OTF’s support has allowed REST Centres to continue meeting the needs and supporting the dignity of BIPOC youth in Peel Region. "Refusing our youth shelter for dignity does not only deny them from achieving their growth potential, but it also implies failing to build our bridge of hope for sustainable growth and development," says Executive Director Dagma Koyi.

February, a month dedicated to showering love on all humanities on the planet, coincides with Black "History Month," a commemoration of Blacks' historical contributions to the development of the world.

Hi, I‘m Dagma Koyi. Founder and Executive Director of REST Centres, a journey that started years ago, when I almost found myself homeless. At 20 years old, I moved to Canada from St. Lucia to live with my father and begin my University education. Like so many families, we had our problems, which finally caused our relationship to break down in under a year. With nowhere to go, I found myself homeless.

Hear Mya’s story of struggle and success to transition from foster care into young adulthood, as she shared it with officials from the Region of Peel.

Hi, I’m Yemi. Thank goodness my Children’s Aid worker made that urgent appeal to REST Centres when they did. I was seven months pregnant and desperate to find a safe place to bring my baby into the world. As a young, new mother, the idea of having my baby in a shelter and being homeless and alone, was terrifying. But R.E.S.T. acted quickly and made sure that didn’t happen. The Bridge of Hope program changed my life.

Hi, I’m Lunkulu. I arrived in Canada from the Democratic Republic of Congo when I was a teenager. My journey hasn’t been an easy one. As a young, black immigrant, prejudice was everywhere and opportunities were hard to come by. No matter how hard I tried, I lived with the constant feeling of falling behind and not knowing where to find help. I finally decided to relocate from British Columbia to Ontario, only to end up in a homeless shelter in Peel.

Hi, I’m Tashawna. And I’m no stranger to homelessness. When I was young, my family lived in a shelter while my mother struggled to rebuild our lives. There were times where things would improve for a while, but the chaos always returned. Instead of a safe and stable home, I grew up with trauma that I’m still dealing with today. Looking back, some of my decisions only made things worse. With nowhere to go and searching for security, I eventually ended up in an abusive relationship.