On May 30, youth from Toronto Community Housing joined local politicians and businesses at the York Civic Centre to launch the Hire Youth Campaign. This is an initiative that encourages employers to see the talent and not the address of a prospective youth hire.

The Hire Youth Campaign highlights the barriers youth living in social housing face when looking for jobs. Toronto Community Housing, in conjunction with the City of Toronto’s Youth Employment Partnerships (CEP) and with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities – Labour Market and Training Division, is encouraging employers to move beyond the stereotypes of people living in publicly funded housing and benefit from often overlooked talents.

"Toronto Community Housing is inviting employers to share a commitment to youth living in our communities and help them build sustainable livelihoods," says Kemi Jacobs, Manager, Children and Youth Services, Toronto Community Housing. "We’re asking employers to look beyond an applicant’s home address and consider them based on their ability and desire to do the job."

The Hire Youth Campaign targets youth between 17-25 years who are out of school and unemployed. Youth receive pre-employment training, priority placement, outreach and marketing training, weekly supports, networking skills and four weeks of part-time work before being matched with a prospective employer.

Employers are encouraged to offer full time employment, with mentors, internships, hire youth for summer jobs and create mentorship opportunities.

Employers involved in the program’s initial outreach include: IBM Canada Ltd., Greenview Landscaping, Nat’s Painting, New Image Kitchens Inc., Housing Services Inc., Carpenters’ Local 27, CUPE Local 79.

Approximately 20,000 youth under the age of 25 currently live in Toronto Community Housing communities. Like the broader tenant population and the population of Toronto, they are racially and culturally diverse. Toronto Community Housing youth face many challenges: they tend to be stereotyped and socially isolated; they face multiple barriers in finding employment and some have had interactions with the justice system.

For more information call (416) 981-4075 or email hireyouth@torontohousing.ca