations from across Canada that measures the vitality of our cities, identifies significant trends, and assigns grades in areas critical to our quality of life. The 2019 Vital Signs survey closes on July 26th with the subsequent report being delivered as an insert with the Windsor Star on October 5th, 2019. Here is a direct link to this year’s survey - https://bit.ly/2CFCRgx And if you would like to read the 2018 Vital Signs® report, please click on this link - http://wecf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-Vital-Signs-Report-1.pdf A Parting Thought Abuse is founded on dependency. Independence is the antidote. We offer a hand up – not a handout. Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD Executive Director, (pro bono) An opinion piece of interest on CBC: Take it from someone who has been in a gang: tackling the symptoms won't fix the problem …But while access to after-school programs, counselling, mentorship and employment are all pieces that can have a protective effect against violence, they may not actually change the blueprint that causes violence in the first place: systemic racism, poverty, unemployment and toxic masculinity.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/gang-violence-1.4975700  Mohammed’s Story After a long day, a vacation, or just some time away, isn't it nice to go home? For many of our guys, the idea of home has been more a misunderstood concept than a reality. Yet, because of our tireless staff dedication and the commitment of you - our supporters - we are happy to tell you that again one of our guys has gone home. Before coming to the Windsor Residence for Young Men, Mohammed's parents struggled to accept him for who he was, and his different beliefs and values. As a result, his home-life had become unbearable to all; and, he was at-risk of being on the streets. Although this was a dark point in his life, it was also when Mohammed turned to WRYM for a second home. Here he found a safe place to work on himself and his relationship with his family. Overtime, he and his mother began to accept each other's point of view, and she became proud of all he accomplished at WRYM with work and school. Slowly but surely, this individual and his mother began to talk about living together again having found acceptance of each other's beliefs. We are happy to say that he has returned home for good. Although we enjoyed being able to provide him with a safe-place, some skill building, and a platform for self-actualization; nothing is more fulfilling for than to see this family become whole again. Thank you for making it possible! Best Birthday Ever on “The Coldest Night Out”  It was a “hoot” staying up all night in an industrial parking lot with other crazy people, including staff, board members and my youngest son. Many of you stopped by with warm coffee, even a birthday cake complete with candles – some “hand out”. But, most gratifying of all, because of the hardy souls who joined me and those who sponsored all of us, almost $10,000 was raised to continue providing a “home” for “our guys”. The most important Things in life are NOT Things! Thank you, so very much! 
Upcoming Events
A hand up – not a handout. Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD
Executive Director, (pro bono)  A Cold Night Out - The Coldest Night of the Year, Again !!! I’d like to challenge you once more to spend as much time as you can with me, as if you were experiencing homelessness, on a commercial/industrial parking lot at 1350 St. Luke Road in an unique part of Windsor on the Coldest Night of the Year, (my 70th birthday), from 5pm on Friday, the 22nd until 7am on the 23rd of this month. The rules of participation are strict, challenging and contained in the information attachment below. You will check in on site at 1350 St. Luke Road, Windsor, Ontario, by submitting this form, fully completed, as well as the pledge sheet(s) (also below) and funds collected to date.
We can never duplicate the desperation of homelessness. The rules listed allow for participants to leave at any time with the knowledge that they have a warm home, hot bath and a good meal to return to. Something the homeless can only dream about while facing another night of misery. Something participants might think about, too! We are doing this to raise funds to help our guys at WRYM through pledges based on the hours you will last that night, out in the cold. You must bring the signed Release and Pledge Sheet with you. You are welcome to challenge or decline and sponsor others, ( even me)! See you in 3 weeks time? I would like to thank Dave Woodall of Medachrom Holdings Limited for the use of a unique piece of property, (with an on-site warming centre and washroom!) Our WRYM 2018 Year End Statistics Our program success rate, measured in the number of residents who have left the streets, is 92%, with a 3-year average of 90%. See that success and more in our WRYM 2018 Year End Stats - download them here!
