Home Depot Canada takes strides against youth homelessness

The Home Depot Canada is sharpening its social good muscle in the fight against youth homelessness.

In order to optimize its funding in support of youth organizations, The Home Depot Canada Foundation used the guidance of The Street Youth Planning Collaborative – Youth Leaders Committee (SYPC YLC) and Art Forms Youth Advisory Council.

Together, the organizations designated four funding recipients, who will accept the donations from the Foundation's new program – The Orange Door Award.

"Integrating the voices of youth lends to the creation of solutions on how we can help put an end to youth homelessness." said Bill Lennie , chair, board of directors, The Home Depot Canada Foundation and president, The Home Depot Canada. "By working with youth advisory groups, we gain valuable insight on how best to support projects and programs that are meaningful to homeless and vulnerable youth."

The Orange Door Award is part of the Foundation's three-year, $10 million pledge toward youth homelessness organizations. Its winners will each receive $25,000 to support their youth engagement programs in Canada: Grande Prairie Youth Emergency Shelter Society in Alberta; Nanaimo Youth Services Association in British Columbia; Supportive Housing in Peel – Peel Youth Village in Ontario; and YES Shelter for Youth and Families in Ontario.

"The youth appreciated having the opportunity to be part of the key decision-making activities with the Home Depot Canada Foundation," said Erika Morton , social planner, Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton , facilitator of SYPC YLC. "They were excited to share what they had learned about the diversity of programs across Canada and applauded the initiative of the Home Depot Canada Foundation to have engaged youth advisors in their awards program."