‘Things can be different’: New downtown youth hub an early success story

The youth hub that recently opened in a former downtown hall is being hailed as a success by its organizers, who hope the downstream effects of its programming will be felt in a couple of years as the youth it serves mature into adulthood.

After a soft launch in November 2023, the Algoma Youth Wellness Hub (AYWH) held its grand opening on January 8. In the seven months it has been open, the hub has recorded over 1,600 visits, said Ali Juma, CEO of Algoma Family Services, the agency that oversees the hub.

"We just got to think for a minute, where would these 1,600 youth go otherwise? Where would they be?" said Juma.

Those 1,600 visits were recorded as of last month, noted Juma. He believes the current figure could be closer to 2,000 because the hub is being so well-used in the summer months.

SEE: 'Extremely important': New youth wellness hub officially opens downtown

The hub offers a safe and supervised site for youth to hang out, with recreational activities offered throughout the two-level former Odd Fellows Hall on Dennis Street, across from the bus terminal. The centre also offers showers, laundry facilities and a host of services from partner agencies like Ontario Works, Employment Solutions, John Howard Society and Children's Aid Society, among others.

"They're getting access to people that they wouldn't otherwise get access to, like a nurse practitioner — and our nurse practitioner is busy since it opened — so we're really pleased that not only are they getting the services they need, but their health care can also be addressed," said Juma.

Margaret Tuomi, program coordinator at AYWH, said the hub offers a 'homey' environment, not a clinical one. 

"You won't see office signs and things like that. We're trying to make it welcoming and calming and peaceful because a lot of them are coming from chaos," said Tuomi.

VIDEO: Years in the making, Algoma youth wellness hub here to help

Not all the youth who spend time at the hub are from low-income households.

"We also have the doctors' kids and the lawyers' kids and different people — it's not just that population that are accessing our services, because we put on really cool programming," said Tuomi.

At least three youth who were living with significant addiction issues who attended the hub are now in rehab programs, said Tuomi.

"That's three lives we could potentially have saved — I'm not saying we're the only thing, but I'm sure we're part of that whole solution," she said.

Juma said it is not lost on him that there has been a number of stabbings involving youth in the Sault in recent weeks — one of which was fatal.

"That only reinforces our commitment that things can be different," said Juma. "We have to, because we're losing too many of them because of things like stabbing or overdoses or suicides."

Juma said a lot of the homelessness and addiction issues currently visible in the Sault are the result of at-risk youth who didn't have supports and their troubles followed them into adulthood.

"Those young peoples' needs were not met when they were young and now they're out wandering the streets, not having a place to live, getting involved in crime, getting involved in substances," said Juma. 

He hopes projects like the AYWH and the newly announced Cafe 4 Good will pay dividends in three to five years, as the youth of today move into adulthood with more supports than the generation before them.

"There's so many great things happening in our community right now," said Juma. "I want to challenge the thought that not enough is being done. More could be done — absolutely, for sure, I'll never deny that — but lots of great things are coming."