Fabienne Audette, Chief Executive Officer, Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ; Karina Fleury, Executive Director, Tandem-Jeunesse; and Chentale de Montigny, interim Director of Programs, Impact and Community Relations.
The Fondation is proud to partner with Tandem-Jeunesse on a bold project to improve the lives of vulnerable youth aged 15 to 25 in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. As part of the initiative, the Fondation is offering a $15,000 grant to build a “village of support” around youth in the care of the DYP. This will ensure that youth have someone to turn to for guidance and emergency financial assistance as they transition to adulthood.
The funds will go toward enhancing our support services and building a safety net for youth leaving our housing program. We want youth to feel that they have a family who’s there for them and will always come through. The goal is to make sure that they reach out whenever they need to, that they find their place in the community, and that they can keep their housing.
Tandem-Jeunesse offers a range of resources to ensure that vulnerable youth feel more confident as they leave transitional housing. The initiative is intended to foster independence, increase housing stability, and enhance personal well-being.
We want to create an environment where youth feel supported so they can develop a social network and healthy lifestyle habits, knowing that they can rely on organizations like Tandem-Jeunesse when they run into problems.
In practical terms, the grant from the Fondation will bolster the emergency fund used to help with rent, cover transportation costs (since the lack of affordable public transit options is a real issue), and meet specific, non-recurring needs, such as eyeglasses and food assistance. The goal is to help recipients overcome the barriers that could hinder their transition to independent living at a time when the housing crisis is affecting every region in Quebec.
Tandem-Jeunesse is part of Regroupement des Auberges du cœur and serves as a true springboard for youth living under its roof. The organization gives youth the tools and resources they need to start out on their own, while providing caring guidance and being there for them as they learn to thrive. It is a true “village of support” that stands with youth every step of the way until they are ready to spread their wings and confidently take on the future.
This project was funded as part of the 2024 call for proposals, through which the Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ supports innovative projects that help youths in care transitioning to adulthood, in Montreal and various regions of Quebec.