ShelterLink proposes collaboration on Grand Trunk renewal project

A single bedroom at ShelterLink Youth Services offers a safe, temporary space for youth aged 14 to 24 experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The organization is advocating to be part of the early planning stages of Stratford’s Grand Trunk renewal project.

ShelterLink Youth Services is asking to be included in the early planning stages of Stratford’s Grand Trunk renewal project. The organization recently submitted a proposal to the ad hoc Grand Trunk renewal committee, suggesting that inclusion in the conceptual planning phase would help foster a stronger, more united community.

ShelterLink is a social service agency that has supported youth aged 14 to 24 in Perth County since 1989. Officially incorporated in 1991, the organization provides both shelter and outreach services for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Cate Trudeau, executive director of ShelterLink, believes the project aligns well with the work already being done by other community agencies involved in the redevelopment, including the Stratford Public Library and the YMCA of Three Rivers.

"We have a natural and already existing partnership with the YMCA and Stratford Public Library,” said Trudeau. “Youth participate in groups, attend classes and get YMCA passes. They use the library, and this allows them to have access to computers and services to help them in school or with finding jobs."

Trudeau says that integrating ShelterLink into the new development would support stronger service coordination and build upon the relationships that already exist between the organizations.

ShelterLink receives funding from the City of Stratford and works closely with the city’s social services department. It also plays a key role in the city’s after-hours homelessness response program.

While ShelterLink is currently operating out of a space at 130 Youngs St. – a Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance property – Trudeau says the location is no longer adequate to meet growing needs.

"As we grow, we're realizing the limitations of the space ... we don't have a place for outreach. We also have a new post-shelter program, and there just isn’t enough space for this program in the current location,” said Trudeau.

"If we can't grow or can only use the existing footprint, it limits what we can do for the youth in the community," she continued.

Trudeau added that ShelterLink is prepared to raise the necessary funds to support its participation in the large-scale project.

The guiding principle of the Grand Trunk renewal project is to foster a sense of welcome and belonging for all community members. ShelterLink’s proposal emphasized the importance of including youth voices – particularly those who are marginalized or underserved – in the creation of inclusive community spaces.

ShelterLink served over 107 youth in Perth County in 2023-2024, including 58 through shelter services and 49 through outreach programs. Twenty-one youth were successfully diverted from shelter during that time.

The average age of those accessing ShelterLink services is 19, and more than 29 per cent of clients were under the age of 18. The organization fields more than 380 calls per year from youth in need.

According to Statistics Canada, 40 per cent of homeless youth in the country had their first experience of homelessness before the age of 16. Street-involved youth are also six times more likely to be victims of violence compared to the general population.

"We want the youth to reconnect in community,” said Trudeau. “We want them to feel like they are a part of the community. We want them to do well and know the resources available as they move into adulthood. We want them to feel like the community has supported them in need, and therefore, they too can give back to the community someday."