WRYM'S AUGUST 2026 NETLETTER

Don’t Miss the Boat, Cruise for a Cause Is Almost Here! 

September 26 may feel a little way off, but Cruise for a Cause is now only one month away, and the big night will be here before we know it!

To make it easier to enjoy the evening together, we are introducing a new group rate of four tickets for $500. That brings the cost down to $125 per person, saving your group $100 compared to purchasing four regular-priced tickets.

Gather your friends, family or coworkers and join us aboard Windsor Premier Cruises for a three-hour sunset cruise along the Windsor and Detroit waterfronts. The evening includes a chicken and pasta dinner, live music, a cash bar and spectacular river views. Boarding begins at 5:15 p.m., with the cruise running from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Every ticket purchased helps The Windsor Residence for Young Men provide housing, outreach and aftercare support to young people working toward safe, stable and independent futures.

The countdown is on, and space aboard is limited. Don’t wait until the ship has sailed, reserve your tickets, bring your crew and join us on September 26!

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

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Thinking About the Future, Not Just Survival 

Before the summer began, one of our residents had the opportunity to attend his high school prom and celebrate an important chapter in his life.

For many teenagers, prom, graduation and an approaching 18th birthday are expected milestones. For a young person who has experienced homelessness and instability, reaching them can mean something much more.

When this young man first came to WRYM, much of his attention was understandably focused on getting through the immediate challenges in front of him. Today, as he approaches his 18th birthday, he is beginning to think beyond survival and consider what he wants his future to look like.

That change cannot always be captured by statistics. It can be seen in a young person making plans, setting goals and beginning to believe that a different future is possible.
At WRYM, we are proud to celebrate every step forward. Attending prom, completing high school and preparing for adulthood are not the end of his journey, but they are meaningful signs of how far he has come.

This is what stability can create: the space for a young person to stop worrying only about today and begin imagining tomorrow.

We regularly share resident milestones, organizational updates and more stories from WRYM on our Facebook page. Follow along to see the impact your support helps make possible.

SEE THE CELEBRATION ON FACEBOOK

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September Is Suicide Awareness Month: You Are Not Alone 

As August comes to an end, we are looking ahead to September, recognized throughout Windsor-Essex as Suicide Awareness Month. Led locally by the Canadian Mental Health Association and its community partners, this year’s message is simple but important: You Are Not Alone.

For young people experiencing homelessness, those words can carry enormous weight. Homelessness is not only the loss of a place to sleep. It can also mean losing safety, stability, routine, connection and hope.

Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among Canadians between the ages of 15 and 34. Men account for three out of every four suicide deaths in Canada.

At WRYM, these risks are not abstract. From 2023 through 2025, we provided residential support to 91 young men. Across those three years:

82% experienced mental-health issues
77% had experienced abuse and/or family violence
76% had a history of involvement with Children’s Aid
53% reported a history of suicide attempts and/or suicidal ideation
33% reported a history of self-harm

Behind every percentage is a young person who arrived at WRYM carrying experiences that no young person should have to manage alone.

Suicide prevention does not begin only when someone reaches a moment of crisis. It also means addressing the conditions that can leave someone feeling isolated, trapped or without a future.

That is why WRYM’s work is an essential part of suicide prevention. We provide more than a safe place to stay. Our staff offer consistent relationships, emotional support, crisis intervention, connections to mental-health services and help rebuilding the routines and life skills needed to move forward. Through our residential, outreach and aftercare programs, young men are reminded that they matter,that support is available and that their current circumstances do not have to determine their future.

Every time a young man moves from survival toward stability, we create more room for hope.

This September, WRYM will continue working to ensure that young men experiencing homelessness are included in our community’s conversations about suicide prevention and men’s mental health. No young person should have to face homelessness, trauma or thoughts of suicide alone.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 for confidential support at any time. If someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH