We are not a program targeted to a specific group, ethnicity, religion or gender; we help anyone and everyone that we can. StreetSmarts was founded by Pete Cassidy who was a recovering addict and passionate member of the community, in 2001. The program started as one man taking from his own pockets while in residential treatment in order to serve the people on the streets daily. It has now evolved from being a street outreach team to a highly involved community organization with many components. As well as direct street outreach; we offer peer to peer counseling, community engagement, and an educational program. Our program is operated through the hard work and dedication of volunteers who have lived experience with the struggles of addiction, trauma, mental health and homelessness. We are a non-profit agency that survives by donation of funding and items from the community. The program’s mission has always been to provide support and build long lasting quality relationships rather than surface level. In building long term quality relationships with people on the streets our volunteers role model change and provide empathy, compassion and support. Advocacy for those who are often hidden from society is achieved through informing clients about their rights and community resources as well as delivering community talks, and inviting members of the community who can effect change out with us along for outreach walks. StreetSmarts Core Components
Street Outreach Team
• Our street outreach team directly connects with clients building long-term relationship with them. We provide emergency clothing, refreshments, first aid, toiletries, sleeping bags, and seasonal clothing. These items are also used as a way to approach clients initializing the deeper relationship that will serve as a bridge to other resources in the future. Often once a relationship is formed with a client we will pair them up with a peer to peer mentor that will assist them in future goals. Our street outreach team is comprised of entirely volunteers and the two Program Coordinators. Educational Program
• Our educational program is derived from the real life experiences of our volunteers; we offer many different talks on social issues such as addiction and recovery, violence and gangs, homelessness, and abuse, as a few examples. The purpose of these talks is to engage with the youth in a way that they can relate or learn from experiences shared with them. This program is designed to engage not as educators or authority figures, but as role-models. These role models explain what happened in their own lives in a genuine manner to inform the students of the dangers they may face in their own lives, and most importantly that they are not alone in what they may be facing.
• Students can learn from these talks in various ways. One way they learn is by taking away with them what they may have needed to hear, such as the warning signs of abuse or addictions, red flags, or actions taken by the speaker to get help in their own experiences. Our volunteers are very open regarding their experiences and discuss their stories in a real life manner by not censoring their experiences yet making their presentation appropriate for the age group of the students. Community Involvement
• We inform clients of their legal rights on the streets and participate in community actions. For example Street Smarts recently participated in the 20K Homes Campaign by leading a team of volunteers to access the hidden homeless to be surveyed. We also work closely with other agencies to build partnerships on similar interests and goals. StreetSmarts will often walk with community leaders and members to bring awareness to the issues that the homeless face.
__________
To make it easier to support us, we have created an Amazon shopping list of many of the things needed for StreetSmarts. If you decide to make a purchase for donation please contact us to arrange shipping or pick up. Thank you to our community for ongoing support! https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/1PH6H8EQD7EX0?ref_=wl_share
