TORONTO – Eva’s Initiatives launched a $10 million capital campaign Tuesday to build a new shelter housing and employment facility for homeless youth in Toronto.
“Eva’s Phoenix” is currently located in space adjacent to Fort York but the plan is to move the housing and training programs to a city owned property at Brant and Richmond streets. The shelter is integrated with a skills development space and is intended to give homeless youth the tools they need to find stable housing and meaningful work.
The project is part of Build Toronto’s mandate to leverage the city’s surplus real estate assets and help reinvigorate Toronto neighbourhoods while generating some cash for the city.
Mayor John Tory was on hand for the campaign launch noting the project has been in the works for some time.
“There’s a long history to bringing us to this place today that’s a positive history. It’s happy history. It’s a happy story. And it involves collaboration between a great organization, that’s done so much work in the community, and the City of Toronto,” said Tory.
Former Build Toronto President Lorne Braithwaite is spearheading the fundraising effort and says this project is all about city building.
“It’s a people thing. It’s a big component part of what has to get done,” he said.
Eva Phoenix is moving because it was housed in surplus city property that has been sold and is being redeveloped. About two dozen units on that site will be set aside as affordable rent units.
The new space on Brant Street is expected to be ready by December of this year.
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