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THANK YOU! This is a grateful “shout out” to all the participants, their sponsors, and Sue Freeman, the organizer of our most successful Rough Night Out on what was probably the coldest night of this year!  From WRYM to Resiliency Often when a youth comes to The Windsor Residence for Young Men there is a void in their life due to the absence of healthy solid support systems, friends and family. One young man, Corey, truly faced this tragic loneliness. Despite his charisma, intelligence, and kindness, Corey did not have family or friends that he could count on. Time and time again, Corey's supports led him astray, turned on him or turned away when he needed them most. Upon coming to WRYM, Corey was experiencing homelessness, involved in several significant legal matters, struggling with schooling, and facing deteriorating mental health due to the serious issues going on in his life. After supporting Corey through his legal matters, teaching him routines to succeed in his academics, and empowering his artistic dreams, Corey began to impress all of us with his perseverance and personal growth. By connecting him with community support to help manage his housing, mental health, physical health, finances, education, and legal issues, Corey's support system became the robust supportive "safety net" that WRYM can provide and every young person needs. We are proud to say that Corey has now been accepted into College, has been 'sponsored' for his artistic skills, and has transitioned to a semi-independent living apartment of his very own! Thanks to your support and the hard work of our staff, Corey has replaced homelessness with hope, and added WRYM to his own resiliency. Way to go Corey; and, we still have your back!  Sustainability of WRYM As most of you know WRYM is primarily sustained by the private donations of individual and corporate citizens to whom we cannot sufficiently express our appreciation. However, as is to be expected, most of your generosity is expressed during funding drives or seasons of giving which presents me with the problem of guesstimology during my budgeting efforts and future planning. Consequently, I am asking you to consider monthly giving for which we have an app. on our website through CanadaHelps with the use of your credit card, (while post-dated cheques work as well). Essentially, consider how much your donations to WRYM totalled last year, or what you plan to give this year. If it was $100, would you consider $10 per month, if $500 then $50, and so on. I realize that this would also mean a 17% increase in your giving over the year; but, it would be less per month, help you budget too, can be discontinued at any time and division by 12 is also most appreciated as well; or, perhaps you would like to donate less on a monthly basis, reserving some for special times. I also realize that WRYM, while a charity, must be run like a business; but, unfortunately unlike most retail businesses, we cannot run on a “Black Friday” basis.  (WRYM wishes to add Directors to its Board WRYM can have up to 12 Directors on its Board while we function well with 7-8. However, looking to the future, we also try to familiarize new Directors with our procedures, mentoring them for positions as officers or committee chairs of our charitable corporation. If you, or someone you could recommend, are interested, please advise me by email (greggoulin@cogeco.net) containing a short bio with work and volunteer experience as well as other interests. We are a working Board which remotely meets once a month for about 2 hours after about an hour reading reports provided the weekend before; but, invariably Directors are called upon to participate in fundraising and committee efforts as well. We encourage donors and employees of business donors, clubs and other funders to apply. At present, skills demonstrated in organizational efficiency and management, finance, media and public relations, as well as donor development would be appreciated. Directors are not involved in program management or delivery; rather, in providing the means by which to make same possible. Give me a call if you have questions. (226.221.8464) Stay safe, our guys need you! Greg
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WRYM’s Virtual ROUGH NIGHT OUT Begins Friday, 19 February 2021, at 6pm We’re doing it again, respecting social separation, which might actually hi-lite the plight of homeless youth. Some of you who participate may actually be “on your own … like a rolling stone”. This is WRYM’s major winter fundraising event and there are many new ways to participate when, while distanced, we are virtually connected. Unfortunately this year, my recovery from neurosurgery on my neck limits my participation to backing a winner, our Program Director, Jason Weinberg; but, there are many winners who will participate in various ways. Please participate or sponsor participants by noting your winner on your sponsorship donation. See the attachment to get started and for a good “hoot” mocking our “crazy” participants who accept the challenge, in their own ways. Thank you, Sue Freeman, Chair of Events and Fundraising, for organizing another signature event!  Finding one's self
