Opening doors to stable homes for youth

Growing up in the Halton suburbs before moving to Mississauga, Vertex spent his high school years surrounded by friends, immersed in R&B music and nurturing a passion for barbering and hairstyling. But when housing instability took hold, those parts of his life fell away.  

When you don’t have a safe, stable home, everything else in life becomes more difficult. Without a home, it’s almost impossible to focus on work, school, relationships or health. Even the smallest tasks — finding food, staying warm, getting a good night’s sleep — become daily struggles, and uncertainty can seep into every part of life. 

That’s where Vertex found himself. After leaving a difficult living situation, he struggled to find a new place to live. For a while he was precariously housed — couch surfing, moving from place to place, never sure where he’d sleep next. Eventually, he turned to a shelter.  

The housing crisis in the GTA has reached a breaking point. Rents are skyrocketing and affordable units are disappearing. Shelters are over capacity. United Way Greater Toronto is tackling this urgent issue head-on. We fund 40+ programs that provide everything from emergency shelter and housing support to eviction prevention and wraparound services that address the root causes of homelessness. 

At the shelter, Vertex was connected to Our Place Peel, a United Way-funded agency offering emergency shelter and outreach programs to youth facing homelessness. The agency was a lifeline — offering not just housing support, but guidance and a path forward. 

“At the shelter, I heard about Our Place Peel,” says Vertex. “Hayah from their outreach team called me, then we met in person.” That connection became a steady hand to grasp on an unstable path. 

First, they figured out the basics. “She helped me with budgeting, food drop-offs, supplies and just everyday life stuff,” he says.  

Hayah also helped him build essential life skills, including financial literacy, communication strategies and long-term planning. Together, they started rebuilding the foundations for a good life. 

“Vertex was resourceful, respectful and engaged,” Hayah recalls. “He had a strong desire to move forward with his life — he just needed the right tools.” 

This kind of support is at the heart of United Way’s approach. We know housing insecurity isn’t just about bricks and mortar — it’s about tackling the interconnected challenges that put people at risk in the first place. That’s why we fund agencies that provide wraparound services — help with employment, mental health, life skills and more — so people can build lasting stability, not just get through the next night. 

Through Hayah, Vertex was connected to Family Services of Peel, another United Way-funded agency that provides professional counselling, education and employment support. With their help, he found a cleaning job and started receiving income through Ontario Works.  

“It was a huge relief,” he says. “I never would’ve been able to find all these supports without Hayah and these programs.” 

Employment was also a meaningful step towards independence. “Having the job helped shift Vertex’s mindset from just ‘getting by’ to envisioning a more stable future,” Hayah says. With steady income and support, he found a safe, stable place to call home — an important foundation as he continues moving toward his goals.    

For Vertex, support went beyond practical help — it restored his confidence and sense of possibility.  

“Hayah even helped me reconnect with my family,” he says. “She gave me the encouragement and confidence I needed to share my experiences and set healthy boundaries.” 

And Vertex’s journey shows what’s possible when people get the right support — something too many in our region are still waiting for. Across the GTA, housing is more unaffordable than ever, pushing thousands of people to make impossible choices between paying their rent or buying groceries.  

United Way is tackling the root causes of poverty through research, advocacy and innovative partnerships like the Social Medicine Initiative — reimagining supportive housing with affordable units and 24/7 wraparound care. And our upcoming Affordable Housing Plan for Ontario calls for bold action to create deeply affordable, non-profit and co-operative housing. Because housing is a human right — and no one should be left without a place to call home.  

Hayah wishes that more people understood that homelessness is rarely a simple or one-dimensional issue.  

“It’s often the result of complex, intersecting challenges such as trauma, mental health struggles, systemic barriers and social isolation that create layers of instability,” she says. “Stability comes from addressing the whole person, not just their immediate crisis.” 

Vertex felt the impact of that approach. “The regular support I got was invaluable,” he says. “Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to figure things out on my own.” 

With stability came clarity. Vertex rediscovered his passion for cutting and styling hair. Things really felt like they turned a corner when he was accepted into a new hair and barbering program.  

Today, Vertex feels more confident, social and hopeful about the future. He stills checks in with Hayah, but their calls are less frequent now. “I don’t need as much support, but it’s nice to know she’s there if I need her.” 

This is what happens when people have access to the things they need to thrive — when prevention, immediate services, and long-term solutions come together. It’s why United Way is rolling up our sleeves and working tirelessly to provide safe, affordable, stable homes for individuals and families across the GTA. Last year alone, we helped over 30,000 individuals who were at-risk or unhoused access vital housing supports. 

Safe and affordable housing should be a right — not a privilege. We fiercely believe no one’s future should be determined by whether they can afford a safe place to live, and we’re using every tool in our toolkit to ensure that everyone has access to affordable housing and a place to call home. Any way we can. 

For Vertex, this kind of support is exactly what he needed to get back on his feet, pursue his passions and build a more stable life.