Janice Arnoldi
Janice Arnoldi
The Raft - Helping Homeless Youth Learn Life and Job Skills
The Raft - Helping Homeless Youth Learn Life and Job Skills
The Raft - Helping Homeless Youth Learn Life and Job Skills
Sunday 1st May 2022
Explore how The Raft empowers homeless youth with life skills and job training in this inspiring episode of Life Unscripted.
24 minutes
Inspiring
Informative
Hopeful
Supportive
Educational
About this podcast
Author:
Janice Arnoldi
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Body & Mind
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Sexual Stigmas & Myths
Parenting & Children
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
144 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Building Hope: The Raft's Impact on Homeless Youth
Episode Overview
- The Raft started as a drop-in centre for homeless youth in 1992.
- Expanded from a small shelter to a national model for reducing youth homelessness.
- Youth Reconnect program has reduced shelter usage by over 70%.
- Focuses on life skills and job training, not just providing shelter.
- Emphasises community connection to combat social isolation.
"It's not enough just to get someone in if we're not setting them up for success."
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? In this episode of Life Unscripted - Stories of Mental Health and Addiction, Janice Arnoldi sits down with Mike Lethby, the executive director of The Raft. This isn’t just any shelter for homeless youth in Niagara; it’s a transformative space that has evolved from a simple drop-in centre to a national model for youth support.
Since its inception in 1992, The Raft has expanded from a four-bed shelter to a 24-bed facility, adapting to the increasing demand and shifting focus to not only provide shelter but also life skills and job training for homeless youth. Mike shares the inspiring story of how The Raft has grown from a humble drop-in centre under a bridge to a national model for reducing youth homelessness.
The Youth Reconnect program, one of their most successful initiatives, has significantly reduced shelter usage by over 70% by helping young people remain in their communities and stay connected to their schools and support systems. The episode also sheds light on the broader issue of homelessness among youth, often driven by social isolation rather than just drug use or mental health issues.
Mike explains how The Raft's approach focuses on providing stability and helping young people reconnect with their communities, rather than just offering temporary shelter. Janice Arnoldi, who has lived with bipolar disorder for over three decades, guides this enlightening conversation, which is filled with both personal anecdotes and broader insights into the societal structures affecting youth homelessness. If you've ever wondered what it takes to turn lives around after addiction and homelessness, this episode is a must-listen.
How can we all contribute to creating communities that support those in need and help break the cycle of homelessness?