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
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Ukraine marks its third Easter at war as it comes under fire from Russian drones and troops
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine's east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Israel says Hamas attacks a crossing point into Gaza, wounding 10 Israelis and forcing its closure
Hamas militants on Sunday attacked Israel's main crossing point for delivering humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, reportedly wounding several Israelis and prompting Israel to close the terminal.