Sudbury youth hub offers daytime support
Many community organizations are stepping in the help meet the need left by the recent closure of the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth also known as SACY.
One of those organizations is the Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub. Officials at the hub told CTV News that that has seen increasing numbers of young people visiting, seeking a safe place along with supports and other services.
Amanda Gates, the coordinator of the Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub, which offers support services and a safe space for people ages 12-25. Gates in the wellness centre on March 26, 2024. (Alana Everson/CTV News Northern Ontario)
The wellness hub is located in the YMCA building downtown on Durham Street.
Amanda Gates, the hub’s coordinator, said the centre offers support services and a safe space for people ages 12-25 from noon to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.
“So our goal for our youth coming in is just hope. We want to give them hope in their lives,” said Gates.
“A lot of them you know are homeless or really struggling and we want to give them a place where they can come in and I always say we are adults you can tell anything to.”
Gates said the recent closure of SACY was tough for young people it helped – the agency offered the only youth shelter beds in the city.
“We are seeing a few new faces and a lot more just panic in youth,” said Gates.
“Not knowing where they were going to stay when they first announced they were closing we had a handful of youth coming in having absolutely no idea what that meant for them and where they were going to go.”
Since the closure of SACY, the City of Greater Sudbury has partnered with New Hope Outreach Inc. to fund an overnight warming centre for up to 10 homeless youth, ages 16 – 24, at the Samaritan Centre until April 30 – but there are no beds.
Officials said that during the day the hub offers primary care and mental and social services and is always looking at ways to grow.
“One youth told us that this is the only safe space for him and he said if this place didn’t exist he didn’t know what he would do,” said Gates.
“He is someone who has a place at night to go to but during the day is trying to stay out of trouble.”
Officials said the hub has served more than 6,000 youth since it opened at the end of June last year with the average now up to 48 visits a day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.