News release: Toronto Community Housing’s 2020 summer jobs programs will change this year in response to COVID-19, but TCHC’s commitment to invest in youth remains firm

TORONTO, May 25, 2020 — For the first time in its 32-year history, the Rookie League baseball day camp program will be taken online this summer due to COVID-19.

Rookie League partners Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and Jays Care Foundation announced today that because of city-wide efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 through physical distancing, the popular outdoor summer baseball program will not take place in 2020. Instead, Rookie League will move online by offering daily 45-minute virtual workshops where staff will lead kids in interactive games, exercise, arts and crafts, and learning activities.

The virtual Rookie League will provide 24 jobs for teens as they help provide online activities to younger participants. Last summer, 1,200 TCHC children and youth ages 6 to 15 took part in the Rookie League day camps. This summer's online registration begins on May 25.

TCHC's paid career internship program will go ahead this summer on a virtual basis, enabling 17 youth to receive real world professional experience in finance, community planning and other fields within the housing corporation. Applications closed on May 21, 2020.

TCHC is going ahead with the Investing in Our Diversity Scholarships program in 2020 and will offer virtual coaching and supports to this year's scholarship recipients. Now in its 17th year, the program recognizes students age 17 to 29 based on academic excellence, financial eligibility and community leadership, including involvement in promoting youth empowerment, diversity and community safety.

Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, TCHC is unable to offer its YouthWorx program this summer. For the past several summers, TCHC has hired about 100 young people between the ages of 14 and 29 through YouthWorx. The youth perform small-scale labour jobs and take part in workshops to build their employment and personal skills.

As well, TCHC is unable to offer the KickStart summer soccer program for children age 6 to 12, which was scheduled to launch in August. Instead, TCHC and partners MLSE Foundation and Toronto FC and sponsor Kia Canada will offer an enhanced program starting in spring 2021.

QUOTES

"The health and wellbeing of tenants remains our first priority. This summer we're working with our partners to offer summer programs for children and youth while respecting the need for physical distancing. Through virtual internships and summer jobs in virtual programs, we are continuing to provide TCHC tenants with opportunities for professional and personal development and growth."

—Kevin Marshman, Toronto Community Housing President and CEO

BY THE NUMBERS

  • 1,000: Spaces for children and youth ages 6 to 15 in the 2020 virtual Rookie League
  • 24: jobs for youth age 16 or over in the 2020 virtual Rookie League
  • 34: Number of TCHC internships in 2020 (17 in each of the summer and fall sessions)

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About Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider. We are owned by the City of Toronto and provide homes for 100,000 tenants in nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households. Our 2,100 buildings are found in more than 100 of the city's neighbourhoods and represent a $10-billion public asset.

Media contact: TCHC media line 416-737-1352 or media@torontohousing.ca