Story Highlights
- While facing homelessness and encountering significant barriers to steady employment, Nikki found Operation Come Home’s (OCH) FoodWorks.
- FoodWorks, powered by United Way East Ontario, is a social enterprise which provides youth experiencing homelessness training and work experience in the culinary industry, to begin their careers or pursue further education.
- OCH reports that demand for programming is higher than ever before.
- At United Way, we believe every young person deserves a safe environment to grow, learn, and form meaningful relationships, regardless of their individual circumstances.
- Nikki is now on a brighter path, thanks to OCH, United Way and the team at FoodWorks.
“I was homeless from the ages of 14 to 17. That’s when I got connected with Operation Come Home. They helped me get subsidized housing, I started at FoodWorks, and it really helped to get my life back on track.”
Being homeless at such a young age often leads to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression, as it comes with uncertainty and instability. It’s hard to build the foundation for a stable future when you’re worried about where you’ll be sleeping, or where your next meal will come from. This takes a significant mental toll and can shape a young person’s sense of self and ability to thrive.
Thankfully, Nikki is in a better place these days. She’s started the Culinary Management program at Algonquin College and is feeling more confident about her future than ever before. She says Operation Come Home’s FoodWorks, powered by United Way East Ontario, has played a major role in that.
“[FoodWorks Executive Chef] Tim and the sous chef Ashlea, helped me coming into the culinary industry and pushed me to go to college,” explains Nikki. “There’s no judgment here. You can just be yourself and everyone gets along.”
It’s that positive reinforcement, that Chef Tim Stock says many young people who start out in FoodWorks may have never experienced before.
His team aims to give FoodWorks participants the skills and job training they need to move onto schooling or employment, but also foster a supportive environment, where young people can connect with folks who understand their experiences, and allow them to share their stories without the fear of stigma.
“They learn that when they come here, regardless of what they’ve got going on in their personal lives, they can overcome the anxieties and stresses they have. Once they walk through our doors, come into this kitchen, they know they’re in a safe space.”
Social enterprise creating brighter futures
OCH says it’s experiencing higher levels of program demand than ever before.
Executive Director John Heckbert explains, many of the youth OCH serves who are experiencing homelessness or vulnerability often miss the chance to learn skills to help them land a job.
Social enterprises like FoodWorks generate their own income and reinvest profits back into their mission, which, in this case, is to create a stable, safe environment where young people can focus on personal and professional growth.
“Often, they've experienced some barriers to employment in their lives that really aren't their fault. So, for those youth that benefit from [social enterprises like Foodworks], that are interested in it, it provides an interesting and useful place for them to start their careers.”
At FoodWorks, youth find a welcoming environment that builds a strong sense of community and accomplishment. The culinary team, made up of two chefs and youth participants, take on catering jobs throughout the city, sometimes serving as many as 300 people over multiple days.
Critical to keep showing up for young people
At United Way East Ontario, we recognize that these foundational years are crucial for a young person’s future, and that’s why it’s so important that we continue to support social enterprises like FoodWorks.
Helping youth find stable, long-term employment not only supports their immediate needs but also sets the stage for their long-term wellbeing.
Social enterprises are a key element of building community wealth: reimagining our economic systems to be more equitable.
Every young person deserves a safe environment to grow, learn, and form meaningful relationships, regardless of their individual circumstances.