 Something to Think About Local news (CBC, 01/07/19) ran a story about a homeless shelter titled, “Why Adult Shelters are Scary for London’s Homeless Youth”. CBC noted that the current system involving youth accessing emergency shelter in a shared space with adults is highly problematic and that these sorts of shared spaces put youth at greater risk of:
Please let me know your thoughts at greggoulin@cogeco.net 
We offer a hand up – not a handout Greg Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD Executive Director, (pro bono) A Former Resident "I appreciate everything WRYM has done for me. The organization has taken care of me through my studies and even found me a job. I will carry this debt from the program for the rest of my life."  A Donor "I wanted to donate to a local charity this year for Christmas. I chose this charity because I believe, as homelessness is getting worse in our community, this is one of the organizations that helps to reverse the trend. By showing people who experience homelessness that there is support for them - helping to give them the skills to succeed and giving them confidence - I believe you are giving them the greatest gift someone in their situation can ask for. Keep up the good work!"  Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime.  A hand up – not a “hand out”.
Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD Executive Director, (pro bono),  "Sending you a big holiday hug this season” A message received at WRYM: “My son resides at WRYM and you have been nothing short of a Godsend. I only wish …I could …. thank you all with a hug. God bless all of you - A very thankful mom … " Thanks to all of you! – citizens and donors of time, stuff, and the funding which make our efforts possible. You have brought some Peace to at least one mother’s heart.  Thanks to WRYM’s Corporate Sponsors Contents Processing Centre (CPC) Recycling Depot Proceeds- November 5-30 Proceeds are going to support Windsor Residence for Young Men of Windsor Essex County. "Help keep electronics out of our landfills and support your local charity!”
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime. WRYM offers a hand up, not a hand out.
Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD Executive Director, (pro bono)  Our Guys Keep in Touch This month we would like to spotlight one of our past-residents who recently came back to visit us. Mark came into our program in the spring of 2017. He is a new Canadian who was suffering from regular parental abuse which started at a very young age. Mark was overcome with depression and other mental health issues, which quickly turned into thoughts of ending his life and a struggle with addiction. Mark’s unstable life had left him without a high school education and unemployed. When Mark learned that he was also going to be a father, he came to Windsor Residence for Young Men in hopes of becoming the “type of father he never had.” During his four motivated months with WRYM, he resumed school, gained full-time employment, and was connected with the appropriate community partners to assist with his mental and physical health, as well as other areas of need. When Mark left us in the fall of 2017, we were sad to see him leave but confident he would be able to stand on his own two feet. A year later, Mark decided to stop by, as many of the “brotherhood” do, and we were pleased to learn that he finished his high school diploma and is now in college while continuing work to make ends meet. Mark’s baby is happy and healthy; and, he is a very proud father!!! He inquired of our staff, expressed great appreciation of them, and was quick to smile when telling us about how his life is now. While Mark has all the amazing struggles of being a new father ahead of him, a home is not something he worries about any more. Thank you all for helping to make Mark’s story possible. (P.S. As I write, there are four of our guys in the kitchen learning how to make apple crisp. It is a loud, hilarious and joyful experience that would bring warmth to your heart, too.)  An Educator’s Thoughts ( and Actions) About WRYM “I was the principal at Walkerville Collegiate Institute when the Windsor Residence for Young Men started; and, it has always been an organization that has been special to me because I see the difference it makes in the community for our young males who have nowhere to go. This year is our first year selecting agencies to donate funds to and we have selected Windsor Residence for Young Men and United Way On Track to Success Program.” Want to Know More About WRYM? Fill out the attached Request for Information sheet and send it back; or, sign up for a Tour and Talk.
 Did You Know? WRYM receives absolutely no funding from the United Way of Windsor and Essex County, while receiving about $2,000 a year in designated donations from the United Way of Greater Toronto. Thank You Home Depot Canada, again!  The Orange Door Project Holiday Fundraising Campaign is taking place at all The Home Depot stores across Canada from November 29th until December 16th. Buy a $2 ‘paper door’ at the checkout of the Division and Walker Road Home Depot in Windsor and 100% of funds raised will benefit The Windsor Residence for Young Men. Together, we can put an end to youth homelessness in Canada. help end youth homelessness by buying a $2 paper door at the Home Depot Walker&Division checkout. Or, at www.orangedoorproject.ca under “Fund” select store fund “ON, Windsor-7228” so that your donation benefits #WRYM. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime. Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD
Executive Director, (pro bono), |
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