At WRYM, we fully embrace a youth's transition into adulthood, and the self-exploration that all individuals must go through before they decide "who" they want to be. Recently, a trans male youth - that was a survivor of abuse, a graduate of the Child Welfare system, and a visible minority - came to the WRYM program during his journey of self-discovery. From changing his name, to trying out new appearances, and making new friends, Johnathan was able to get something from WRYM that he never got from his family: acceptance during his journey. As Johnathan progressed through the residence, he settled on a new name, enrolled back in school, addressed his mental health, gained some new acquaintances, established some life-skills, and acquired an independent living placement with the support of staff. Although WRYM was only a small part of Johnathan's continuing journey, it acted as the gateway to a brighter future. By providing a non-threatening, stable, and supportive environment to address the issues pertaining to his homelessness, Johnathan was able to get the help needed to get back on his feet. Thank you for all of the support you have provided to help turn around the lives of guys like Johnathan. Our staff and residents would not be here without you, our wonderful community, and all of your efforts for “our guys”! Together, we are a community Here we are, still in the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, but there is hope for a better future sometime in 2021. Meanwhile, the challenges continue. We can say with satisfaction that, to date, not one case of COVID-19 has occurred within The Windsor Residence for Young Men. Our pandemic regimen has been strict and our program remains effective. We have accessed funding to pandemic-proof our programs from the local administrators of the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), namely The WindsorEssex Community Foundation and The United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County. We thank them. Ironically however, our core Transitional Housing and Aftercare programs, designated as frontline essential services, do not of themselves qualify for federal and provincial funding administered by the City of Windsor. At WRYM, we provide a “family” environment where formerly homeless youth learn important life skills, how to access the resources of our community, and how to become active empowered citizens. Fortunately for these at-risk youth, our family has been recognized by our community members themselves as an essential service. Even in a pandemic, religious and community groups, private foundations, companies, employee groups, and many, many individuals have responded with generous donations. We invite you, our community, to stay with us as we move forward in 2021. Please join us at www.wrym and www.facebook.com/windsorresidenceforyoungmen for news and updates as, together, we help at-risk youth build new lives. Thank you, so very much - Greg! Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD (ret.) Executive Director, (pro bono), & Founder The Windsor Residence for Young Men President’s Message
The Windsor Residence for Young Men December 2020 For the residents, volunteers and staff of The Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM), as for many people, 2020 was a very tumultuous year. We entered January 2020 with an excellent service record, having in 2019 achieved a 94% success rate (95% over 3 years) in assisting youth to leave homelessness behind and build new lives. However, it was clear from the beginning that program funding was in serious difficulty. The core Transitional Housing Program was the main priority – it looked as though the program might have to be suspended within six weeks. The basic issue was that, although WRYM provides an essential community service, unlike other social agencies it had received very little government funding. When we opened our doors in 2012, many people did not want to recognize that young men could be vulnerable victims, that some demoralized victims can also become perpetrators, and that early intervention can benefit the entire community. Senior government had frozen funding for any new agencies and this basic inequity has been frozen in time for eight years. WRYM’s Transitional Housing Program is highly successful even though operations and staffing are cut to the bone. All funding goes directly to the program – we do not duplicate the services of other agencies, and administration and fundraising are done entirely by volunteers. Yet, every year we risk the collapse of transitional housing services for homeless young men in our community. Once again, it was necessary to turn to the community. WRYM’s January 2020 Urgent Funding Appeal was launched and, immediately, a former homeless youth donated $13,000 to boost the program that had helped him and so many others build new lives. The money was used as matching funds to kickstart the online fundraising appeal and the community responded with an additional $19,300. This spirit of community giving would continue throughout 2020 – and it would be needed. Then came the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Because of health restrictions, our customary fundraising events became a thing of the past. WRYM’s 2020 Rough Night Out vigil by volunteers in an industrial parking lot was the last one. In March and April, all offsite or visitor activities such as the Kid Next Door program, which provided odd job opportunities for residents, were suspended. The Windsor area’s only residential support program for homeless male youth put strict “shelter in place” protocols into effect for residents and staff. Upon inspection, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit