Welcome Hall Mission Opens New Youth Service Center in North Montreal – Montreal | The Canadian News

Welcome Hall Mission officially opened the doors of its new youth service center on Monday morning. The resource moved north to Montreal during the pandemic after noticing a desperate need for community youth services in the area where 30 percent of its youngest clientele live.

“We began to notice that many of the young people requesting services in the city center were from various districts around Montreal, particularly in the far north. So it made sense to us that people could access services closer to where they live, ”said Sam Watts, CEO of Welcome Hall Mission.

The space is located on the second floor of the mission’s free grocery store. It includes a living room and work areas, and offers baby clothing and supplies for young mothers. The service aims to help youth experiencing hardship or homelessness get where they want to be.

“This will be a resource that will allow us to connect them with people in the community who can help them, like the health care network,” Watts said.

Montreal North is a corner of the island that experiences high levels of poverty and school dropouts. County Mayor Christine Black says there is an urgent need for more services like the Mission Welcome Hall in the area.

“I am very happy that this type of service is starting in North Montreal because it will make a huge difference here for youth and families,” said Black.

Svetlana Chernienko was 18 when her family started using the Welcome Hall Mission grocery store and returned years later when she escaped from an abusive relationship. The mental health advocate says the service influenced who she is today.

“It changed my life knowing that I had support when I needed it. Every time I went, there were always people with warm open arms, ”he told Global News.

Welcome Hall Mission hopes to build trust within the community through the youth service center to help others on the path to success.