For the final story in our 2023 #GCFGrantStories series, we spotlight Community Grant recipient Wyndham House, which received funding for its Youth Transportation Program.
100% of the youth Wyndham House serves live in poverty, are mainly isolated, and cannot afford day-to-day transportation. Their needs continue to grow substantially, so staff buy an additional 100+ bus tickets monthly and provide taxi services for the youth to attend their wellness appointments.
The cost of Guelph Transit Bus Tickets, the most used source of transportation for Wyndham House’s clients, continues to be an ongoing and necessary expense that the GCF grant continues to help cover.
While the cost of a single ticket does not seem significant, and the City of Guelph provides affordable monthly passes at a reduced rate, transportation remains a barrier. While Wyndham House contributes operating dollars to purchase bus tickets, it does not have the budget to meet the demand and relies on community support.
The Transportation Program ensures that at-risk and marginalized youth have barrier-free access to the transportation they need to attend medical and counselling appointments, job interviews, apartment viewings, service centres, school, visits with family, and recreational activities. With GCF’s support, Wyndham House helps these youth get to where they need to go.
Wyndham House has been working with marginalized and homeless youth for 50 years and will continue to do everything possible to assist them in moving their lives forward from crisis to stability.