praised the pandemic plan and preparations, and not even one case of COVID-19 infection occurred at WRYM. Even then, the core Transitional Housing Program did not qualify as a frontline essential service for federal and provincial emergency funding administered by the City of Windsor. As a small agency that depends mostly on effective community fundraising, efficient programs, free administration by volunteers, and minimal but dedicated staff, WRYM’s revenues were down “only” by 27.42% from March 2019, and not the 30% decrease required by the federal government. Our community fundraising was 2.58% too efficient for our residents’ own good. Meanwhile, WRYM applied for other kinds of funding from the local administrators of the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The WindsorEssex Community Foundation, which administers some ECSF funding, granted $16,296.69 for “isolation preparation” during COVID-19, including wage supplements for staff isolating with residents and equipment such as “social distance” bedroom dividers. The WindsorEssex Community Foundation also recognized value of WRYM’s Aftercare Program that helps many of more than 300 past clients reintegrate into the community with suitable living arrangements, work and education. The foundation granted $14,118 so that a full-time WRYM advisor can use social media, telephone, e-mails and texting to provide COVID-safe crisis response. Similarly, The United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County has provided $14,900 in ECSF funds to make tablet computers and part-time education help available so that residents can continue their schooling. As grateful as we are for these COVID-19 emergency grants, we must point out that they do not address the most basic needs of the at-risk and homeless youth in the Transitional Housing Program. To fund this core program in 2020, even during a pandemic, we turned time and again to online community campaigns and personal approaches. They included WRYM’s January 2020 Urgent Funding Appeal, WRYM’s 2020 Rough Night Out, WRYM's Pandemic #GivingTuesdayNow, WRYM’s Together, We Are Community Campaign (Cited by CanadaHelps as one of four campaigns out of 13,000 across Canada that are Inspiring Examples of Charities Rising Up to the Great Canadian Giving Challenge), Windsor’s Country Cares Concert (online - Windsor's Country 95.9/92.7 radio and singer Kelsie Mayne), Virtual WALK, RUN or ROLL 4 WRYM 2020 campaign (distanced walks/runs sponsored by Motor City Credit Union and Provincial Chrysler), Giving Tuesday December 1, The Home Depot’s Orange Door Project December 1-20, and WRYM’s Holiday Season of Giving. Even in a pandemic, the community responded with great generosity – religious and community groups, private foundations, companies, employee groups, and many, many individuals including one business person who donated $100,000 with a note saying, “Keep up the great work that you are doing at WRYM, because you are definitely needed in the Windsor and Essex County area!” The success of our campaigns far exceeded expectations. Entering 2021, WRYM has maintained its high standards of service delivery and effectiveness. The Youth Independence Program, an educational program for youth at-risk, has been adopted by two agencies to be used in other communities, and others have expressed interest. Community funding has put the Transitional Housing Program in a good position for the time being, and also serves as a community-wide endorsement of the program as an essential service. The grants of COVID-19 emergency funds from Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund by The WindsorEssex Community Foundation and The United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County infer that WRYM’s main mission is valued by them. In a ringing endorsement in November, The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario awarded a Peace Medal to WRYM, saying, “For close to a decade, The Windsor Residence for Young men has been providing essential services to homeless and at-risk youth.” Perhaps it has taken the COVID-19 crisis to spur full recognition of the needs of homeless and at-risk youth in our community. Perhaps 2021 is the year that The Windsor Residence for Young Men’s Transitional Housing Program will justly be recognized as an essential frontline service, with the steady funding provisions that infers. I believe that is the social justice our residents deserve. Brian Worrall, President The Windsor Residence for Young Men Today is Giving Tuesday
Only today, on December 1st, CanadaHelps will add $2 to every one-time donation of $20 or more, up to a maximum of $30,000 for all participating charities. Donations made to the Windsor Residence for Young Men through CanadaHelps.org, Customizable Donation Forms, and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) campaigns will qualify. To help, please visit our GivingTuesdayCa page - https://givingtuesday.ca/partners/20391 (* For all terms and conditions click on this link) The 2020 Vital Signs Report is Vital to Informed Giving The 2020 Vital Signs Report is here! The eighth report has just been published by the WindsorEssex Community Foundation on the Windsor-Essex Region. Find out what makes Windsor-Essex a great place to live, work, play and grow! To access the report, please click HERE Gregory D. Goulin, LSM, JD (ret.) Executive Director, (pro bono), & Founder The Windsor Residence for Young Men |
